(Numb. 5:15:) “Then he shall bring the offering for her, one-tenth an ephah of barley meal.” Why does she bring barley meal?19Sot. 2:1; cf. Sifre, to Numb. 5:15. Because she behaved in the manner of a beast with him, she therefore brings the food of a beast as her offering. (Ibid. cont.:) “He shall pour no oil upon it.” Why does he not pour oil upon it?20Numb. R. 9:13. Because the oil is a light and is [also] called yitshar (a word which can mean "it will shine"); while this woman loves the darkness. Therefore there should be no light in her offering. [(Ibid., cont.:) Nor shall he put frankincense upon it.”] Why does he not put frankincense upon it? Because the frankincense is a remembrance of the matriarchs, [as stated] (in Cant. 4:6), “I will go unto the mountain of myrrh and unto the mound of frankincense,” while this woman has withdrawn from their ways. Her offering should [therefore] be a reminder of iniquity and not a reminder of merit.
וְהֵבִיא אֶת קָרְבָּנָהּ עָלֶיהָ עֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה קֶמַח שְׂעוֹרִים. וְלָמָּה מְבִיאָה קֶמַח שְׂעוֹרִים. לְפִי שֶׁנָּהֲגָה עִמּוֹ מִנְהַג בְּהֵמָה, לְפִיכָךְ הֵבִיא קָרְבָּנָהּ מַאֲכַל בְּהֵמָה. לֹא יִצֹּק עָלֶיהָ שֶׁמֶן. לָמָּה לֹא יִצֹּק עָלֶיהָ שֶׁמֶן. שֶׁהַשֶּׁמֶן אוֹר וְקָרוּי יִצְהָר, וְזוֹ אָהֲבָה אֶת הָאֲפֵלָה, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא תְּהֵא אוֹר בְּמִנְחָתָהּ. לָמָּה לֹא יִתֵּן עָלֶיהָ לְבוֹנָה. שֶׁהַלְּבוֹנָה זֵכֶר לָאִמָּהוֹת הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֵלֵךָ לִי אֶל הַר הַמֹּר וְאֶל גִּבְעַת הַלְּבוֹנָה (שה״ש ד, ו), וְזוֹ פֵּרְשָׁה מִדַּרְכֵיהֶן. לְפִיכָךְ תְּהֵא מִנְחָתָהּ מַזְכֶּרֶת עָוֹן, וְלֹא מַזְכֶּרֶת זְכוּת.
(Numb. 5:15:) “Then he shall bring the offering for her, one-tenth an ephah of barley meal.” Why does she bring barley meal?19Sot. 2:1; cf. Sifre, to Numb. 5:15. Because she behaved in the manner of a beast with him, she therefore brings the food of a beast as her offering. (Ibid. cont.:) “He shall pour no oil upon it.” Why does he not pour oil upon it?20Numb. R. 9:13. Because the oil is a light and is [also] called yitshar (a word which can mean "it will shine"); while this woman loves the darkness. Therefore there should be no light in her offering. [(Ibid., cont.:) Nor shall he put frankincense upon it.”] Why does he not put frankincense upon it? Because the frankincense is a remembrance of the matriarchs, [as stated] (in Cant. 4:6), “I will go unto the mountain of myrrh and unto the mound of frankincense,” while this woman has withdrawn from their ways. Her offering should [therefore] be a reminder of iniquity and not a reminder of merit.