As I've progressed through the Pentateuch, there have been a few times when I've come across an enigmatic practice or an unusual law. There is such a thing in Numbers 5 when Moses describes the prescription for wives suspected of adultery. The so-called "trial of jealousy" is something quite foreign to us today. And I readily admit that it is things like this that can throw someone for a loop if he or she isn't reading the Word faithfully. The trial, which calls for the woman to drink a "bitter water" to test if she is an adulteress or not, can be interpreted several ways. I think it's important, first off, to note that nowhere in Sacred Scripture is this practice actually described as taking place. This is not to say that it didn't take place, but perhaps the idea of it was more important to remain in the Word than the actual description of any particular woman enduring it. Secondly, it must always be held in mind that these practices as described in the Old Law were specifically suited for the Israelites of Moses's time. They very rightly sound odd to us. And thirdly, for the same reason that death seems to be the primary punishment for transgressors of the Law, the trial of jealousy was meant to be severe to discourage adultery among men and women. I think when Paul writes that "the letter killeth" in 2 Corinthians 3:6, this trial of jealousy is an example of what he is talking about. The Old Law was both imperfect and quite harsh. It suited the ancient Israelites, but was never meant to be permanent. If God chose to reveal Himself in these ways back then, we must be careful not to judge. It is at least comforting to know that the Old Law provided an opportunity for the innocent woman to be exonerated, in contrast to other ancient laws that honored the accusations of a jealous husband and called for the death of the woman without trial.
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