Introduction

From The Temple Institute

[The following in-depth study of the history and “tradition” of the red heifer has been excerpted from the book The Mystery of the Red Heifer: Divine Promise of Purity, [1997] (no longer in print), written by Rabbi Chaim Richman,]

In our own times, the commandment of the red heifer takes on more and more significance. For without it, the Divine service of the Holy Temple cannot be resumed. There is a spiritual renaissance today in Israel; after almost 2,000 years, Israel is clearly moving towards the time when the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah - the prophesied Third Temple - will be rebuilt.

THE RED HEIFER: THE MISSING INGREDIENT

What does a red heifer have to do with any of this? Perhaps it would be difficult for some to believe that a cow could be so important. But in truth, the fate of the entire world depends on the red heifer. For G-d has ordained that its ashes alone are the single missing ingredient for the reinstatement of Biblical purity - and thereafter, the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. And as we will discuss in these pages, the ashes of the red heifer rectifies humanity's most basic flaw: despair. The despair brought about by the loss of the Temple and the Divine Presence amongst us.

·       The above helps explain Rom 11:25

Mark 7:3-13

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

1Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

2Thes 3:6 ¶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us

·       Traditions received from Paul that we are to follow for worship came directlr to him from Christ.

Numbers 19:2 The Red Heifer A unique creation of God

The color of the heifer: Red

In genetics the color red is recessive to all other color even to black which is affected by all other colors. Example Angus and Hereford (red with white face) cross will produce a calf that is black with a white face. In Red Angus cattle there is some hairs that have off coloring. The perfectly red heifer was a direct act of God.

This is the only time the color of the animal sacrificed was ordered by the LORD.

The age of the heifer: not known

·       Note: comment that she was to never had a yoke upon her “could’ hint that she was the age of an adult cow

·       A female kine would not have been considered a true adult cow until it has a calf.

Without spot, no blemish:

There could be no mark on the body of the heifer (wart, callus, scrape, damaged hoof,

·       While this perfect heifer would have had the ability to be bred and have a calf. There was never an attempt to mate her with a bull.

Never had a yoke upon her: Even if heifer was old as an adult cow no yoke was ever put upon her. 

·       The yoke would cause calluses or other marks. She would have been under the whip which causes the body to be marked. It also means that she was domesticated and handled and controlled. She was never a beast of burden

How many red heifers were ever to be offered for this ceremony: ______

·       Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

·       This was to be only red heifer killed and burned as ordered in Numbers 19.

·       This was not part of the Levitical Law.

Question: how could the ashes of one heifer last for many years, wouldn’t they have been used up in a few weeks?

·       Answer: Remember the boy’s 5 loaves in 2 fishes of Luke 6:43. Was it not possible for the same God that multiplied the one basket to feed 5000 men with 12 baskets full left over to multiply the ashes of the heifer?

·        

This ceremony (as all other ceremonies, feasts, sacrifices and offerings) is a type of the work of Jesus Christ. This will be seen in later lessons.

Question: How could the heifer (female) be used as a type of the man Christ Jesus?

·       See Lev 3:4:27-28 ewe lamb, female kid of the goats sacrificed as a sin offering

·       The females offered had the ability to give life, No male animal has this ability

·       The man Christ Jesus was and is the only many that has the ability to give life.

·       Life is offered through the sacrifice of the man Christ Jesus

John 17:2-3 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

1John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.