<HTML>Jacob Milgrom points out that the husband, since he has no proof, cannot
bring his wife to a regular beit din. Rather, Hashem must be the judge.
This protects the wife. (Similarly, if le'havdil, see Code of Hammurabi
131, but contrast a 3rd party accusation in par. 132).
(Despite the fact that Milgrom is not Orthodox, his commentaries pay a
great deal of attention to Chazal. His wisdom on the rationale behind
Biblical ritual is unparalleled, because he also knows all the
extra-Biblical Ancient Near Eastern material. One should not take a
chauvinistic denominational view and ignore his commentaries.)
To Barbara Freedman: Mishnah Sotah 9:9 states that due to the rise of
male adulterers, the ordeal of Sotah was obviated by Rabbi Y. ben Zakkai
(al semach Hosea 4:14).</HTML>
