Numbers 19:1

Introduction

The ordinance of the red heifer, Num 19:1, Num 19:2. She shall be slain by Eleazar without the camp, and her blood sprinkled before the tabernacle, Num 19:3, Num 19:4. Her whole body and appurtenance shall be reduced to ashes, and while burning, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop, shall be thrown into the fire, Num 19:5, Num 19:6. The priest, and he that burns her, to bathe themselves, and be reputed unclean till the evening, Num 19:7, Num 19:8. Her ashes to be laid up for a water of purification, Num 19:9. How, and in what cases it is to be applied, Num 19:10-13. The law concerning him who dies in a tent, or who is killed in the open field, Num 19:14-16. How the persons, tent, and vessels are to be purified by the application of these ashes, Num 19:17-19. The unclean person who does not apply them, to be cut off from the congregation, Num 19:20. This is to be a perpetual statute, Num 19:21, Num 19:22.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

The heifer was to be wholly burned. This typified the painful sufferings of our Lord Jesus, both in soul and body, as a sacrifice made by fire, to satisfy God's justice for man's sin. These ashes are said to be laid up as a purification for sin, because, though they were only to purify from ceremonial uncleanness, yet they were a type of that purification for sin which our Lord Jesus made by his death. The blood of Christ is laid up for us in the word and sacraments, as a fountain of merit, to which by faith we may have constant recourse, for cleansing our consciences.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain