WATERS of Jealousy, were those which they gave to Women to drink, who were suspected of Adultery, Numb. v. 17, 18, &c. See what is said upon the Article of ADULTERY.
Leo of Modena, p. 4. c. 6.This way of Trial or Proof, described by Moses in so exact and circumstantiated a manner, and allowed among the Jews, is one of the most extraordinary things that can be imagined, and could not be put in practice without a constant and perpetual Miracle to be wrought among the Israelites. It cannot be doubted, but that the wiser Men of the Nation must always have disapproved of this Custom, and that Moses allowed it to the Jews, only for the Hardness of their Hearts, having probably been used to see such kinds of Trials among the Egyptians, or among other Nations that they had conversed with, and might have been carried to worse Extremes, and greater Violences, if this had not been permitted them.
The modern Jews have left off this kind of Proof, ever since the Destruction of the Temple by the Romans. But if a Husband had entertained any Jealousy of his Wife, he forbids her to see the Person he has a Suspicion of. If she continues to converse with him, and if they are found together, and the Circumstances are strong against her, then he is compelled by the Rabbins to divorce her, tho’ it were even against his Will, and to part from her for ever.
It is plain, that for a very long time the People of the East have had a Custom, to make those undergo several kinds of Trial, whom they had reason to suspect of several Crimes, the Discovery of which could not be made in the usual way. The most common of these Proofs are those of a red-hot Iron, and of boiling Water. They are very frequent at this time in China. When a Man is accused of a Crime that deserves Death,1 he is asked, whether he is willing to undergo either of these Trials? If he submits to it, they put upon his Hand seven Leaves from a certain Tree, and upon those Leaves they clap a red-hot Iron. He holds it there for some time, and then throws it upon the Ground. They immediately put his Hand into a Leather Pouch, which at the same time is sealed up with the Seal of the Magistrate. At the end of three Days, if the Hand is found to be sound and well, he is declared innocent, and his Accuser is condemned to pay a Mark of Gold for the use of the Prince. The Trial of Water is performed by throwing a Ring into a Kettle of boiling Water: If the Person accused can take it out from thence with his Hand, without suffering any Harm, he is pronounced Innocent.
This way of Proof was not unknown to Sophocles,2 and it was for a long time in use among the Christians of the greatest part of Europe.3 They even pretended to make it pass for a harmless and religious Rite, since we find Masses and Prayers that were said on these Occasions. The Indians to this Day continue this Practice. The Cafres oblige those who are suspected of any capital Crime, to swallow Poison, to lick a hot Iron, or to drink boiling Water, in which certain bitter Herbs have been boiled. The Negro’s of Loango and of Guinea, the Siamese, and other Indians, have the same Piece of Superstition among them, and are thoroughly persuaded, that these Trials do no Harm to any that are innocent.
Waters of the Feet. So the Hebrews called Urine. Isai. xxxvi. 12. Ut bibant urinam pedum suorum: The Hebrew says, The Water of their Feet.
Josh. xi. 5, 7.Waters often stand for Posterity. Isaiah xlviii. 1. Which are come forth out of the Waters of Judah. Numb. xxiv. 7. He shall pour the Water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many Waters. Prov. v. 15, 16. Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
Waters of Merom. Many think these to be the Waters of the Lake Semechon, lying between the Springs of the Jordan and the Lake of Tiberias. But it is more probable that Merom, or Merome, was in the great Plain, and, as Eusebius says, twelve Miles from Sebaste, towards Dothaim. Deborah says, that Zebulun Judg. v. 18.and Naphthali fought against Sisera in the Canton of Merom. But it is plain, that they fought at the foot of Mount Tabor, and near the Brook Kishon.
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