Vs7-10a Eleazar and the man who killed and burned the red heifer were declared unclean so a clean man had to gather the ashes. All three had to wash their cloths and were unclean until the evening.

·       Gen 1:5,8, 13, 19, 23, 31 God considers a day starting at evening.

·       They were declared clean at the start of the next day and were allowed to be around the tabernacle.

9V The ashes of the heifer were gathered were to be used for a water of separation which was a purification for sin. Separation from what? What sin?

·       V17 The water of separation was made by taking some of the ashes from the heifer in a vessel and than adding running water to it. Why running water?

·       Running water was pure water; impurities are carried away as fast as they entered a stream. A stream of running water purifies itself. It is full of oxygen it is living.

V10b and it shall for a statute for ever. God could have made the ashes of this red heifer last until Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. Both Israel and the strangers among them were to be separated from something and purified from some sin for ever.

A purification from the sin of death (Rom 5:12-13; Jam 1:15))

V11-19 The law concerning the water of separation

·       Whosoever touched a dead body; or if in an open field the body of someone killed, or a bone of a man, or a grave, was declared unclean seven days.

·       V14-15, 18 When a person died in a tent the tent, everyone in the tent or came into the tent, and the vessels in the tent, were declared unclean for seven days.

·       V18-19 On the “third day” and on the “seventh day” a clean person then took hyssop (purifying, purging) dipped in the water of separation and sprinkled the persons, tent and vessels that were declared unclean.  

·       On the seventh day the person who was sprinkled with the water had to purify himself by washing his cloths and himself.

V13b, 20 if the man was not purified by the water of separation he was cut off from the congregation; cursed by God because he defiled the “sanctuary of the LORD”.

V21 the man who sprinkled the water or and whatsoever he touched was unclean until even

V22 Whoever came in contact with the unclean person was unclean until even.

 Red Heifer Ceremony Part 2

Why was this law instituted at that time and not written in the levitical law?

·       Numbers 12:16-14:45 Moses led Israel to the south end of Canaan (in the land of Paran) and sent spies into Canaan. The people rejected the land of promise and wanted what they had in Egypt over what the LORD had for them.

·       The nation of Israel that wondered in the wilderness for 40 years while those that were 20 years and older when they crossed the Red Sea died because of their sin.

·       Between 1.5 and 2 million died in the wilderness because they rejected the LORD.

·       Those who were going to cross the Jordan into Canaan had to be separated from the sin of those who died in the wilderness and purified from their sin. It would keep them focused upon believing and trusting in God.

·       On the way to Canaan and once in Canaan there were many battles with the heathen nations, unclean nations. Israel’s men of war had to be separated and purified from the sin of the heathen nation. See Numbers 31:21-24

·       Those who crossed into Canaan were to be set apart and reminded they were not to be like everyone else.

Note: the problem of not believing the words of the Bible.

Numbers 8:5-7 The cleansing of the Levites, after the LORD separated them from among the children of Israel V14 unto His service. They were considered an offering wholly given unto Him.

·       Sprinkle “water of purifying” upon them

·       When was this done? Numbers 7:1 When the tabernacle was set up by Moses the first time.

Many commentators state this water was mixed with the ashes of the red heifer. The problems with their statements are:

·       “Water purifying” not “water of separation” different words.

·       This was the first time the tabernacle was set up.

·       They had not entered Paran.

·       The red heifer had not been killed and burned at this time. 

Ø    This error is one false reason Israel is looking for a red heifer. In the mind of the Jews the Levites must be purified with the ashes of a red heifer before they can serve in and around the temple.

The water of separation made with the ashes of the red heifer was not used to sanctify the priest or the tabernacle.