Numberschapter 19

22 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 172 cross-references outward and receives 135 — heaviest partner: Leviticus.

Chapter summary

The red heifer. A heifer without blemish, whereon never came yoke; slain outside the camp; her blood sprinkled before the tabernacle; the whole animal burned — with cedar, hyssop, and scarlet — and her ashes gathered and kept in a clean place. Mixed with running water, the ashes cleanse the one defiled by a dead body. Anyone who touches a corpse is unclean seven days; the water of purification sprinkled on the third and seventh day cleanses. The chapter supplies a regular cleansing for the most common defilement in the camp. Hebrews 9:13–14 contrasts the ashes of a heifer with the blood of Christ — how much more.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Numbers overview for the book's full setting.

1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

2 This is the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke.

3 And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:

4 and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.

5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:

6 and the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.

8 And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.

9 And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place; and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water for impurity: it is a sin-offering.