Numbers 5:14

The Spirit of Jealousy Comes On the Man Whether She Is Defiled or Not (Numbers 5:14)

Numbers 5:14

“ And the spirit of jealousy come on him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled, or if the spirit of jealousy come on him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled,”

What if there were suspicion that it had happened? It must be borne in mind that this is not written just in order to cater to the suspicions of jealous husbands. The point here is that the husband has a genuine suspicion that the camp of Israel has been defiled. And he is therefore right to be concerned about it because he is aware that Yahweh dwells in the camp and will be aware of it. He is jealous not for himself but for the honour of Yahweh.

It is, however, fairly pointed out by this passage that his suspicions are not to be taken as proof of guilt. It is recognised that they may arise whether the woman was guilty or not. The woman is not to be prejudged. But it is also recognised that ‘the spirit of jealousy', the sense that the man has that there has been a capital crime which has defiled the camp and shamed him, is something that must be dealt with for everyone's sake, not least the suspected woman whose life could become impossible. The ‘spirit of jealousy' does not just refer to a man ‘feeling suspicious and jealous'. It signifies a spirit of deep concern that a sin against Yahweh had been committed which was grievous to Him. It was expressing a concern for the maintenance of the purity of Yahweh's camp because of what Yahweh is. Yahweh is jealous for righteousness, it says, and we must share in His jealousy.