2,018. Concluding Hilchos Sotah and Sefer Nashim

Hilchos Sotah 4:18

It is a mitzvah for Jewish men to issue warnings of jealousy to their wives when necessary as per Numbers 5:14, “He shall warn his wife.” One who issues such a warning is embracing a spirit of purity. Such warnings should not be made jokingly, in the course of conversation, lightly, during the course of an argument or for the purpose of frightening her. If a man violated and issued a warning under improper coditions, the warning is nevertheless effective.

Hilchos Sotah 4:19

It’s not appropriate for a man to go straight for issuing a warning to his wife in front of witnesses. Rather, he should first speak with her gently in private, with a sense of purity and caution in order to direct her on the proper path and to remove the obstacle. If a man is not careful about his wife, his children and the members of his household, warning them and being aware of their conduct at all times in order to ensure that they’re free from sin or transgression, then he’s a sinner. This is derived from Job 5:24, “You will know that your tent is at peace, examine your dwelling and not sin.”

This concludes Hilchos Sotah, as well as Sefer Nashim