וְנִקָּ֥ה הָאִ֖ישׁ מֵעָוֺ֑ן וְהָאִשָּׁ֣ה הַהִ֔וא תִּשָּׂ֖א אֶת־עֲוֺנָֽהּ׃ (פ)
און דער מאַן װעט זײַן רײן פֿון זינד, און יענע פֿרױ װעט טראָגן איר זינד.
Sifra
4) Whence is it derived that the breast and the shok do not revert to Aaron and his sons until after the smoking of the fats? From (Bamidbar 5:31) "And he shall smoke the cheilev upon the altar" followed by "and the breast shall be for Aaron and for his sons."
Bamidbar Rabbah
“Or a man who will be overcome with the spirit of jealousy, and warn his wife and stand the woman before the Lord. The priest shall perform for her this entire ritual” (Numbers 5:30).
“Or a man who will be overcome…”; “a man,” “or a man”107The verse could have stated only, “a man,” but it says “or a man.” – this is to include a priest108Because the wife of a priest is forbidden to him even if she was raped, one might have thought that she is excluded from the entire sota ritual. and a eunuch109Because the wife of a eunuch is incapable of conceiving, one might have thought that she is excluded from the entire sota ritual. who issue a warning.
“And stand the woman before the Lord” – this is to include a priest’s wife or a eunuch’s wife, that they drink.
“[The priest] shall perform for her this entire ritual” – everything that is stated in the portion, to teach you that omitting even one matter invalidates it all.
“The man will be absolved of iniquity, and that woman will bear her iniquity” (Numbers 5:31).
“The man will be absolved of iniquity” – this tells that he is bearing iniquity until the woman drinks, but after she drinks, “the man will be absolved of iniquity.”
“And that woman will bear her iniquity” – Shimon ben Azai says: The verse is speaking of the pure woman. Since she brought herself to these matters, she too will not emerge without consequences.
“Or a man who will be overcome…”; “a man,” “or a man”107The verse could have stated only, “a man,” but it says “or a man.” – this is to include a priest108Because the wife of a priest is forbidden to him even if she was raped, one might have thought that she is excluded from the entire sota ritual. and a eunuch109Because the wife of a eunuch is incapable of conceiving, one might have thought that she is excluded from the entire sota ritual. who issue a warning.
“And stand the woman before the Lord” – this is to include a priest’s wife or a eunuch’s wife, that they drink.
“[The priest] shall perform for her this entire ritual” – everything that is stated in the portion, to teach you that omitting even one matter invalidates it all.
“The man will be absolved of iniquity, and that woman will bear her iniquity” (Numbers 5:31).
“The man will be absolved of iniquity” – this tells that he is bearing iniquity until the woman drinks, but after she drinks, “the man will be absolved of iniquity.”
“And that woman will bear her iniquity” – Shimon ben Azai says: The verse is speaking of the pure woman. Since she brought herself to these matters, she too will not emerge without consequences.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“The man will be absolved of iniquity, and that woman will bear her iniquity” (Numbers 5:31).
“The man will be absolved of iniquity” – that he will not say: Woe is me that I have killed a Jewish woman; woe is me that I engaged in relations with a defiled woman. That is why it is stated: “The man will be absolved…”
“The man will be absolved of iniquity” – he need not be concerned that perhaps merit deferred it for her.167And she was actually defiled and forbidden to him. Is it, perhaps, that she too need not be concerned that perhaps merit deferred it for her?168And even though she knows that she was defiled, she may continue living with her husband since the sota water did not affect her? The verse states: “And that woman will bear her iniquity.” This is in accordance with the one who said that merit defers and it is not apparent.169See the end of section 31.
Another matter: “The man will be absolved of iniquity” – when the man is absolved of iniquity, “that woman will bear her iniquity.” But when the man is not absolved of his iniquity, the woman does not bear her iniquity, as the water does not examine her, like the matter that is stated: “I will not reckon with your daughters when they engage in licentiousness or with your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, [for they themselves consort with lewd women and they sacrifice with harlots]” (Hosea 4:14), when they are committing adultery. He said to them: Since you are pursuing licentiousness, the water will not examine your wives. That is why it is stated: “The man will be absolved of iniquity, and that woman [will bear her iniquity].”
“The man will be absolved of iniquity” – that he will not say: Woe is me that I have killed a Jewish woman; woe is me that I engaged in relations with a defiled woman. That is why it is stated: “The man will be absolved…”
“The man will be absolved of iniquity” – he need not be concerned that perhaps merit deferred it for her.167And she was actually defiled and forbidden to him. Is it, perhaps, that she too need not be concerned that perhaps merit deferred it for her?168And even though she knows that she was defiled, she may continue living with her husband since the sota water did not affect her? The verse states: “And that woman will bear her iniquity.” This is in accordance with the one who said that merit defers and it is not apparent.169See the end of section 31.
Another matter: “The man will be absolved of iniquity” – when the man is absolved of iniquity, “that woman will bear her iniquity.” But when the man is not absolved of his iniquity, the woman does not bear her iniquity, as the water does not examine her, like the matter that is stated: “I will not reckon with your daughters when they engage in licentiousness or with your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery, [for they themselves consort with lewd women and they sacrifice with harlots]” (Hosea 4:14), when they are committing adultery. He said to them: Since you are pursuing licentiousness, the water will not examine your wives. That is why it is stated: “The man will be absolved of iniquity, and that woman [will bear her iniquity].”