The Weird Law About the Water and The Wife

The various clans of the Levites are given responsibility for the maintenance and moving of the tabernacle parts, but before they are able to move everything, Aaron and his sons have to cover the materials so that the Levites won’t be killed by touching holy things.

And then we come to the strange law regarding the jealous husband who suspects his wife has been fooling around. So, there is a ritual, involving water. If she is guilty, ultimately she will be unable to have children, but if she is innocent, then the water won’t affect her.

What is this about?

Well, aside from the practical need of helping put to rest jealous thoughts of a husband, the larger theme is the theme of water purifying and making clean: after the major sexual sin in Genesis 6 involving the sons of God who desire the daughters of men, the Lord sends the waters of the Flood. The same kind of thing is happening here.