*Laws # 136-138 ~ BOOK FOUR: THE BOOK OF WOMEN (Laws of Suspect Wife)

Laws #136-138  To fulfill the laws of the Sotah...Not to put oil on her meal offering...Not to put frankincense on her meal offering

Num. 5:30 "Or when the spirit of jealousy comes upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law."

Law #136 The Command here is to follow through with the Laws of a Suspect wife (Sotah) if a woman be found to have possibly cheated on her husband.  This process can be found in Num. 5:11-31.  An adulterous wife polluted the nation of Israel, making them all unclean.  If a man has a "spirit of jealousy" or a suspicion that his wife has cheated, she is brought before the priests who set her before the Most High along with her meal offering.  Laws #137 & 138 say no oil/frankincense was to be poured on her meal, which was symbolic of drawing the Most High's attention to her potential guilt.  Holy water was given to her and expected to cause a curse within her body and make her barren, if she truly cheated.  It was expected to have no effect if she was innocent (vs. 27-28). The Bible calls this water "bitter," in reference to its potential effect of making her sterile if she had sinned. (see Gen. 20:17 Abimelech's wives become sterile as a result of his intention to commit adultery with Sarah.  see Lev. 20:20-21 Incestuous relationships lead to woman becoming Sterile).

*Laws # 131-135 ~ BOOK FOUR: THE BOOK OF WOMEN (Laws of Women)

Law #131 The court must fine one who seduces a maiden

Ex. 22:16-17 “And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.  If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.”

The Law here is for a man to pay a fine for seducing a maiden, which is a word used to describe a young girl, unmarried girl or most likely a virgin.  In the biblical days, the Israelites were held accountable, even for such an action as seduction.  

Law #132 & 133 The rapist must marry the maiden (if she chooses)...He is not allowed to divorce her

Deut. 22:28-29 “If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father 50 shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he has humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.”

When we look in vs. 25 we see that if the woman is betrothed, the man who forced himself onto her is to be put to death.  This Law must be taken into consideration as well.

Again, every action is to be held accountable.  This scripture refers to the act of rape against a woman. The first Law is that the violator is to pay a fine to the woman’s father.  The second Law is that the woman is to be his wife for life (if she chooses), divorce is not permitted.

Six laws of chastity (moral sexual behavior) are given as basic to family integrity.  Violations were punishable by stoning the violators to death.  “Tokens” of the damsel’s virginity refer to proof that she was indeed a virgin at the time.  Without this proof she could be deemed “a whore” which was punishable by death for both partners. 

Law #134 & 135 The slanderer must remain married to his wife...He must not divorce her

Deut. 22:19 “…[The Elders obtain from the violator] a hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.”

The Law here is regarding a man who lies with a woman and later speaks against her, claiming she was not a virgin.  If it is proven she was a virgin, he is to pay a fine for slandering her name (Law #134) and be married to her all his days, for lying about her purity (Law #135).