Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 5:12

12 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any mans wife go aside , and commit a trespass against him,

This law was given partly to deterre wives from adulterous practises, and partly to secure wives against the rage of their hard-hearted husbands who otherwise might upon meer suspitions destroy them, or at least put them away. Quest. Why was there not the same law for the trial of the husband, when the wife was jealous of him? Ans. This might be either 1. because the womans sin is greater, because there is not onely filthiness and falsness in it, which is also in the mans sin, but also peculiar unrighteousness in dishonouring his name and family, and transferring his estate to strangers and other mens children: or 2. because there was not like fear of inconveniencies to the husband from the jealousie of the wife who had not that authority and power and opportunity for the putting away or killing of the husband as the husband had over the wife. Or 3. because being the inferiour and the weaker sex and more subject to jealousies and groundless suspitions it was not thought expedient to trust them with such a power or priviledge.

From the way of religion and justice, or from her faith given to her husband, or to the by-paths of falshood and filthiness, and that either in truth or in appearance and in her husbands opinion.