Jealous Husbands and Numbers 5

This article was first published in French at TPSG. It has since been republished on TGC Canada.

Do you ever find yourself puzzled by obscure Bible passages on gender? My studies have helped me discover how many of these, in fact, hold surprising evidence of mercy in their treatment of women. Although when we initially read them with Western cultural frameworks, they seem to marginalize women, a closer look reveals that God’s Word, in fact, protects and honours them. 

 

Case Study: Numbers 5

Consider, for example, Numbers 5:11-31. This passage describes what a husband is to do if he suspects his wife of adultery but has no proof. The couple must appear with a grain offering before the priest in the sanctuary, who will prepare “the water of bitterness” with dust from the floor of the tabernacle. The priest will instruct the wife to vow that she is not guilty of the crime she is accused of. If she is, in fact, innocent, then she will be free from the curse that the bitter water brings. But if she is guilty, she will be accursed, barren, and afflicted with terrible pain – her belly will swell, and her thigh will rot (v. 27). 

 

“This is a great law!”

Dallas Seminary Professor, Dorian G. Coover-Cox, recounts a discussion she had on Numbers 5 with one of her international students. “This is such a great law, because it gives a woman access to the authorities. A husband overcome with jealousy can’t just kill his wife. In my own country, I had friends disappear, only to discover that they had been killed merely for being accused of wrongdoing. And we all knew that there would be very little to any repercussions if anyone even investigated the girl’s death.” 

 

The Bible, on the other hand, provides protection and vindication for an innocent woman falsely accused, along with just judgment for the guilty one. The dust from the floor of the sanctuary did not in itself hold properties that could result in the death of the woman who ingested it. The LORD had to directly intervene in the matter to pass judgment. 

 

As a result, not only would a wife who was blameless be absolved of any wrongdoing, but husbands in general would also be slow to bring an accusation against their wives. After all, jealousy can be an unreliable witness, and a husband wouldn’t want to look ridiculous before the covenant community were the LORD himself to prove him wrong. 

 

Interpreting the Rite of Jealousy in light of Biblical Theology

In the Bible, sexual behaviour represents realities greater than itself. In the Law of Moses, the LORD warns his people against idolatry, describing himself unapologetically as a jealous God (Ex. 20:5; 34:14; Dt. 4:24). And in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 designates sexual sin in spiritual terms. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul writes, “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” Our Lord Jesus himself, in teaching his disciples about hypocrisy, warns that those sins committed in secret will not remain so: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” (Lu. 12:2). 

 

And yet, the beauty of the gospel is that, in Christ, the woman (or man) found guilty of literal (or spiritual) adultery can find forgiveness and restitution at the foot of the cross: 

 

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Col. 2:13-14).

 

Strategies for Handling Difficult Texts

A number of passages like this exist in the Scriptures which may perplex us on first reading. As believers who love the Scriptures and their divine author, what is our response to be when we come across something we don’t understand? Should we listen to the world, with its detractors who claim the Bible is sexist and outdated? I propose instead that we begin with the presupposition that:

1.     God is good and always does what is right.

2.     God loves men and women equally.

 

With these truths as a foundation, we need to:

1.     Pray that the Spirit would illuminate us to understand his Word.

2.     Read the passage in numerous translations and languages, if possible. 

3.     Read the entire book, if possible, or the surrounding chapters, to understand its immediate literary context.

4.     Consider literary genre. For example, narrative portions of Scripture contain troubling accounts of human wickedness that are not intended to serve as an endorsement. And wisdom literature, for example, doesn’t contain so much absolute statements or promises, but rather general principles on how to live a life that pleases the Lord.

5.     Consider the passage in light of Biblical theology. That is, what themes or ideas could this passage be building on beyond its immediate context? How could seeing your passage as a piece of the puzzle rather than a complete, independent image help you better grasp its intended purpose in the bigger storyline of Scripture?

6.     Seek wise counsel. A search over Google could be helpful, but it could also lead you to unreliable, spurious sources. It’s probably best to stick to authors and sites you know and trust. Or, even better, borrow or buy a good commentary or Bible dictionary. 

7.     Interpret in community. Ask your pastors and elders for advice. Talk to a trusted mentor or friend. Seek out the counsel of godly believers who have been studying and living the truths of Scripture longer than you.

 

We may never have a satisfying enough picture of some of the most obscure passages, but we can trust our Heavenly Father with our unanswered questions, remembering Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

 

May these simple truths comfort and guide us as we seek to honour the Lord in how we interpret and live out his Word.