The priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and put the meal offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal offering of jealousy. The priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings a curse.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 17–18. Holy water, destined for sacred uses, which is called most bitter, verse 18, ( Menochius.) and cursed, (verse 22,) on account of the imprecations used to detect the guilty. Worthington.—Earth, to shew the woman, that if she had been unfaithful, she deserved to be trodden upon as dung. Ecclus. 9:10.—Head, that she may remember all is naked before the Lord. Menochius.—Hebrew may signify, “he shall cut the hair of her head,” (see Leviticus 10:6. Calmet.) or take off her veil. Joseph. iii. 10. Bible.—Remembrance, by which God was requested to manifest the truth, either by punishing or by rewarding the woman, verse 15, 28. Menochius.—Bitter, either on account of the wormwood, or because of their effects on the guilty. Calmet.