138

Not to put frankincense on her Meal Offering

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
וְהֵבִ֨יא הָאִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ֮ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְהֵבִ֤יא אֶת־קׇרְבָּנָהּ֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ עֲשִׂירִ֥ת הָאֵיפָ֖ה קֶ֣מַח שְׂעֹרִ֑ים לֹֽא־יִצֹ֨ק עָלָ֜יו שֶׁ֗מֶן וְלֹֽא־יִתֵּ֤ן עָלָיו֙ לְבֹנָ֔ה כִּֽי־מִנְחַ֤ת קְנָאֹת֙ ה֔וּא מִנְחַ֥ת זִכָּר֖וֹן מַזְכֶּ֥רֶת עָוֺֽן׃ - פָּרָשַׁת נָשׂא
Numbers 5:15 - "Then the man shall bring his wife to the kohen and bring her offering for her, one tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He shall neither pour oil over it nor put frankincense on it, for it is a meal offering of jealousies, a meal offering of remembrance, recalling iniquity."

This Mitzvah's Summary

מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Sacrifices – קָרְבָּנוֹת

The Sotah offering may not have frankincense placed upon it.

This mitzvah prohibits putting frankincense on the minchat Sotah (meal offering of the suspected adulteress). Unlike most offerings, which are dignified with oil and incense, this one is intentionally diminished to reflect disgrace. The absence of frankincense symbolizes the gravity of betrayal and the solemn purpose of the offering — to expose truth rather than bring joy.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Sotah 3:10): Notes that both oil and frankincense are withheld from this offering to distinguish it from others.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 361): The root is to convey the seriousness of immorality and to mark this offering as one of shame rather than honor.
  • Talmud (Sotah 15a): Emphasizes the symbolism of excluding frankincense, an element usually associated with pleasantness and favor, to highlight the woman’s disgrace.
(Source: Chabad.org)

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