[QUOTE=Chris8282;949830]Can someone explain to me the "Ordeal of The Cursed Bitter Water" in the book 'Numbers'? It's the one where if a man is suspicious (No evidence is necessary as I understand it) that his wife is cheating then he can have her go through an "ordeal" where she drinks "cursed bitter water" which is made up of a few things including dust from the temple and then made to drink it. If her stomach swells or her thighs rot then she was unfaithful. If none of that happens then she was faithful. I've even heard from a few sources that, if she is pregnant, this kills the baby and is similiar to an abortion (legal one at that) but I'm not sure about that part since the translation that I am using for my bible says nothing about a baby dying.

Anyone have any answers? Why was this an ethical christian thing to do? Seems to be pretty unchristian and provides a big problem with the bible... and I'm a Christian. I've avoided the Old Testament for a long time because I find it hinders my faith more than helps it and I'm not even talking about the usual problems that people bring up. I mostly understand those. Thanks for your help in advance!

The verses are here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se … version=31[/QUOTE]

It is an interesting passage, however, I'm not sure it would be classified as an "ethical Christian thing to do".  In as much as it deals with the law, it would be classified more as "Jewish". 

According the the scripture, as a Christian, one has the stance of receiving a New Covenant and therefore a New Law - one of love.

However, in reference to Numbers, apparently God used this method to judge the heart of the woman.  It is possible that Jewish people may interpret it differently, but taking it for face value, it would appear that this was God's method for judging this situation.