Sefer HaMitzvos

מצות עשה רכ״ג · מצות לא תעשה ק״ד

Day 86 of 339

Positive Mitzvah 223

The Suspected Woman

Numbers 5:12 "If any man's wife is suspected of committing adultery"

If a woman is suspected of behavior unfit for a married woman, she is called a Sotah. The Torah provides a way of dealing with the matter.

This Positive Mitzvah details the procedure that must be followed.

Negative Mitzvah 104

We are forbidden to pour olive oil on the meal-offering of a "Sotah"

Numbers 5:15 "He shall pour no oil upon it"

This Negative Mitzvah applies to the meal-offering of a Sotah (see Positive Mitzvah 223).

A "Sotah" is a woman who is suspected of not being faithful to her husband. The Torah requires that she and her husband go to the priest and bring a sacrifice.

Since this is a sacrifice that is connected with a possible sin, it consists of plain barley flour with nothing else added. No oil may be poured over this offering.