“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].”