Numbers 19:1-8

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

2 "This is what the LORD's teachings have commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red cow that is perfect, with no defects. Also, it must never have worn a yoke.

3 Give it to the priest Eleazar. It must be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.

4 The priest Eleazar will take some of the blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.

5 Then the entire cow (the skin, meat, blood, and excrement) will be burned while he watches.

6 The priest will take some cedar wood, a hyssop sprig, and some red yarn and throw them onto the burning cow.

7 The priest must then wash his clothes and his body. After that, he may go into the camp. But he will be unclean until evening.

8 The person who burned the calf must also wash his clothes and his body. He, too, will be unclean until evening.

Numbers 19:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 19

This chapter contains a law for making a water for purification for sin, the ingredients of which are the ashes of a red heifer burnt, about which many things are observed, Nu 19:1-10; the use of the water made of them, to purify such as were unclean by the touch of a dead body, Nu 19:11-13; some rules are given, by which it might be known who were unclean on account of a dead body, Nu 19:14-16; the manner of purifying such persons, Nu 19:17-19; and the punishment of those that should neglect purification, Nu 19:20-22.