Positive Commandment 223 (Digest)
The Suspected Adulteress
"Should any man's wife go astray"—Numbers 5:12.
In the event that a woman is suspected of adultery [and there is significant circumstantial evidence pointing to her infidelity], we are commanded to follow the pertinent laws detailed in the Torah. This includes her bringing a special meal offering in the Holy Temple and drinking a special potion.
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
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> The 223rd mitzvah is that we are commanded regarding the law of a sotah.;)
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> The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement,;) "If a man's wife is suspected of committing adultery...."
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> All the details of this mitzvah — how one makes her drink [the special water used to determine her innocence or guilt], how her sacrifice is offered, and other conditions that apply to her — are found in the tractate devoted to this subject, tractate Sotah.
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> Footnotes
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> This term refers to a woman who is suspected by her husband of infidelity, who then warns her not to seclude herself with the suspected adulterer, and is then discovered to have done so.
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> Num. 5:12.
Negative Commandment 104 (Digest)
Oil on the Suspected Adulteress' Meal Offering
"He shall pour no oil upon it"—Numbers 5:15.
It is forbidden to mix oil into the suspected adulteress' meal offering [as is done by almost all other meal offerings].
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
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> The 104th prohibition is that we are forbidden from mixing oil into the meal-offering brought for a sotah.
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> The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement;) (exalted be He), "He [the husband] must bring a sacrifice for her...he shall not place oil on it."
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> The punishment for bringing this offering with oil is lashes.
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> Footnotes
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> Num. 5:15.