The Torah in Parashat Naso (Bamidbar 5:12-15) commands that in a situation where a woman becomes a “Sota,” her husband must bring her to the Bet Ha’mikdash, where she is given special water to drink. The case of a “Sota” is where a husband suspects his wife of having a relationship with another man, prompting him to warn her not to seclude herself with that man, but she is seen going into seclusion with him. In such a case, the husband and wife may not have relations until the wife is brought to the Bet Ha’mikdash and given the special water which tests whether or not she indeed had an adulterous relationship. If she did, then she would die after drinking the water, and thus if she survived, she has been determined to be innocent, and she and her husband may resume their marriage. The word “Sota” means “strayed,” referring to the fact that this woman had “strayed” from proper behavior. Even if she had not committed an act of adultery, she had nevertheless acted in an appropriately flirtatious manner that aroused her husband’s suspicion, and she then violated his warning by going into seclusion with another man. In explaining the reason behind this Misva, the Sefer Ha’hinuch writes that the Torah arranged a system whereby a suspicious husband’s concerns can be allayed, and he can be reassured that his wife had not been unfaithful. It is a source of praise for Am Yisrael, the Sefer Ha’hinuch comments, that we are given a mechanism whereby this concealed information – of whether or not the wife had an adulterous affair – can be disclosed. This information allows the husband and wife to resume their relationship with strong bonds of love and trust. The Sefer Ha’hinuch writes that this miraculous system was discontinued “Mi’she’rabu Mena’afim Be’Yisrael” – when, unfortunately, infidelity became common among Am Yisrael, such that our nation became unworthy of this miracle. The husband’s warning to his wife must be given in the presence of witnesses, and she becomes a “Sota” if she is then seen secluding herself with that man for the period in which she could commit an adulterous act. The Gemara cites different views as to the precise length of this period, and the accepted position is that it is the period of time needed to roast an egg and then swallow it. As mentioned, if the woman is seen violating her husband’s warning, they may not have relations until she drinks the special water. When the special water cannot be prepared, such as nowadays, then the couple must divorce, and the wife does not receive the payment of her Ketuba. A woman does not drink the water for the same man more than once. Meaning, if she was seen secluding herself with a man against her husband’s warning, and she drank the water and survived, she does not go through this process again if the husband later warns her a second time not to seclude herself with that same man, and she did. If, however, the husband then warned her not to seclude herself with a different man, and she violated his warning, she must go through the process again. Even if the husband warns her repeatedly, regarding one hundred men, she must drink the water each time she violates his warning regarding a different man. If a woman refuses to drink, she is not forced to; she instead leaves her husband without receiving her Ketuba. This Misva is binding specifically upon men, as the husband is commanded to bring his wife to the Bet Ha’mikdash in the case of a “Sota.” The obligation applies only in times where there is a Sanhedrin. A husband who fails to bring his wife to the Bet Ha’mikdash if she is a “Sota” has transgressed this affirmative command. Although he is not liable to Malkut, the Sefer Ha’hinuch warns that he will be punished severely for failing to fulfill this Misva.