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Liber Numeri, 19

1. locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen et Aaron dicens

1. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

2. ista est religio victimæ quam constituit Dominus præcipe filiis Israël ut adducant ad te vaccam rufam ætatis integræ in qua nulla sit macula nec portaverit jugum

2. This is the observance of the victim, which the Lord hath ordained. Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee a red cow of full age, in which there is no blemish, and which hath not carried the yoke:

3. tradetisque eam Eleazaro sacerdoti qui eductam extra castra immolabit in conspectu omnium

3. And you shall deliver her to Eleazar the priest, who shall bring her forth without the camp, and shall immolate her in the sight of all:

4. et tinguens digitum in sanguine ejus asperget contra fores tabernaculi septem vicibus

4. And dipping his finger in her blood, shall sprinkle it over against the door of the tabernacle seven times,

5. conburetque eam cunctis videntibus tam pelle et carnibus ejus quam sanguine et fimo flammæ traditis

5. And shall burn her in the sight of all, delivering up to the fire her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, and her dung.

6. lignum quoque cedrinum et hysopum coccumque bis tinctum sacerdos mittet in flammam quæ vaccam vorat

6. The priest shall also take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet twice dyed, and cast it into the flame, with which the cow is consumed.

7. et tunc demum lotis vestibus et corpore suo ingredietur in castra commaculatusque erit usque ad vesperam

7. And then after washing his garments, and body, he shall enter into the camp, and shall be unclean until the evening.

8. sed et ille qui conbuserit eam lavabit vestimenta sua et corpus et inmundus erit usque ad vesperam

8. He also that hath burned her, shall wash his garments, and his body, and shall be unclean until the evening.

9. colliget autem vir mundus cineres vaccæ et effundet eos extra castra in loco purissimo ut sint multitudini filiorum Israël in custodiam et in aquam aspersionis quia pro peccato vacca conbusta est

9. And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the cow, and shall pour them forth without the camp in a most clean place, that they may be reserved for the multitude of the children of Israel, and for a water of aspersion: because the cow was burnt for sin.

10. cumque laverit qui vaccæ portaverat cineres vestimenta sua inmundus erit usque ad vesperum habebunt hoc filii Israël et advenæ qui habitant inter eos sanctum jure perpetuo

10. And when he that carried the ashes of the cow, hath washed his garments, he shall be unclean until the evening. The children of Israel, and the strangers that dwell among them, shall observe this for a holy thing by a perpetual ordinance.

11. qui tetigerit cadaver hominis et propter hoc septem diebus fuerit inmundus

11. He that toucheth the corpse of a man, and is therefore unclean seven days,

12. aspergetur ex hac aqua die tertio et septimo et sic mundabitur si die tertio aspersus non fuerit septimo non poterit emundari

12. Shall be sprinkled with this water on the third day, and on the seventh, and so shall be cleansed. If he were not sprinkled on the third day, he cannot be cleansed on the seventh.

13. omnis qui tetigerit humanæ animæ morticinum et aspersus hac commixtione non fuerit polluet tabernaculum Domini et peribit ex Israël quia aqua expiationis non est aspersus inmundus erit et manebit spurcitia ejus super eum

13. Every one that toucheth the corpse of a man, and is not sprinkled with mixture, shall profane the tabernacle of the Lord, and shall perish out of Israel: because he was not sprinkled with the water of expiation, he shall be unclean, and his uncleanness shall remain upon him.

14. ista est lex hominis qui moritur in tabernaculo omnes qui ingrediuntur tentorium illius et universa vasa quæ ibi sunt polluta erunt septem diebus

14. This is the law of a mall that dieth in a tent: All that go into his tent and all the vessels that are there, shall be unclean seven days.

15. vas quod non habuerit operculum nec ligaturam desuper inmundum erit

15. The vessel that hath no cover, nor binding over it, shall be unclean.

16. si quis in agro tetigerit cadaver occisi hominis aut per se mortui sive os illius vel sepulchrum inmundus erit septem diebus

16. If any man in the field touch the corpse of a man that was slain, or that died of himself, or his bone, or his grave, he shall be unclean seven days.

17. tollent de cineribus conbustionis atque peccati et mittent aquas vivas super eos in vas

17. And they shall take of the ashes of the burning and of the sin offering, and shall pour living waters upon them into a vessel.

18. in quibus cum homo mundus tinxerit hysopum asperget eo omne tentorium et cunctam supellectilem et homines hujuscemodi contagione pollutos

18. And a man that is clean shall dip hyssop in them, and shall sprinkle therewith all the tent, and all the furniture, and the men that are defiled with touching any such thing:

19. atque hoc modo mundus lustrabit inmundum tertio et septimo die expiatusque die septimo lavabit et se et vestimenta sua et mundus erit ad vesperam

19. And in this manner he that is clean shall purify the unclean on the third and on the seventh day. And being expiated the seventh day, he shall wash both himself and his garments, and be unclean until the evening.

20. si quis hoc ritu non fuerit expiatus peribit anima illius de medio ecclesiæ quia sanctuarium Domini polluit et non est aqua lustrationis aspersus

20. If any man be not expiated after this rite, his soul shall perish out of the midst of the church: because he hath profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, and was not sprinkled with the water of purification.

21. erit hoc præceptum legitimum sempiternum ipse quoque qui aspergit aquas lavabit vestimenta sua omnis qui tetigerit aquas expiationis inmundus erit usque ad vesperam

21. This precept shall be an ordinance for ever. He also that sprinkled the water, shall wash his garments. Every one that shall touch the waters of expiation, shall be unclean until the evening.

22. quicquid tetigerit inmundus inmundum faciet et anima quæ horum quippiam tetigerit inmunda erit usque ad vesperum

22. Whatsoever a person toucheth who is unclean, he shall make it unclean: and the person that toucheth any of these things, shall be unclean until the evening.



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Footnotes:

19:1-10 - The law regarding the red heifer is given for the purification of the impure. The water mixed with the heifer's ashes symbolizes purification from sin and impurity. This ritual points to the concept of spiritual purification (see also Hebrews 9:13-14 and 1 John 1:7).

19:11-13 - Anyone who touches a dead body will be considered unclean for seven days, and the water of purification must be used for cleansing. This reinforces the seriousness of impurity and the need for purification to maintain fellowship with God (see also Leviticus 11:31-32 and Ezekiel 36:25).

19:14-16 - Any person or object found in a tent where someone has died is also considered unclean. This highlights how uncleanness spreads, just as sin spreads and affects others (see also Numbers 5:2 and 1 Corinthians 5:6).

19:17-19 - The unclean person must be sprinkled with the water of purification on the third and seventh days. This process symbolizes the gradual cleansing of sin and the need to obey God's commands to be restored to purity (see also Titus 3:5 and Ezekiel 36:26).

19:20-22 - Anyone who refuses to purify himself will be cut off from among the people. This shows the seriousness of rejecting God's way of purification and holiness (see also Leviticus 7:20 and Hebrews 12:14).

Verses related to Liber Numeri, 19:

Numbers chapter 19 details the ritual of the red heifer. What is the meaning of this unique ceremony? This crucial text describes the preparation of the heifer's ashes for ritual purification, touching on themes of holiness and cleansing. The chapter establishes regulations for dealing with impurity caused by contact with dead bodies, emphasizing the importance of purity in the Israelite camp. Numbers 19 offers insights into God's holiness and the need for spiritual purification. Examine with us five biblical passages that illuminate the eternal principles of this symbolic ritual.

Hebrews 9:13-14: "Now if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them, so that they become outwardly pure, how much more does the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself immaculately to God will purify our conscience from acts that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!" - The author of Hebrews references the red heifer ritual of Numbers 19, contrasting it with the superior efficacy of Christ's sacrifice.

1 Peter 1:2: "Elected according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of his blood: Grace and peace be multiplied to you." - Peter alludes to the sprinkling of the purifying water of Numbers 19, applying it metaphorically to the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 5:26: "To sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water through the word," - Paul may be alluding to the cleansing water of Numbers 19, applying it metaphorically to Christ's cleansing of the church.

Titus 2:14: "He gave himself for us in order to redeem us from all evil and purify for himself a people particularly his, dedicated to the practice of good works." - The purification language used by Paul may be evoking the purification rituals of Numbers 19.

Psalms 51:7: "Purify me with hyssop, and I will be pure; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." - David uses purification language that evokes the rituals of Numbers 19, applying it to spiritual purification.

FAQ:

What is the red heifer mentioned in Numbers 19?

The red heifer was sacrificed outside the camp, and its ashes were mixed with water to purify those who were unclean from contact with dead bodies. (Numbers 19:2-10)

How were the ashes of the red heifer used for purification?

The ashes of the red heifer were mixed with water and sprinkled on unclean people to purify them from any defilement caused by a dead body. (Numbers 19:9, 17)

What was the importance of the water of purification in Numbers 19?

Purifying water was essential to cleanse the impurity caused by contact with the dead. Without this purification, a person remained unclean and excluded from the camp. (Numbers 19:20)

What happened to those who did not purify themselves after touching a corpse?

Anyone who did not purify himself after touching a dead body was cut off from Israel, for he defiled the Lord's tabernacle and remained unclean. (Numbers 19:13)

Why is the sacrifice of the red heifer considered important?

The sacrifice of the red heifer is important because its ashes were used to purify those who had become ritually unclean, ensuring the sanctity of the camp. (Numbers 19:2-10)


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