John Calvin Commentary Numbers 5:11

"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying," — Numbers 5:11 (ASV)

And the Lord spoke to Moses. Although this ceremony appears to be part of the legal services, I have nevertheless decided to address it here, because it relates to the observance of the Seventh Commandment. Its purpose is to prevent women, trusting they might escape punishment, from abandoning themselves to unchastity, or to prevent jealousy from leading to dissension. Such jealousy, by alienating the husband's mind from his wife, would loosen the ties of pure affection, and in this way, the door would be opened to many sins.

Through this rite, therefore, God proclaims Himself the guardian and avenger of marital faithfulness. From this, it becomes clear how acceptable a sacrifice in His sight is the chastity of married women, for which He condescends to declare Himself the guardian. It is, therefore, no small consolation to husbands that God undertakes to examine the secret wrong, if, by chance, their wives have been unfaithful to them.

However, it will be better to examine the details in order. When at the beginning he says—If a man’s wife goes aside, and her offense is concealed—an absurdity seems to be implied, as if God would thereby bring to judgment only those who were already convicted. However, if the fact were established, there would be no use for the test.

But the condition, if she commits a trespass against him, does not mean that the woman’s adultery must be discovered, but refers to her husband's suspicion. And so, the words must be paraphrased this way: If anyone suspects that his wife has had relations with another man, and he cannot otherwise be relieved from the anxiety that oppresses him, let him appeal to God for that judgment which is beyond human reach.

Yet God⁷⁸ seems to have deliberately specified the crime, to prevent husbands from carelessly involving their innocent wives in disgrace. We know that many are suspicious without cause; and when jealousy has once taken possession of the mind, there is no room for moderation or fairness.⁷⁹

Therefore, it would be inhuman to allow morose and unreasonable husbands to drag their wives to this terrifying judgment of God because of mere trivial suspicions. For, if the husband were cruel and ungodly, giving him such power without any distinction would be like putting a sword into the hands of a madman.

God, therefore, implies that the priest should consider carefully, so as not to receive every complaint too easily; although He later expresses Himself more clearly in another part of the conditions: if a man is jealous of his wife, and she is not defiled.

⁷⁸ “Toutefois il semble bien que Dieu ait poisee le cas, qu’une femme fust chargee de presomption vehemente;” still it fully appears that God has supposed the case, that the woman should be charged upon strong presumption. — Fr..

⁷⁹ “Nous savons qu’il y a beaucoup de gens ombrageux, qui concoyvent des fantasies a la volee;” we know that there are many suspicious persons who hastily take fancies into their heads. — Fr..