Red Heifer Numbers 19

Numbers 19:17 "And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: v18 And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:..."

The Red Heifer is a subject of much discussion and rightfully so.

No particular verse from Numbers 19 can be picked out to explain this commandment, it is described throughout the chapter. Yet, still there is mystery here. Of all the offerings, this one is different. For one it is killed outside the tabernacle, outside the camp v3

"And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: v4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: v5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight, her skin, and her flesh and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn."

The ashes are then gathered up and placed in a clean place v9 without the camp.

Water of separation

V9 And a man that is clean shall gather up the shes of the heifer and la them up without the camp in a clean place ad it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin."

Heifer

Must be: Red, without spot, no blemish, never had a yoke.

A heifer is a young cow that has not yet borne a calf.

A red heifer would be a rare thing to find.

I expect many papers have been written in seminaries about the red heifer. Some look on the prospect of Israel finding such an animal with fear, for it points to the rebuilding of the temple which as we know is a problem since there are shrines of another religion on the mount. So there is a fear of conflict when the red heifer is found. I've heard in past years that there was a search for the original ashes instead of a living red heifer.

Regardless of the fears, the red heifer is very important in prophecy. To the Jew it points to the rebuilding of the Temple. To the Christian it points to the imminent return of Christ and the end of the world as we know it. Some say, the red heifer is a type of Christ since he suffered without the camp and offers a one time cleansing for sin.

You can see that this is not a subject that can be dealt with in a study such as this were we are primarily interested in showing the content of the Bible and where to find things. Know though, that there is not a great deal of discussion in the Bible on the subject. It is a unique subject.

Focus can be directed toward the subject of death in relation. For there are very specific details for those handling the red heifer and their washing. It is a process carried out by several people because there must be a clean person to carry out the cleansing process for another. It's worth a slow read.

I found it interesting that the water was used to clean but those who touched it were considered unclean v21,22 .

Look at Ezekiel 36:24-27 "For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you v26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh. v27 And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them v28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and ye shall be my people and I will be your God.

Again, let me recommend reading in Hebrews for as a Christian we believe that Christ established a new priesthood other than the priesthood of Aaron. The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ just as we learn from our parents to do right until we ourselves understand that right is the right thing to do.

Psalm 126:3 The Lord hath done great things for us: whereof we are glad."