He took her minchah-offering out of the Egyptian basket, put it into a service-vessel, and placed it in her hand. The Kohen placed his hand beneath hers and waved it.

He waved [it] and brought [it] near [the altar], removed a kometz and burned [it]; and the remainder was eaten by the Ko-hanim. He [first] gave her to drink and then offered her minchah-offering. R’ Shimon says: He offered her minchah-offering and then gave her to drink, as it is said (v. 26): And afterward, he shall give the woman the waters to drink. [But] if he gave her to drink and afterward offered her minchah-offering, it is valid.

Before the scroll was erased, [if] she said, “I will not drink,” her scroll is hidden away and her minchah-offering is scattered on the ash heap. Her scroll is not valid for the use of any other sotah. [If] the scroll was erased and she [then] said, “I am de-filed,” the water is poured out and her minchah-offering is scattered on the ash heap. [But if] the scroll was erased and she [then] said, “I will not drink,” they force her and make her drink against her will.

She hardly finishes drinking before her face becomes sallow, her eyes bulge and her veins protrude. And they call out: “Take her out! (Take her out!)” so that she will not contaminate the [Temple] Courtyard with tumah.  If she had any merit, it held her [punishment] in abeyance. Certain merits hold [the punishment] in abeyance for one year, others hold [it] in abey-ance for two years, others hold [it] in abeyance for three years. Based on this Ben Azzai says; A man should teach his daugh-ter Torah, so that if she ever drinks she will realize that merit can hold her [punishment] in abeyance. R’ Eliezer says: Who-ever teaches his daughter Torah, it is as though he teaches her sensuality. R’ Yehoshua says: A woman prefers one measure with sensuality than nine measures with chastity.  He used to say: A foolish saint, a cuning evildoer, an abstinent woman, and the wounds of the pious, these are the ruin of [the] world.