Numbers 19

1 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen et Aaron dicens

2 ista est religio victimae quam constituit Dominus praecipe filiis Israhel ut adducant ad te vaccam rufam aetatis integrae in qua nulla sit macula nec portaverit iugum

3 tradetisque eam Eleazaro sacerdoti qui eductam extra castra immolabit in conspectu omnium

4 et tinguens digitum in sanguine eius asperget contra fores tabernaculi septem vicibus

5 conburetque eam cunctis videntibus tam pelle et carnibus eius quam sanguine et fimo flammae traditis

6 lignum quoque cedrinum et hysopum coccumque bis tinctum sacerdos mittet in flammam quae vaccam vorat

7 et tunc demum lotis vestibus et corpore suo ingredietur in castra commaculatusque erit usque ad vesperam

8 sed et ille qui conbuserit eam lavabit vestimenta sua et corpus et inmundus erit usque ad vesperam

9 colliget autem vir mundus cineres vaccae et effundet eos extra castra in loco purissimo ut sint multitudini filiorum Israhel in custodiam et in aquam aspersionis quia pro peccato vacca conbusta est

10 cumque laverit qui vaccae portaverat cineres vestimenta sua inmundus erit usque ad vesperum habebunt hoc filii Israhel et advenae qui habitant inter eos sanctum iure perpetuo

11 qui tetigerit cadaver hominis et propter hoc septem diebus fuerit inmundus

12 aspergetur ex hac aqua die tertio et septimo et sic mundabitur si die tertio aspersus non fuerit septimo non poterit emundari

13 omnis qui tetigerit humanae animae morticinum et aspersus hac commixtione non fuerit polluet tabernaculum Domini et peribit ex Israhel quia aqua expiationis non est aspersus inmundus erit et manebit spurcitia eius super eum

14 ista est lex hominis qui moritur in tabernaculo omnes qui ingrediuntur tentorium illius et universa vasa quae ibi sunt polluta erunt septem diebus

15 vas quod non habuerit operculum nec ligaturam desuper inmundum erit

16 si quis in agro tetigerit cadaver occisi hominis aut per se mortui sive os illius vel sepulchrum inmundus erit septem diebus

17 tollent de cineribus conbustionis atque peccati et mittent aquas vivas super eos in vas

18 in quibus cum homo mundus tinxerit hysopum asperget eo omne tentorium et cunctam supellectilem et homines huiuscemodi contagione pollutos

19 atque hoc modo mundus lustrabit inmundum tertio et septimo die expiatusque die septimo lavabit et se et vestimenta sua et mundus erit ad vesperam

20 si quis hoc ritu non fuerit expiatus peribit anima illius de medio ecclesiae quia sanctuarium Domini polluit et non est aqua lustrationis aspersus

21 erit hoc praeceptum legitimum sempiternum ipse quoque qui aspergit aquas lavabit vestimenta sua omnis qui tetigerit aquas expiationis inmundus erit usque ad vesperam

22 quicquid tetigerit inmundus inmundum faciet et anima quae horum quippiam tetigerit inmunda erit usque ad vesperum

Numbers 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

The ashes of a heifer. (1-10) Used to purify the unclean. (11-22)

Verses 1-10 The heifer was to be wholly burned. This typified the painful sufferings of our Lord Jesus, both in soul and body, as a sacrifice made by fire, to satisfy God's justice for man's sin. These ashes are said to be laid up as a purification for sin, because, though they were only to purify from ceremonial uncleanness, yet they were a type of that purification for sin which our Lord Jesus made by his death. The blood of Christ is laid up for us in the word and sacraments, as a fountain of merit, to which by faith we may have constant recourse, for cleansing our consciences.

Verses 11-22 Why did the law make a corpse a defiling thing? Because death is the wages of sin, which entered into the world by it, and reigns by the power of it. The law could not conquer death, nor abolish it, as the gospel does, by bringing life and immortality to light, and so introducing a better hope. As the ashes of the heifer signified the merit of Christ, so the running water signified the power and grace of the blessed Spirit, who is compared to rivers of living water; and it is by his work that the righteousness of Christ is applied to us for our cleansing. Those who promise themselves benefit by the righteousness of Christ, while they submit not to the grace and influence of the Holy Spirit, do but deceive themselves; we cannot be purified by the ashes, otherwise than in the running water. What use could there be in these appointments, if they do not refer to the doctrines concerning the sacrifice of Christ? But comparing them with the New Testament, the knowledge to be got from them is evident. The true state of fallen man is shown in these institutions. Here we learn the defiling nature of sin, and are warned to avoid evil communications.

Chapter Summary

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.