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To fulfill the laws of the woman suspected of adultery (Sotah)

The Luchos - Ten Commandments

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א֣וֹ אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תַּעֲבֹ֥ר עָלָ֛יו ר֥וּחַ קִנְאָ֖ה וְקִנֵּ֣א אֶת־אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְהֶעֱמִ֤יד אֶת־הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וְעָ֤שָׂה לָהּ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַתּוֹרָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ - פָּרָשַׁת נָשׂא
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 Lord, 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.
(Source: Chabad.org)

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