"EXPLAINING THE RED HEIFER ASHES RITUAL"


March 4, 2000: As Israel moves closer towards the building of the Third Temple, only one thing is missing...the ashes of the Red Heifer, required by the Bible for purification.

The mystery of the Red Heifer is explained in Numbers 19. A reading of this chapter is necessary in order to understand the information detailed in this website.

Specifically, verse 2 tells us that the cow is to be red, without defect, in which there is no blemish and it is to be a cow which has never had a yoke upon it. This verse tells us some things but it doesn't explain everything! Equally as important are the oral traditions surrounding the red heifer and all of the requirements.

Generally accepted is the fact that the cow must be 3 years of age before it is eligible for use in sacrifice. The orthodox rabbis also say that as few as 3 black or white hairs on the animal will render it invalid and unable to be used .... although in differing circles, there is some apparent disagreement about this particular point. The heifer is by definition to be a young cow which has never borne a calf.

There have been numerous stories published about a number of red heifers and many of these are public knowledge. Reports of cows being bred in Sweden, Switzerland, Texas and Mississippi have been published in various media. A recent article in the Jerusalem Post, International Version, dated June 14, 1997 tells of Clyde Lott from Mississippi and his breeding of a pure red cow. There have also been reports of red cows being born in Israel. One cow , which has had some media attention, was artificially inseminated but ... there were reports of some black hairs appearing....this cow has apparently been declared as invalid for sacrifice.

According to orthodox oral traditions, when a red heifer was required, one simply appeared in the herds of Israel as if ordained by Yahweh - God Himself. The last one was in the herd of a Gentile, during the first century, before the destruction of the Temple. Interestingly, it has been reported that there are two counts as to the number of red heifers sacrificed.

One report says there have been 9 and another source says only 7. Either way, it is important to note here that it is a rare sacrifice.

Of course, it has been suggested that it may be that God is well able to provide His own sacrifice when needed. Breeding a cow and attempting to bring it to Israel is a little like Abraham taking Hagar in his effort to help God fulfill His promises.

It has also been reported that a heifer was born in Israel in the fall of 1995 and one in the winter of 1996. It is also considered, by the rabbis, that a heifer is one year old at birth. This would mean that the cows are not too far from being acceptable by age, if the dating is correct. As we read Numbers 19, the Red Heifer is to be taken to a place outside the camp, and slaughtered there. Verse 4 tells us that some of the blood is to be taken and sprinkled toward the front of the tent of meeting. Then the cow is to be burned; it's skin, flesh, hide, dung and blood. It is to be burned with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet stuff and cast them into the midst of the fire. The fire would have to be built and continued to burn the whole cow into ash. This would create a fairly large quantity of ash.

Again from rabbinic sources, we are told that there were several portions of ash that were collected. This ash was mixed with water to create the water of purification and was used to cleanse those who came into contact with the dead or were otherwise defiled.

Verse 9 tell us that a man who is clean must gather the ash and put it in a clean place outside the camp. This is a specific place. During the Temple periods this place was/is on the Mount of Olives. The altar of sacrifice and place of burning for the Red Heifer was at or near the top of the Mount of Olives.

The gates of Jerusalem are named for their use. The Dung Gate leads out to the Hinnom Valley where the refuse of the city was deposited and burned. Jaffa Gate leads to Jaffa. Damascus Gate lead to Damascus and so on.....

In Nehemiah 3:31 we read about the Gate Miphkad (KJV). Looking at the word Miphkad we can see that it means appointed and is translated so in several renderings. The word Miphkad appears in Ezekiel 43:21 also where it is translated appointed. This is referring to a specific place not a place in general. The rabbis have named the altar of sacrifice for the Red Heifer as the Miphkad Altar. It is interesting that the passage in Ezekiel is speaking about the sin offering. There is a connection there, but I will not try to go into it right now.

The significance for us is in regard to the rebuilding of the Temple. The Temple Mount has been trodden down by Gentiles for nearly 2000 years. The Temple was destroyed after it was defiled by Titus and has laid waste until covered over by Islam. Before a Temple can be rebuilt, the site must be cleansed. Before animal sacrifice can be reinstated, the site and stone altar (of course an altar must be constructed first) must be cleansed.

This is why a Red Heifer is required. But there could still be a problem. Before a Red Heifer can be sacrificed and burned, there must be access to the altar site and place of burning on the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is nearly all controlled by Arabs. The approximate site of the altar and place of burning is under Arab control and is trodden down by Gentiles and must be cleansed prior to any sacrifice or offering being made.

Remember the requirements mentioned in Numbers 19:9..... a clean place outside the camp. There is no clean place outside the camp, it has been defiled. Therefore, it is now strongly believed by the Rabbi and Orthodox Jewish Leaders that a quantity of ash from the last cow or Ash of old MUST be found and used to purify the site before a new heifer can be offered.

The search is now on to find ash of the Red Heifer. Several people are actively searching and you hear reports of various articles being located and spectacular finds being made. Most claims are without proof. There are no artefacts that are verifiable and surprisingly no photographs or independent lab reports to back up claims.

There are some legitimate scholars and archaeologists searching for the truth. The feeling is that when it is God's timing, everything will come to light. Until then the search continues. The search for artefacts, just like the search from Scripture, needs to be done to seek truth, not to verify preconceived ideas.

All of this is fascinating and of great interest and helps to focus us on where we are in our point of history.

Part of that focus is to alert the Church to the nearness of the return of Jesus and the beginning of His kingdom here on earth unlike what we now know. The time is short. In my lifetime, Israel has become a nation, returned to it's geographical location. The Jews of the world are returning to their land as promised in the Bible. Jerusalem has been reunited. Nearly every day there is newly uncovered evidence that God's word is true, and He is seeing His will performed. What are we going to do with this knowledge? How are we going to respond? How are we going to live our lives with the knowledge that the end of the age is imminent? We are now nearing 2000 years from the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Lord could return at any moment....even if He doesn't come for another 30 or 40 years, it is still very close when you factor in time overall.

And so today, Melody - the red heifer - is supposed to be the first red heifer born in Israel since the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Back in Numbers 19:2-10 God gave instruction to the children of Israel concerning purification from sins. God told Moses and Aaron that the children of Israel were to bring a red heifer that had no spot or blemish, and this heifer was to be taken to the high priest (Eleazar) who would slay the heifer. Then Eleazar was to take the blood of this heifer and sprinkle it before the tabernacle seven times. Another would burn the heifer in the sight of Eleazar, even her dung. Then the priest would wash his clothes and bathe in fresh water and be unclean for the rest of the day. The one who burned the heifer was also to wash his clothes and bathe and be unclean for the rest of the day, as was the one who gathered the ashes and placed them in a clean place.

Verse 9 states that this was a "purification for sin" or a "sin offering". For whatever reason, the modern Jews have decided that Melody (the new red heifer) is a sign from God that the coming of the Messiah is nigh (Newsweek, May 19, 1997). The Jews are still looking for the promised Messiah! Hundreds of prophecies were given concerning the coming of the Messiah by the Old Testament writers, none of which had anything to do with a red heifer.

The problem with modern day Jews is that they believe He intended to set up a kingdom that He never set up, but will return again someday to set that earthly kingdom up in Jerusalem. The Jewish nation teaches that the Messiah is going to set up His earthly kingdom in Jerusalem some day, but they believe that Jesus simply was not that Messiah.

Focusing on what happens in this particular area of Old Testament practice and its relevance to the Jews, their waiting for the Messiah and future prophecy fulfilment will allow the keen Bible student to appreciate the nearness of the return of Jesus Christ to this earth to take up His earthly reign from a Throne in a new Millennium Temple in Jerusalem as the Capital of this world.

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