Topical Bible: The Red Heifer: Entire of, to be Burned

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The Red Heifer holds a significant place in the ceremonial laws of ancient Israel, as detailed in the Old Testament. The primary scriptural reference for the Red Heifer is found in Numbers 19, where God provides Moses and Aaron with specific instructions regarding its use for purification purposes.

Biblical Instructions and Rituals

The Red Heifer is described as a young female cow that is entirely red, without blemish or defect, and upon which no yoke has been laid. Numbers 19:2 states, "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 which has never been under a yoke."

The ritual involving the Red Heifer is unique in that it is one of the few sacrifices conducted outside the camp of Israel. The heifer is to be slaughtered in the presence of the priest, and its blood is to be sprinkled seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. Numbers 19:3-4 details this process: "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."

Entirety and Burning

The entire body of the Red Heifer, including its hide, flesh, blood, and even its dung, is to be burned. This complete burning is a distinctive aspect of the ritual, symbolizing total purification. Numbers 19:5 states, "Then the heifer must be burned in his sight—its hide, flesh, and blood, along with its dung."

During the burning, cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool are added to the fire. These elements are rich in symbolic meaning, often associated with purification and cleansing throughout the Scriptures. Numbers 19:6 instructs, "The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer."

Purpose and Significance

The ashes of the Red Heifer are collected and stored in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. These ashes are then used to create the "water of purification," which is essential for cleansing those who have become ceremonially unclean through contact with a dead body. Numbers 19:9 explains, "A man who is 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 a sin offering."

The ritual of the Red Heifer underscores the importance of purity and holiness in the worship of God. It serves as a powerful reminder of the need for cleansing from sin and impurity, pointing forward to the ultimate purification through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, as interpreted by many Christian theologians. The Red Heifer, therefore, is not only a historical and ceremonial element of the Old Testament but also a typological foreshadowing of the New Covenant's promise of redemption and purification.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 19:5
And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Appendix 1 Massecheth Middoth
... it the high-priest who burned the Red Heifer, and all ... so that the priest who burned
the heifer, standing on ... The entire court was 187 cubits long and 135 cubits ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 1 massecheth middoth.htm

Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ...
... and burned the cow, and he who burned, and he who ... into the Holy of Holies, and the
entire sanctuary was ... we assigned (ad 5) to the sacrifice of the red heifer. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 2.htm

Scriptural Types.
... of incense, on which the priests burned sweet incense ... and generality it signified
the entire self-consecration ... 32); the sacrifice of the red heifer from which ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... [2832] Here year by year a red heifer was burned as a holocaust to the Lord and ...
[3005] The entire monastery was filled with bodies of virgins and monks. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

Dialogue iii. --The Impassible.
... exhibited by the lamb slain in Egypt, and by the red heifer burned without the ... but
the substance abides without spot, and preserves its entire dignity without ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue iii the impassible.htm

The Memphite Empire
... The Egyptians applied to the entire country the characteristic ... were actually sixteen
lower courses in red granite ... his child in a hollow wooden heifer, which he ...
/.../chapter iithe memphite empire.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... when he projected his edition of the entire works, of ... This thing, had you not with
my heifer plow'd ... proposed; And towards them his anger fiercely burned, And he ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm