Sapate Sune 27, 2021
Ko e pulu fefine kulokula
A red heifer
F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary
We might have expected this chapter to occur in Leviticus. Is it not incongruous in this narrative of the pilgrimage? Nay; this is the most appropriate place, since in the desert march we are more exposed to the touch of defilement, such as needs daily cleansing, lest we be shut out from fellowship with God.
The ashes of an heifer are emblematic of the work of our Lord. See Hebrews 9:13 . No blemish; never a yoke; “slain without the camp,” counted an unclean thing! It was easy for the Jew to contract ceremonial defilement. To walk over a grave was enough. But the ashes of the heifer mingled with spring - or running-water restored the polluted soul to the family and the Tabernacle. So, as we confess our sins, we are sprinkled from an evil conscience, we are restored to unity with God and His people, and we walk in newness of life.
(V. 2-3) Ko eni ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni fakalao ‘a ia kuo fokotu‘u ‘e Sihova, ‘o pehē, Tala ki ha‘a ‘Isileli ke nau ‘omi kiate koe ha pulu fefine kulokula, pea haohaoa ‘o ‘ikai hano ‘ila, ha taha kuo te‘eki ke ‘ai ‘ioke ki ai. 3Pea te mou tuku ia kia ‘Eliesa ko e taula‘eiki, pea ‘e ‘ave ia ki he tu‘a ‘apitanga, pea ‘e tāmate‘i ia.
(v. 2-3) “This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying:
‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without
blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come. You
shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and
it shall be slaughtered before him;
*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide on Numbers *
That they bring you a red heifer: A heifer is a cow which has never been pregnant, and thus cannot yet give milk. They had to find one with a red color - which, of course, would be somewhat rare.
"Normally the animal's colour did not matter. This one had to be red to resemble blood." (Wenham)
Without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come: These requirements made this particular animal even rarer. This red heifer, therefore, would be valuable, rare, and pure (because she had not yet been impregnated).
Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned: The red heifer would be sacrificed in the customary fashion, with a bit of blood being sprinkled on the altar. Yet, the complete carcass of the animal was burnt and the ashes gathered by one observing the cleansing ceremonies before and after the gathering of ashes.
Its blood … shall be burned: Unlike every
other sacrifice in the Old Testament, the blood of the red heifer is burnt along
with the sacrifice, instead of being completely drained out at the jugular.
Blood was to be part of the ashes that would come forth from the burning of the
carcass of the red heifer.
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