The command to obtain a red heifer is a significant ordinance found in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Numbers. This command is part of the ceremonial laws given to the Israelites and holds particular importance in the context of ritual purification.

Biblical Reference:

The primary scriptural reference for the command to obtain a red heifer is found in Numbers 19:1-10. The Berean Standard Bible provides the following account:

"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without blemish or defect and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest, and he will have it brought outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. 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. Then the heifer is to be burned in his sight—its hide, flesh, and blood, along with its dung. The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come back into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean until evening. The one who burns the heifer must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean until evening. A man who is clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and place 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. The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening. This is a permanent statute for the Israelites and for the foreigner residing among them.'"

Purpose and Significance:

The red heifer ritual was instituted as a means of purification, particularly from the defilement associated with death. The ashes of the red heifer, when mixed with water, were used to create the "water of cleansing" or "water of purification." This water was then used to purify individuals who had come into contact with a corpse, thus restoring them to a state of ceremonial cleanliness.

The requirement for the heifer to be "without blemish or defect" and to have "never been under a yoke" underscores the necessity for purity and perfection in the sacrificial system. The inclusion of cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool in the burning process further emphasizes the symbolic nature of the ritual, each element carrying its own significance in the broader context of Israelite worship and purification practices.

Theological Implications:

The command to obtain a red heifer and the associated purification ritual highlight the holiness of God and the need for His people to be ceremonially clean in order to approach Him. It serves as a reminder of the pervasive nature of sin and death and the necessity of divine provision for cleansing and restoration.

In Christian theology, the red heifer is often seen as a typological foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice. Just as the ashes of the red heifer provided purification from the defilement of death, so too does the sacrifice of Jesus Christ provide ultimate purification from sin and spiritual death for believers.

Historical and Eschatological Context:

Historically, the ritual of the red heifer was practiced during the time of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. The ashes of the red heifer were considered essential for maintaining the purity required for worship and participation in the religious life of Israel.

In eschatological discussions, particularly within certain Jewish and Christian traditions, the red heifer is associated with the rebuilding of the Third Temple. The procurement of a red heifer that meets the biblical criteria is seen by some as a necessary step in the restoration of Temple worship and the fulfillment of end-times prophecy.

The command to obtain a red heifer thus remains a topic of interest and significance within both historical and contemporary religious discourse.