Atheist Memes

That article is kind of weak and is clearly written by someone seeking a conclusion from the outset. They're trying to claim that numbers was mistranslated and actually means that if a wife had an affair, you should rush to your priest and they will make a cup of dirty water, force her to drink it and make her pray. What is the purpose of this weird task? Clearly to give her a stomach ache and make her feel bad. The story as a whole makes no sense in that context and completely pointless.

You can't claim something is mistranslated if the alternative translation makes no sense and the main translation does. In this case, I think the author really wants to dodge the correct interpretation of the passage.

For those that won't read but want context.

• The author is a medical professional and researcher, and also speaker for The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (rationale arguments for Christianity)
• Commentor's "even" statement above speculates the author is biased against, this is not true.
• As with anything, bias can not be ruled out with the above

The meme is referencing:

If she has made herself impure and been unfaithful to her husband, this will be the result: When she is made to drink the water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering, it will enter her, her abdomen (bitnah, בטנה) will swell (root tsabah, צבה) and her womb (yerekah, ירכה) will miscarry (root naphal, נפל), and she will become a curse. (Numbers 5:27, NIV)

When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb (bitnah, בטנה) shall discharge (root tsabah, צבה), her uterus (yerekah, ירכה) drop (root naphal, נפל), and the woman shall become an execration among her people. (Numbers 5:27, NRSV)

The authors argument is that NIT mistranslates, and this is not a drug for miscarriage (uterus, miscarry), but a laxative (bowels).

The argument seems sound, however as admitted, nothing can be determined for sure.

I have not looked at any counterpoints, this is just my interpretation of the study.