This week in Parshat Naso we read the story of Sotah, a woman suspected of adultery by her jealous husband. The accused must journey to the temple before the priest to make a sacrifice. They uncover her head, make her swear an oath, and drink a mixture of water, dirt, and ink from a written curse. If she has been unfaithful her belly swells and her thighs sag, but if she is innocent, she is unharmed. What an awful thing to go through on the suspicion of her husband?
Where does this jealousy come from that the woman must endure these trials? It seems to me it always comes back to the snake. Eve made one mistake all the way at the beginning of time and women have been paying the price ever since.
I learned that I am not alone in my connection! In Talmud Sotah 9b the sin is not in eating the apple, but that the snake seduced Eve and wanted to marry her. The punishment for the guilty Sotah is echoed in the snake’s punishment, “upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life” (Genesis 3:14), and she is punished accordingly as well, with difficult childbirth.
In the case of Eve, it seems she was actually guilty and both parties were punished. In the case of the Sotah, it is only the woman.
I have read many commentaries who explain that this trial was designed to show her as innocent in a way that was impossible for her husband to ignore. Maybe that is something, but would you want to live with someone who made you go through this ordeal?
Maybe the choice isn’t between a man and a bear, but between a man and a snake?
NOTE: My writing and drawing is based on the biblical reading, but the rabbis of the Talmud seem to feel similarly, since their interpretation of the laws makes it unlikely the trial was ever carried out. Here are some additional readings:
Beyond Brutality: Reclaiming Female Presence in Bavli Sotah | by Jane Kanarek
Was the Sotah Meant to be Innocent? | By Yosef Lindell