[[Num-05]] Prev: [[Prophecies in Num-04]] | Next: [[Prophecies in Num-06]] --- ### May Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell; and this water that brings a curse will go into your bowels, and make your body swell, and your thigh fall away. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: A conditional prediction of divine physical judgment involving the swelling of the abdomen and the 'falling away' of the thigh for a woman who is guilty of unfaithful acts and drinks the bitter water. *Historical context*: Historical records in the Mishnah (Sotah) indicate that this ritual was practiced in the Second Temple. The ritual was famously abolished by Rabbi Johanan ben Zakkai (circa 70 AD) because the divine efficacy of the water required the husband to be innocent of similar sins, and adultery had become too prevalent during that period for the miracle to continue manifesting. *Related to*: ### If the woman isn't defiled, but is clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive offspring. *Type*: prophecy *Summary*: A prophetic promise that an innocent woman accused of adultery will be divinely vindicated and blessed with fertility/offspring after undergoing the ritual. *Historical context*: Jewish tradition in the Talmud (Sotah 26a) views this as a specific promise of supernatural fertility. This is traditionally linked to Hannah ([[1 Sam|1 Samuel 1]]), whom the Sages suggest petitioned God for a child by referencing this law, arguing that if she were cleared of suspicion, God's word in [[Num-05#v28|Numbers 5:28]] would require Him to grant her offspring. *Related to*: ### The children of Israel did so, and put them outside of the camp; as Yahweh spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did. *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: The children of Israel immediately fulfilled the command to separate the ritually and physically unclean from the camp where God dwelt. *Historical context*: This historical practice of excluding lepers and the unclean from the camp set the standard for quarantine and holiness in Israel. Theologians often see this fulfilled and transformed in the New Testament ([[Heb-13#v11|Hebrews 13:11]]–13), where Jesus is identified as the one who suffered 'outside the gate' (camp) to take upon Himself the 'uncleanness' and sin of the people, thereby fulfilling the symbolic purpose of the camp's separation. *Related to*: [[Num-05#v2|Numbers 5:2]]-3 --- #ai_prophecy