Numbers 19:2-9

2 “This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.

3 Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.

4 Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.

5 While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines.

6 The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.

7 After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening.

8 The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.

9 “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin.

Numbers 19:2-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 19

This chapter contains a law for making a water for purification for sin, the ingredients of which are the ashes of a red heifer burnt, about which many things are observed, Nu 19:1-10; the use of the water made of them, to purify such as were unclean by the touch of a dead body, Nu 19:11-13; some rules are given, by which it might be known who were unclean on account of a dead body, Nu 19:14-16; the manner of purifying such persons, Nu 19:17-19; and the punishment of those that should neglect purification, Nu 19:20-22.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 15:9; Hebrews 9:13
• 2. S Leviticus 22:19-25
• 3. Deuteronomy 21:3; 1 Samuel 6:7
• 4. Numbers 3:4
• 5. S Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:12,21; Hebrews 13:11
• 6. S Leviticus 4:17
• 7. S Exodus 29:14
• 8. ver 18; Psalms 51:7
• 9. S Leviticus 14:4
• 10. S Leviticus 11:25; S Leviticus 14:8; Leviticus 16:26,28; Leviticus 22:6
• 11. Hebrews 9:13
• 12. S Exodus 29:31; S Leviticus 4:12
• 13. ver 13; Numbers 8:7
• 14. S Genesis 35:2