Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 5:17

17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel , and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water :

Either water out of the holy la[illegible: 1+ letters]er, Exod. 30. 18. or rather the water of purification appointed for such kind of uses, Numb. 19. 9. This was used, that if she were guilty, she might be afraid to adde profaneness and the pollution of holy things to her other crime.

Either to signify that frailty and vileness of which she stood accused, or express her sorrowful and shameful condition, or because, after this use, it was to be broken in pieces, that the remembrance of it might be blotted out as far as was possible. Compare Lev. 6. 28. and 11. 33. and 15. 12.

An emblem of vileness and misery, as appears from Iob 2. 12. Psal. 22. 15. Lam. 3. 29. and the serpents food, Gen. 3. 14. very proper for her who had been seduced to folly by the serpents instigation.

Which made it holy dust and struck the greater terrour into the woman, if she were guilty.

To make it more unpleasant and bitter, which was suitable to one in that sorrowful state.