Numbers 5 Study Notes
General
What was the first thing a guilty person had to do, according to 5:7?
Answer: Admit the wrong he had done
Before anything was repaid, the guilty person had to confess the sin (5:7). Leviticus requires the same (Leviticus 5:5). Hiding sin brings no good, but the one who confesses and turns from it finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13). The New Testament gives the same promise: God forgives and cleanses those who confess, because He is just and faithful (1 John 1:9).
- Numbers 5:7 (BSB)“and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged.”The guilty person must first confess the sin.
- Leviticus 5:5 (BSB)“If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed,”Confession was required in the guilt-offering laws as well.
- Proverbs 28:13 (BSB)“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”Concealed sin does not prosper, but confession finds mercy.
- 1 John 1:9 (BSB)“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”God forgives and cleanses those who confess their sins.
Theological
What act precedes restitution in 5:7?
Answer: Confession of the committed sin
Confession precedes restitution (5:7), as in the guilt-offering law of Leviticus 5:5. Repentance is not merely inward regret but open acknowledgment of the specific wrong. Proverbs promises mercy to the one who confesses and forsakes sin (Proverbs 28:13), and John grounds forgiveness for the confessing believer in God's faithfulness and justice (1 John 1:9).
- Numbers 5:7 (BSB)“and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged.”The guilty person must first confess the sin.
- Leviticus 5:5 (BSB)“If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed,”Confession was required in the guilt-offering laws as well.
- Proverbs 28:13 (BSB)“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.”Concealed sin does not prosper, but confession finds mercy.
- 1 John 1:9 (BSB)“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”God forgives and cleanses those who confess their sins.
General
What was unusual about the grain offering the husband brought in 5:15?
Answer: It was barley with no oil or frankincense
The husband brought one tenth ephah (an ephah was a unit of dry measure) of barley flour rather than the fine flour used in most grain offerings, and he added no oil or frankincense (5:15). Ordinary grain offerings included both (Leviticus 2:1). Leaving them out marked a somber occasion, as with the poor person's flour sin offering (Leviticus 5:11). The text calls it an offering of jealousy and of remembrance that brings iniquity to mind: the matter was being brought before God for Him to judge.
- Numbers 5:15 (BSB)“then he is to bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering of memorial as a reminder of iniquity.”The husband brings barley flour without oil or frankincense, a memorial offering calling iniquity to mind.
- Leviticus 2:1 (BSB)““When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it,”An ordinary grain offering had oil and frankincense added.
- Leviticus 5:11 (BSB)“But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.”The flour sin offering likewise omitted oil and frankincense.
Theological
How does the jealousy offering of 5:15 differ from a standard grain offering?
Answer: It is barley, without oil or frankincense
The jealousy offering is one tenth ephah of barley meal, without oil or frankincense (5:15), in contrast to the ordinary grain offering of fine flour with both (Leviticus 2:1). The omission parallels the flour sin offering (Leviticus 5:11) and suits a solemn occasion. As a memorial offering that brings iniquity to remembrance, it places the hidden matter before God for His judgment.
- Numbers 5:15 (BSB)“then he is to bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering of memorial as a reminder of iniquity.”The husband brings barley flour without oil or frankincense, a memorial offering calling iniquity to mind.
- Leviticus 2:1 (BSB)““When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it,”An ordinary grain offering had oil and frankincense added.
- Leviticus 5:11 (BSB)“But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he may bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.”The flour sin offering likewise omitted oil and frankincense.
General
What did the priest add to the holy water in the clay jar?
Answer: Dust from the sanctuary's floor
The priest poured holy water into an earthenware jar and added dust taken from the tabernacle's floor (5:17). Later he wrote the curses down and washed the writing into the water (5:23). The dust came from God's own dwelling, and the whole ritual took place before the LORD, signaling that God, who sees what is hidden (Hebrews 4:13), would judge the truth. He searches the heart and knows what people have done (Jeremiah 17:10).
- Numbers 5:17 (BSB)“Then he is to take some holy water in a clay jar and put some of the dust from the tabernacle floor into the water.”The priest mixes dust taken from the sanctuary floor into holy water in a clay jar.
- Numbers 5:23 (BSB)“And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.”The written curses are washed off into the water.
- Hebrews 4:13 (BSB)“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”Nothing is hidden from the sight of God.
- Jeremiah 17:10 (BSB)“I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.”The LORD searches the heart and judges accordingly.
Theological
What element from the sanctuary is mixed into the holy water in 5:17?
Answer: Dust of the tabernacle floor
The priest mixes dust taken from the sanctuary floor into holy water in an earthen vessel (5:17), and later washes the written curses into it (5:23). The components link the ritual to the sanctuary and to the spoken oath; the verdict belongs to the God before whom nothing is hidden (Hebrews 4:13) and who searches the heart (Jeremiah 17:10).
- Numbers 5:17 (BSB)“Then he is to take some holy water in a clay jar and put some of the dust from the tabernacle floor into the water.”The priest mixes dust taken from the sanctuary floor into holy water in a clay jar.
- Numbers 5:23 (BSB)“And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.”The written curses are washed off into the water.
- Hebrews 4:13 (BSB)“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”Nothing is hidden from the sight of God.
- Jeremiah 17:10 (BSB)“I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.”The LORD searches the heart and judges accordingly.
General
True or False: The command to send unclean people out of the camp applied to men and women equally.
Answer: True
This is true. God specified that both male and female were to be sent out (5:3), and the Israelites did exactly as commanded (5:4). No one was exempt, because the issue was the same for everyone: uncleanness near God's dwelling would defile it (Leviticus 15:31; Numbers 19:13).
- Numbers 5:3 (BSB)“You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.””The rule applies to both men and women.
- Numbers 5:4 (BSB)“So the Israelites did this, sending such people outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.”Israel carried out the instruction.
- Leviticus 15:31 (BSB)“You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.”Uncleanness had to be kept from defiling God's tabernacle.
- Numbers 19:13 (BSB)“Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.”Corpse defilement left unpurified defiled the LORD's tabernacle.
Theological
True or False: The exclusion from the camp in 5:3 applied to both sexes without distinction.
Answer: True
This is true. The instruction explicitly includes male and female (5:3), and Israel complied fully (5:4). The rule is impartial because the concern is the sanctuary itself, which uncleanness would pollute (Leviticus 15:31; Numbers 19:13).
- Numbers 5:3 (BSB)“You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.””The rule applies to both men and women.
- Numbers 5:4 (BSB)“So the Israelites did this, sending such people outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.”Israel carried out the instruction.
- Leviticus 15:31 (BSB)“You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.”Uncleanness had to be kept from defiling God's tabernacle.
- Numbers 19:13 (BSB)“Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.”Corpse defilement left unpurified defiled the LORD's tabernacle.
General
If the wronged person had no relative to receive the repayment, where did it go?
Answer: It went to the LORD, paid to the priest
If the wronged person had no close relative who could receive the repayment, the debt was not canceled. It was the LORD's and went to the priest, together with the ram offered to make atonement for the guilty person (5:8). Atonement means covering sin so that the guilty person is forgiven and restored (Leviticus 6:6-7). The priests received such sacred gifts as their God-given portion (Numbers 18:8).
- Numbers 5:8 (BSB)“But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him.”If no relative remains to receive it, the restitution goes to the LORD through the priest, with the ram of atonement.
- Leviticus 6:6-7 (BSB)“Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock. In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.””The ram of the guilt offering made atonement so the offender was forgiven.
- Numbers 18:8 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.”God gave the priests the sacred offerings as their portion.
Theological
What does 5:8 prescribe when no kinsman remains to receive restitution?
Answer: Payment to the LORD through the priest
When no kinsman remains, the restitution is not voided but paid to the LORD through the priest, together with the atoning ram (5:8). The obligation stands because the wrong was ultimately against God (5:6). The ram effects atonement and forgiveness as in Leviticus 6:6-7, and the priests receive the sacred portion by divine assignment (18:8).
- Numbers 5:8 (BSB)“But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him.”If no relative remains to receive it, the restitution goes to the LORD through the priest, with the ram of atonement.
- Leviticus 6:6-7 (BSB)“Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock. In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.””The ram of the guilt offering made atonement so the offender was forgiven.
- Numbers 18:8 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.”God gave the priests the sacred offerings as their portion.
General
According to 5:21 and 5:28, who determined the result of this test, and what happened to an innocent wife?
Answer: The LORD; she was unharmed and fertile
The oath itself asks the LORD to act if the woman is guilty (5:21); there was no power in the water or dust itself. If she was innocent, she was left unharmed and able to have children (5:28). The procedure also protected a wrongly suspected wife, since her husband had to bring the matter to God publicly rather than act on his own jealousy. For a guilty wife the text describes a swelling belly and a shriveling thigh (5:21-22, 27); interpreters differ on the exact physical meaning. As with a cast lot, the decision belonged to God (Proverbs 16:33). God Himself judges adultery (Hebrews 13:4) and will bring hidden things to light (1 Corinthians 4:5).
- Numbers 5:21 (BSB)“and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse—‘then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell.”The oath asks the LORD Himself to act if she is guilty.
- Numbers 5:28 (BSB)“But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be unaffected and able to conceive children.”If she is innocent, she is unaffected and able to have children.
- Proverbs 16:33 (BSB)“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”Even the outcome of a cast lot is decided by the LORD.
- Hebrews 13:4 (BSB)“Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”God Himself will judge adulterers.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 (BSB)“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”The Lord will expose hidden things and the motives of hearts.
Theological
In 5:21 and 5:28, who renders the verdict, and what befalls an innocent wife?
Answer: The LORD; she remains unharmed and fertile
The verdict rests with the LORD, whom the oath invokes to act against the guilty (5:21); the efficacy lies not in the water or dust but in God's judgment. The innocent wife is left untouched and fertile (5:28). The law thus also shields a wrongly suspected wife by removing the case from her husband's private jealousy to a public appeal before God. The precise physical effect described for the guilty (5:21-22, 27) is understood differently by interpreters. As with the lot (Proverbs 16:33), the outcome rests with God, who judges adulterers (Hebrews 13:4) and will expose what is hidden (1 Corinthians 4:5).
- Numbers 5:21 (BSB)“and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse—‘then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell.”The oath asks the LORD Himself to act if she is guilty.
- Numbers 5:28 (BSB)“But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be unaffected and able to conceive children.”If she is innocent, she is unaffected and able to have children.
- Proverbs 16:33 (BSB)“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”Even the outcome of a cast lot is decided by the LORD.
- Hebrews 13:4 (BSB)“Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”God Himself will judge adulterers.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 (BSB)“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.”The Lord will expose hidden things and the motives of hearts.
General
What repayment did God require from someone who had wronged another person?
Answer: The full value plus a fifth, paid to the one wronged
The guilty person had to repay the full amount and add one fifth (20 percent) more, giving it to the person he had wronged (5:7). This matches Leviticus 6:4-5. Repentance was not just words; it made things right with the injured party and more. Zacchaeus, when he met Jesus, went beyond this and promised to repay fourfold (Luke 19:8), and Jesus taught that reconciliation with a wronged brother comes before offering gifts to God (Matthew 5:23-24).
- Numbers 5:7 (BSB)“and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged.”The offender repays in full, adds a fifth, and gives it to the one wronged.
- Leviticus 6:4-5 (BSB)“once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, or anything else about which he has sworn falsely. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value, and pay it to the owner on the day he acknowledges his guilt.”Leviticus sets the same full repayment plus a fifth.
- Luke 19:8 (BSB)“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.””Zacchaeus shows repentance by repaying those he cheated fourfold.
- Matthew 5:23-24 (BSB)“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”Jesus calls worshipers to be reconciled with a wronged brother before offering a gift.
Theological
What measure of restitution does 5:7 prescribe?
Answer: The full loss plus a fifth, paid to the one wronged
Restitution is full repayment plus a fifth, paid to the injured party (5:7), in line with Leviticus 6:4-5. The added fifth moves beyond bare compensation, marking true repentance. Zacchaeus' fourfold restoration (Luke 19:8) displays the fruit of repentance in the presence of Christ, and Jesus places reconciliation with the wronged brother before the offering of worship (Matthew 5:23-24).
- Numbers 5:7 (BSB)“and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged.”The offender repays in full, adds a fifth, and gives it to the one wronged.
- Leviticus 6:4-5 (BSB)“once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, or anything else about which he has sworn falsely. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value, and pay it to the owner on the day he acknowledges his guilt.”Leviticus sets the same full repayment plus a fifth.
- Luke 19:8 (BSB)“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.””Zacchaeus shows repentance by repaying those he cheated fourfold.
- Matthew 5:23-24 (BSB)“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”Jesus calls worshipers to be reconciled with a wronged brother before offering a gift.
General
True or False: According to 5:9-10, a sacred gift given to a priest belonged to that priest.
Answer: True
This is true. Every holy contribution the Israelites brought to a priest became his (5:9-10). Each person kept control of his gifts until he gave them, but once handed to the priest they were the priest's. God provided for the priests this way (18:8), and Paul points out that altar servants share in what is offered there (1 Corinthians 9:13).
- Numbers 5:9-10 (BSB)“Every sacred contribution the Israelites bring to the priest shall belong to him. Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but whatever he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.””Sacred contributions brought to the priest become his.
- Numbers 18:8 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.”God gave the sacred offerings to Aaron and his sons as a permanent portion.
- 1 Corinthians 9:13 (BSB)“Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?”Paul notes that those who serve at the altar share in its offerings.
Theological
True or False: In 5:9-10, sacred contributions given to a priest became that priest's property.
Answer: True
This is true. Holy contributions brought to a priest belong to him (5:9-10); the giver retains his gifts until he presents them, and then they pass to the priest. This is part of God's provision for the priesthood (18:8), a principle Paul cites regarding altar service (1 Corinthians 9:13).
- Numbers 5:9-10 (BSB)“Every sacred contribution the Israelites bring to the priest shall belong to him. Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but whatever he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.””Sacred contributions brought to the priest become his.
- Numbers 18:8 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.”God gave the sacred offerings to Aaron and his sons as a permanent portion.
- 1 Corinthians 9:13 (BSB)“Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?”Paul notes that those who serve at the altar share in its offerings.
General
True or False: The procedure in 5:11-31 was for cases where the wife had been seen by witnesses in the act.
Answer: False
This is false. The law covered cases with no witness, where she had not been caught (5:13). It applied when a husband became jealous and suspicious, whether his wife had actually been unfaithful or had not (5:14). Normally a charge had to be proven by at least two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). Without that, the matter was brought before God rather than left to a husband's jealousy, which Proverbs warns can lead to vengeance without mercy (Proverbs 6:34).
- Numbers 5:13 (BSB)“by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act),”The case concerns hidden unfaithfulness with no witness.
- Numbers 5:14 (BSB)“and if a feeling of jealousy comes over her husband and he suspects his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself—”The procedure applies whether the wife is guilty or innocent of what her husband suspects.
- Deuteronomy 19:15 (BSB)“A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”Normally a matter required two or three witnesses.
- Proverbs 6:34 (BSB)“For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.”Jealousy can drive a husband to merciless vengeance.
Theological
True or False: The ordeal of 5:11-31 governed cases of adultery already established by witnesses.
Answer: False
This is false. The law addresses concealed cases with no witness and no apprehension in the act (5:13), and it explicitly covers the husband's suspicion whether the wife is guilty or innocent (5:14). Where the ordinary evidentiary standard of multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15) could not be met, the case was removed from the husband's private jealousy, which Proverbs depicts as merciless in vengeance (Proverbs 6:34), and placed before the LORD.
- Numbers 5:13 (BSB)“by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act),”The case concerns hidden unfaithfulness with no witness.
- Numbers 5:14 (BSB)“and if a feeling of jealousy comes over her husband and he suspects his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself—”The procedure applies whether the wife is guilty or innocent of what her husband suspects.
- Deuteronomy 19:15 (BSB)“A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”Normally a matter required two or three witnesses.
- Proverbs 6:34 (BSB)“For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.”Jealousy can drive a husband to merciless vengeance.
General
How did the woman respond after the priest spoke the oath to her?
Answer: She answered, Amen, Amen
After the priest put her under oath, the woman answered with a double amen (5:21-22). Amen means so be it; by saying it she accepted the oath and placed herself under God's judgment. Israel used the same response to affirm solemn curses (Deuteronomy 27:15), and the assembly in Nehemiah's day answered a sworn pledge the same way (Nehemiah 5:13).
- Numbers 5:21-22 (BSB)“and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse—‘then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell. May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’”The woman takes the oath and answers with a double amen.
- Deuteronomy 27:15 (BSB)“‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’”The people answered curses with amen, affirming them.
- Nehemiah 5:13 (BSB)“I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.”The assembly answered a solemn oath with amen.
Theological
What response does the woman give to the oath in 5:22?
Answer: A double amen
The woman responds with a double amen (5:22), formally accepting the self-imprecatory oath and submitting her case to God. The same liturgical assent attaches to covenant curses in Deuteronomy 27:15 and to a sworn pledge in Nehemiah 5:13.
- Numbers 5:21-22 (BSB)“and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse—‘then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell. May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’”The woman takes the oath and answers with a double amen.
- Deuteronomy 27:15 (BSB)“‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’”The people answered curses with amen, affirming them.
- Nehemiah 5:13 (BSB)“I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “May God likewise shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. May such a man be shaken out and have nothing!” The whole assembly said, “Amen,” and they praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.”The assembly answered a solemn oath with amen.
General
Which three groups of people were to be sent out of the camp in 5:2?
Answer: Those with skin disease, a discharge, or corpse defilement
God told Israel to remove three kinds of people from the camp: those with an infectious skin disease, those with a discharge from the body, and those made unclean by contact with a dead body (5:2). Unclean here means ritually unfit to approach God's presence, not necessarily sinful. Leviticus had already required anyone with an infectious skin condition to live outside the camp (Leviticus 13:46), and contact with a corpse made a person unclean for a week (Numbers 19:11). The concern was that such uncleanness not defile God's dwelling in their midst (Leviticus 15:31).
- Numbers 5:2 (BSB)““Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body.”God lists three conditions that required leaving the camp.
- Leviticus 13:46 (BSB)“As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.”A person with an infectious skin disease was to live alone outside the camp.
- Numbers 19:11 (BSB)“Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days.”Touching a dead body made a person unclean for seven days.
- Leviticus 15:31 (BSB)“You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.”Uncleanness had to be kept from defiling God's tabernacle among the people.
Theological
What three conditions does 5:2 name as requiring removal from the camp?
Answer: Skin disease, a discharge, or corpse contamination
Numbers 5:2 applies the purity laws of Leviticus to the ordered camp of chapters 1-4: the person with an infectious skin disease (Leviticus 13:46), one suffering a discharge from the body, and one defiled by a corpse (19:11) are sent outside. The categories are ritual, not moral, but their removal guards the sanctuary from defilement (Leviticus 15:31). The camp arranged around God's dwelling must reflect His holiness.
- Numbers 5:2 (BSB)““Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body.”God lists three conditions that required leaving the camp.
- Leviticus 13:46 (BSB)“As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.”A person with an infectious skin disease was to live alone outside the camp.
- Numbers 19:11 (BSB)“Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days.”Touching a dead body made a person unclean for seven days.
- Leviticus 15:31 (BSB)“You must keep the children of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die by defiling My tabernacle, which is among them.”Uncleanness had to be kept from defiling God's tabernacle among the people.
General
What reason did God give for keeping the unclean out of the camp?
Answer: The camp was where He Himself lived among them
The reason was God's presence: He lived in the middle of their camp, and they must not defile it (5:3). The point was not mainly hygiene or crowding but holiness. Deuteronomy says the same: the camp has to be kept holy since the LORD moves through it (Deuteronomy 23:14). God had promised to live among Israel as their God (Exodus 29:45), and Paul applies this promise to the church, now God's temple (2 Corinthians 6:16).
- Numbers 5:3 (BSB)“You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.””The reason given is that God dwells among His people in the camp.
- Deuteronomy 23:14 (BSB)“For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.”The camp must be holy because the LORD walks in its midst.
- Exodus 29:45 (BSB)“Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.”God promised to dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 (BSB)“What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.””Paul applies God's dwelling among His people to the church.
Theological
What rationale does 5:3 give for the removal of the unclean?
Answer: The presence of God dwelling in the camp
The rationale is theological: God dwells among His people, so the camp must not be defiled (5:3). Deuteronomy grounds the camp's holiness in the LORD's walking in its midst (Deuteronomy 23:14), fulfilling His covenant promise to dwell with Israel (Exodus 29:45). Paul applies the same promise to the church as God's living temple, grounding a call to holiness (2 Corinthians 6:16).
- Numbers 5:3 (BSB)“You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.””The reason given is that God dwells among His people in the camp.
- Deuteronomy 23:14 (BSB)“For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, lest He see anything unclean among you and turn away from you.”The camp must be holy because the LORD walks in its midst.
- Exodus 29:45 (BSB)“Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.”God promised to dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 (BSB)“What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.””Paul applies God's dwelling among His people to the church.
General
According to 5:6, when someone wrongs another person, whom else has that person sinned against?
Answer: The LORD
Numbers 5:6 says that whenever anyone, male or female, wrongs another person, that person has also acted unfaithfully toward the LORD. Sin against a neighbor is never only a private matter; it breaks faith with God, whose law protects the neighbor. Leviticus says the same about cheating a neighbor (Leviticus 6:2), and David, after wronging Uriah and Bathsheba, confessed that he had sinned against God (Psalm 51:4).
- Numbers 5:6 (BSB)““Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty”A wrong done to another person is also unfaithfulness toward the LORD.
- Leviticus 6:2 (BSB)““If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor”Leviticus likewise calls defrauding a neighbor an act of unfaithfulness against the LORD.
- Psalm 51:4 (BSB)“Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.”David confesses that his sin was ultimately against God.
Theological
How does 5:6 characterize a wrong done against another person?
Answer: As unfaithfulness toward the LORD
Numbers 5:6 treats a wrong against another person as covenant unfaithfulness toward the LORD. The horizontal and vertical dimensions of sin are inseparable, as in Leviticus 6:2, which frames fraud against a neighbor the same way. David's confession that his sin was against God (Psalm 51:4) expresses this same truth.
- Numbers 5:6 (BSB)““Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty”A wrong done to another person is also unfaithfulness toward the LORD.
- Leviticus 6:2 (BSB)““If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor”Leviticus likewise calls defrauding a neighbor an act of unfaithfulness against the LORD.
- Psalm 51:4 (BSB)“Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.”David confesses that his sin was ultimately against God.