Mitzvah —
136
To fulfill the laws of the woman suspected of adultery (Sotah)
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א֣וֹ אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תַּעֲבֹ֥ר עָלָ֛יו ר֥וּחַ קִנְאָ֖ה וְקִנֵּ֣א אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְהֶעֱמִ֤יד אֶת־הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י ה׳ וְעָ֤שָׂה לָהּ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַתּוֹרָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ - פָּרָשַׁת נָשׂא
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Numbers 5:30 - "or if a spirit of jealousy comes over a man, and he is jealous of his wife, and he presents the woman before the L-rd, and the kohen shall do to her all of this law,"
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה
Fulfill the Torah’s procedure for a suspected adulteress (Sotah).
This mitzvah commands carrying out the process of the Sotah — a woman whose husband suspects her of adultery and who was warned not to seclude herself with another man. The Torah prescribes a unique Temple procedure, where the Kohen administers bitter waters to test her innocence. If she is guilty, the waters bring her punishment; if innocent, she is blessed with fertility. This mitzvah preserves marital trust, deters immorality, and demonstrates Hashem’s direct role in protecting the sanctity of marriage.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Sotah 3:1): Describes the detailed procedure of preparing the bitter waters, the oath, and the consequences.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 359): The root is to instill fear of Hashem in Israel and to deter betrayal within marriage.
- Talmud (Sotah 2a–3a): Elaborates the laws and symbolism of the ritual, showing how it restored peace between husband and wife.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
