Bitter Waters

In Exodus 15 we find the following passages

כג וַיָּבֹאוּ מָרָתָה--וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לִשְׁתֹּת מַיִם מִמָּרָה, כִּי מָרִים הֵם; עַל-כֵּן קָרָא-שְׁמָהּ, מָרָה.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.

כד וַיִּלֹּנוּ הָעָם עַל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר, מַה-נִּשְׁתֶּה.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying: 'What shall we drink?'

כה וַיִּצְעַק אֶל-יְהוָה, וַיּוֹרֵהוּ יְהוָה עֵץ, וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ אֶל-הַמַּיִם, וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמָּיִם; שָׁם שָׂם לוֹ חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט, וְשָׁם נִסָּהוּ.

25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There He made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them;

כו וַיֹּאמֶר אִם-שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע לְקוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו תַּעֲשֶׂה, וְהַאֲזַנְתָּ לְמִצְו‍ֹתָיו, וְשָׁמַרְתָּ כָּל-חֻקָּיו--כָּל-הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר-שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם, לֹא-אָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה, רֹפְאֶךָ. {ס}

26 and He said: 'If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His eyes, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD that healeth thee.' {S}


I was giving the Daf today (Tractate Sotah)and I noticed that the Torah (Numbers 5,11-31)when referring to the water that is given to the Sotah to drink, also refers to the water as "Mayim Hamorim"(bitter waters).The jealous husband brings his wife who is suspected of being disloyal to the Temple and she is then tested by being given to drink this "Mayim Hamorim"(a recipe that consists of a parchment with G-D's name that is ground up and mixed with water). If she is found guilty she dies a horrible death with her stomach exploding.On the other hand if she is found innocent she is blessed with children.
It seems that the Jewish people after surviving Egypt and were now about to enter a covenant with G-D(with the giving of the Torah)were also being tested by the "Mayim Hamorim". That is why it says שָׁם שָׂם לוֹ חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט, וְשָׁם נִסָּהוּ. (There He made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them; ). Apparently whatever laws were given at that time(Rashi brings a Michiltah that the laws of Shabbos,the Red Cow and Monetary laws were given),proved that the Jews were loyal and ready to dedicate themselves to G-D. It was after this test of obedience and dedication that G-D and the Jewish people were ready to consummate their marriage with the giving of the Torah.