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Revi’i

1. The adulterous Sotah wife:

• Hashem spoke to Moshe saying that he should tell the Jewish people the Sotah laws.
• The sin: If a wife strayed from her husband and betrayed him, having sexual relations with another man, unaware to her husband, then if she was warned by her husband [not to seclude herself with another man and she transgressed] and secluded herself, then she must follow the Sotah procedure.
• Bringing her and her Karban to the Kohen: The Sotah woman is to be brought by her husband to the Kohen. He is to bring with him, her Karban Mincha, which is 1/10^th of an Eifa of unsifted barley flour without oil or frankincense, as it is a sin offering.
• The procedure: The Kohen is then to stand her before Hashem. The Kohen is to take holy water in an earthenware vessel and place onto it earth that was taken from the Mishkan floor. The Kohen is to uncover the woman’s hair and place the Mincha offering on her palm. He is to remain holding the bitter waters.
• Administering the oath and bitter waters: The Kohen is to administer an oath to the woman saying that if she did not betray her husband then she will be found innocent of the bitter waters. If, however, she is guilty, then a curse will befall her and the bitter water will cause her thigh to fall and her stomach to swell. She is to answer Amen Veamen. The above curse is to be written on a scroll and erased in the water and then given to the woman to drink.
• The Karban: The Kohen is to take the Karban Mincha from the woman and waive it before Hashem and then offer a portion of it onto the altar. The woman is to be given the water to drink only after the Mincha is offered.
• The effect of the waters: If the woman is guilty of adultery, her stomach will swell, and her thigh will fall off. If she is innocent, she will have children.

2. The Nazir:

• The prohibitions: A man or woman who swears to become a Nazir to Hashem may not drink wine or eat grapes throughout the period of his Nezirus. He may not cut his hair or defile himself by contacting a corpse throughout the entire Nazir period, even if it is the corpse of a relative. A Nazir is holy to Hashem.
• If the Nazir becomes impure: If he does become impure to a corpse he is to shave his head on the 7^th day, and on the 8^th day he is to bring two doves to the Kohen, one for a Chatas and one for an Olah. After the Nazir period is complete he is to bring a sheep in its first year as an Asham
• The Nazir procedure: After the Nazir period is complete he is to come to the entrance of the Ohel Moed and bring with him a sheep in its first year as an Olah and a female sheep within its first year as a Chatas, and a ram as a Shelamim. He is to bring a basket of Matzos, their Mincha and libations. The Kohen is to offer all the above offerings and shave the head of the Nazir in the entrance to the Ohel Moed. The hair is to be placed on the fire used to cook the Shelamim. Afterwards, the Kohen is to take a cooked foreleg of the ram and two different Matzos and place it on the palm of the Nazir and waive them before Hashem. The Nazir may then drink wine.

3. Birchas Kohanim:

• Hashem spoke to Moshe saying that he should tell Aaron and his sons that they should bless the Jewish people with the blessing of Yivarechicha Hashem Veyishmirecha etc.

📘 Rashi Q&A — Bamidbar 5:11–31

5:12 — Introduction to Sotah

Q1. Why is this section placed here?

A: If one withholds priestly gifts → he will eventually need the priest (for Sotah).

Q2. Why “אִישׁ אִישׁ”?

A: The woman is unfaithful to:

• God above
• Her husband below

Q3. What does “תִשְׂטֶה” mean?

A:

• Midrash: spirit of folly (שטות) leads to sin
• Pshat: she deviates from modest behavior

5:13 — Conditions of Suspicion

Q4. What type of act creates the suspicion?

A: Actual relations with a man (not minor or animal).

Q5. What is required?

A:

• Seclusion (סתירה)
• Hidden from husband
• No witness of act, but witnesses to seclusion

Q6. What is excluded?

A:

• Blind husband
• Case where husband saw but concealed it

5:14 — Warning (Kinui)

Q7. What is “רוח קנאה”?

A: A spirit of suspicion → leads to warning.

Q8. What does “וקנא” mean?

A: He warns her not to seclude with a specific man.

5:15 — The Grain Offering

Q9. What offering is brought?

A: Barley flour (not wheat).

Q10. Why barley?

A: Because she acted like an animal → offering is animal food.

Q11. Why no oil or frankincense?

A:

• Oil = light → she acted in secrecy
• Frankincense = matriarchs → she deviated from them

Q12. Why “קנאות” (plural)?

A: Awakens two jealousies:

• God’s
• Husband’s

5:17 — Water Preparation

Q13. What water is used?

A: Holy water from the Laver

Q14. Why specifically this water?

A: It came from women’s mirrors used for holiness → contrast to her action.

Q15. Why earthen vessel?

A: She sinned with luxury → punished with lowly vessel

5:18 — Presentation and Disgrace

Q16. Why is she moved around?

A: To confuse and tire her → induce confession

Q17. Why uncover her hair?

A: To disgrace her → teach modesty standard for Jewish women

Q18. Why place offering in her hands?

A: To wear her out → encourage confession

5:19–22 — The Oath

Q19. How is the oath structured?

A:

• States innocence explicitly
• Guilt is implied (not said first)

Q20. Why not state curse directly first?

A: In capital cases → we begin with words in her favor

Q21. What does “Amen, amen” include?

A: Acceptance of:

• Curse + oath
• This man + any man
• All stages (betrothed, married, etc.)

5:23–24 — Writing and Drinking

Q22. Why erase the scroll in water?

A: To test her through Divine Name dissolved

Q23. What does “enter her” imply?

A: Affects entire body, not only belly/thigh

5:25–26 — Offering First

Q24. What is done before drinking?

A:

• Offering is waved
• Memorial portion burned

5:27 — Outcome if Guilty

Q25. What happens if she is guilty?

A:

• Belly swells
• Thigh collapses
• Becomes public curse

Q26. What if she refuses to drink?

A: She is forced to drink (unless she confesses)

5:28 — Outcome if Innocent

Q27. What happens if she is innocent?

A:

• No harm
• Receives blessing:
  • Easier childbirth
  • Better children

5:29–30 — Summary Law

Q28. When does this law apply?

A:

• Husband warns
• She secludes
• Doubt remains

5:31 — Husband’s Status

Q29. What does “ונקה האיש מעון” mean?

A:

1. He is not responsible for her punishment
2. If she is cleared → she becomes permitted to him again