Numbers 19:1-3

The Water of Cleansing

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:

2 “This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.

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

Numbers 19:1-3 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 15:9; Hebrews 9:13
• 2. S Leviticus 22:19-25
• 3. Deuteronomy 21:3; 1 Samuel 6:7
• 4. Numbers 3:4
• 5. S Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:12,21; Hebrews 13:11