Topical Encyclopedia The "Water of Separation," also known as the "Water of Purification," is a significant element in the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament, specifically within the context of the purification rites described in the Book of Numbers. This water was used for the ritual cleansing of individuals who had become ceremonially unclean through contact with a dead body. The instructions for its preparation and use are detailed in Numbers 19.Biblical Instructions and Preparation The preparation of the Water of Separation involved a specific ritual using the ashes of a red heifer. Numbers 19:2-6 provides the initial instructions: "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 with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. Then the heifer must be burned in his sight—its hide, flesh, and blood, along with its dung." The ashes from this burnt offering were then collected and stored in a clean place outside the camp. These ashes were later mixed with fresh water to create the Water of Separation. Numbers 19:9 states, "Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a ceremonially clean place. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of purification; it is for purification from sin." Purpose and Use The primary purpose of the Water of Separation was to purify those who had become unclean through contact with a corpse. This included touching a dead body, being in a tent where someone had died, or touching a human bone or grave. Numbers 19:11-13 explains, "Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with the water on the third day and the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. Anyone who touches a dead body and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. Because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean; his uncleanness remains on him." The ritual involved sprinkling the Water of Separation on the unclean person on the third and seventh days of their impurity. This act symbolized the removal of defilement and restored the individual to a state of ceremonial cleanliness, allowing them to participate once again in the religious life of the community. Symbolism and Theological Significance The Water of Separation holds deep symbolic meaning within the broader context of the Old Testament sacrificial system. It underscores the holiness of God and the necessity for His people to be pure and undefiled, especially when approaching Him in worship. The use of a red heifer, a rare and unblemished animal, signifies the costliness and seriousness of sin and impurity. From a theological perspective, the Water of Separation prefigures the ultimate purification from sin provided through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:13-14 draws a parallel between the Old Testament purification rites and the redemptive work of Christ: "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?" In this way, the Water of Separation serves as a foreshadowing of the cleansing power of Christ's sacrifice, which purifies believers from the defilement of sin and enables them to stand righteous before God. Nave's Topical Index Numbers 19:2-22This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and on which never came yoke: Nave's Topical Index Smith's Bible Dictionary Water of SeparationLibrary High Priest Of the Idea that the Angels were Meant Where the Separation of the ... Fifth Sunday in Lent The Two Storms (Jesus Walking on the Water) Whether the Cleansing of the World Will be Effected by Fire? The Sethian Theory Concerning "Mixture" and "Composition ... Oath Used by the Justinian Heretics; the Book of Baruch; the ... What is Man? In Palestine - Jews and Gentiles in the Land' - their Mutual ... Differences in Judgment About Water Baptism, no Bar to Communion ... Resources What is the water of life? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of bitter water in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to be born of water? | GotQuestions.org Water: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Water in Times of Scarcity, Sold at an Enormous Price Water of Bitterness or of Jealousy Water of Separation or of Uncleanness Water of the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit Water was Used by Jews for Culinary Purposes Water was Used by Jews for Legal Purification Water was Used by Jews for Washing the Person Water was Used by Jews: As Their Principal Beverage Water: (Covering the Sea) of the General Diffusion of The Water: (Deep) of Counsel in the Heart Water: (Deep) of Severe Affliction Water: (Deep) of the Words of the Wise Water: (Difficulty of Stopping) of Strife and Contention Water: (Its Instability) of a Wavering Disposition Water: (Its Weakness) of Faintness and Cowardice Water: (Many) of a Variety of Afflictions Water: (Many) of Different Nations and People Water: (Noise of Many) of the Word of Christ Water: (Poured Out) Faintness by Terror Water: (Poured Out) the Wrath of God Water: (Pouring, out of Buckets) a Numerous Progeny Water: (Rapidly Flowing Away) the Career of the Wicked Water: (Spilled on the Ground) Death Water: (Still) the Ordinances of the Gospel Water: Artificial Mode of Conveying, Into Large Cities Water: Collected in The Clouds Water: Covered the Whole Earth Water: Drops from the Clouds in Rain Water: Frequently Brackish and Unfit for Use Water: God Originally: Collected Into One Place Water: God Originally: Created Fowls and Fishes From Water: God Originally: Created the Firmament to Divide Water: Kept for Purification in Large Waterpots Water: Miracles Connected With: Brought from the Jaw-Bone of an Ass Water: Miracles Connected With: Brought from the Rock Water: Miracles Connected With: Consumed by Fire from Heaven Water: Miracles Connected With: Divided and Made to Stand on Heap Water: Miracles Connected With: Healing Powers Communicated To Water: Miracles Connected With: Iron Made to Swim In Water: Miracles Connected With: Our Lord Walking On Water: Miracles Connected With: Trenches Filled With Water: Miracles Connected With: Turned Into Blood Water: Miracles Connected With: Turned Into Wine Water: Miraculously Supplied: To Jehoshaphat's Army Water: Miraculously Supplied: To Samson Water: Miraculously Supplied: To the Israelites Water: Necessary to the Comfort and Happiness of Man Water: Necessary to Vegetation Water: One of the Elements of the World Water: Rises in Vapour to the Clouds Water: some Plants Particularly Require Water: The Want of, Considered a Great Calamity Water: The World and Its Inhabitants Once Destroyed By Water: The World not to be Again Destroyed By Water: Wearing the Hardest Substances Related Terms Water-springs (12 Occurrences) |
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