Numbers 19:3

And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and [one] shall slay her before his face:

And ye shall give {H5414} her unto Eleazar {H499} the priest {H3548}, that he may bring her forth {H3318} without {H2351} the camp {H4264}, and one shall slay {H7819} her before {H6440} his face:

You are to give it to El'azar the cohen; it is to be brought outside the camp and slaughtered in front of him.

Give it to Eleazar the priest, and he will have it brought outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.

And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:

Commentary

Context of Numbers 19:3

Numbers 19:3 is part of a unique and significant Old Testament law concerning the "red heifer" sacrifice. This chapter outlines the elaborate ritual for preparing the "water of purification" (also known as the water of separation or purification from sin), which was essential for cleansing individuals who had become ritually unclean, particularly through contact with a dead body. This defilement rendered them unable to participate in the community's worship and activities. The command to give the heifer to Eleazar the priest, Aaron's son and successor, highlights the priestly oversight required for such a sacred and specific purification rite. The instruction to bring the animal "forth without the camp" emphasizes the separation of impurity from the holy presence of God within the Israelite encampment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Purity and Defilement: The primary purpose of the red heifer ritual was to address ritual impurity, especially that caused by death. This highlights God's demand for holiness among His people and the absolute necessity of cleansing to maintain fellowship with Him.
  • Sacrifice and Atonement: While not a typical sin offering, the slaying of the red heifer served as a means of ritual cleansing and purification. It was a divinely ordained provision for dealing with the defilement that naturally occurred in life, allowing the unclean to be restored to the community and worship.
  • Symbolism of "Without the Camp": The act of taking the sacrifice outside the camp signifies the removal of sin and impurity from the holy community. This separation underscored the gravity of defilement and the need for it to be dealt with far from God's dwelling place. This concept powerfully foreshadows Christ's ultimate sacrifice.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "slay" is shaḥaṭ (שָׁחַט), which specifically refers to ritual slaughter, indicating that this was not merely killing an animal but a prescribed act of sacrifice. The phrase "without the camp" (מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה, miḥutz lammaḥaneh) is crucial, emphasizing the place of execution for certain significant offerings, particularly those dealing with severe defilement or sin that required total removal from the holy space.

Related Scriptures

The ritual of the red heifer, including the slaying of the animal "without the camp," holds profound prophetic significance, pointing directly to the work of Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews draws a direct parallel, explaining how the blood of animals, like the red heifer, only purified the flesh, but the blood of Christ, who offered Himself without spot to God, purifies our conscience from dead works (Hebrews 9:13-14). Furthermore, the imagery of the heifer being taken "without the camp" is directly linked to Christ's suffering "outside the gate" to sanctify His people with His own blood (Hebrews 13:11-13).

For the believer today, this verse reminds us that true cleansing from the defilement of sin comes not through rituals, but through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. Just as the red heifer's ashes provided a means of purification for ancient Israel, Christ's atoning work offers a permanent and complete cleansing for all who believe. We are called to recognize our need for constant spiritual purification and to embrace the complete and sufficient work of Christ, who bore our sins outside the camp, offering us access to God's presence.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 4:12

    Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

  • Leviticus 4:21

    And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it [is] a sin offering for the congregation.

  • Numbers 15:36

    And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

  • Hebrews 13:11

    For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

  • Hebrews 13:13

    Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

  • Leviticus 16:27

    And the bullock [for] the sin offering, and the goat [for] the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy [place], shall [one] carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.

  • Leviticus 13:45

    And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
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