Some interesting stuff on a test for faithfulness...in this case, applied to suspected infidelity by the wife. I think the word thigh here would refer to the womb.
29 "'This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and defiles herself while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the LORD and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.'"
Here is also a reference to the Nazarites and the Nazarite oath.
It appears that despite their slavery in Egypt, the Israelites did have enough of a community life to allow some from among them to become Nazarites.
21 "'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.'"
Question: Do you know of any possible nazarites in the Bible?
2 comments:
Hmmm... Got some info from Wikipedia. Two examples of Nazirites in the Bible are Samson (Judges 13:5), and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11). In both cases, their mothers made the vows before they were born, which required them to live an ascetic life, yet in return they received extraordinary gifts: Samson possessed strength and ability in physical battle, while Samuel was a prophet.
1.This test for alleged adulterous woman doesnt sit well with me. It sounds so 'black magic' - this curse in the bitter water. This is why reading the OT sometimes can be a really interesting, sometimes disturbing experience - we often dont agree to nor understand why God instituted some things the ways He did. Ok, i know, He was dealing with a very different generation of people under very unusual circumstances.
2. I supposethis Nazirite requirement is just as strange.
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