Numbers 19

Verse 2. Observance. Hebrew “ceremony.” Septuagint “distinction, (diastole, Saint Augustine q. 33,) or ordinance.” Calmet.—Victim. Hebrew “the ordinance of the law.” D.—A red cow, and so forth This red cow, offered in sacrifice for sin, and consumed with fire without the camp, with the ashes of which, mingled with water, the unclean were to be expiated and purified; was a figure of the passion of Christ, by whose precious blood, applied to our souls in the holy sacraments, we are cleansed from our sins. Challoner.—Age, three years old. Some translate, “entirely red.” They suppose, that these regulations are in opposition to the customs of the Egyptians, who never sacrificed the cow, esteeming it sacred to Isis, or to the moon. Spencer (Rit. ii. 15) adds, that the red colour was formerly in the highest estimation; and this victim represented the death of Christ, who expiated our defilements. The Egyptians immolated bulls of a red colour, in hatred of Typhon, and to appease that dangerous god, whom they depicted perfectly red. Plut. (Isis) observes, that they hate all animals of that colour; and the Copths precipitated a red ass down a precipice. The ancient kings of Egypt sacrificed red men on the tomb of Osiris or Dyphon; (Diod. Bib. 1,) and Manetho assures us, that they scattered their ashes in the wind. If this custom prevailed in the days of Moses, we need not wonder that he teaches the Hebrews to have so little dread of Typhon, as even to chose a red cow in preference, to purify themselves.—Yoke. Such victims were generally chosen by the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians, as more delicate and respectful. Intacta totidem cervice juvencus. Georg. iv. Bochart, anim. 2. 33. S. Jerom (ep. 27,) says, that a red cow was sacrificed every year, as in reality one would be requisite for all the people, though the Rabbins pretend that only seven, or ten at most, were treated in this manner, from Moses till the destruction of the temple by Titus. Drusius.

Verse 3. Of all. Hebrew “before his face.” Septuagint “they shall bring her out, slay and burn her before him,” which must be referred to some other priests, who accompanied Eleazar on this occasion, verse 8. Calmet.—Aaron did not perform this office, as the sacrifice was not solemn, but sorrowful, and designed for purification. Menochius.—The Rabbins say, however, that the high priest performed this ceremony ever after; and, since the building of the temple, they did it upon Mount Olivet. This is also marked by S. Jerom, ep. 27. It was thus a more lively figure of Jesus Christ sweating blood on that same ground; as the smoke might represent his ascension. Acts 1:10. Lu. 22:44. Calmet.—He died out of Jerusalem, in full age, (verse 2,) or 33 years old, being wounded in every part for our transgressions, (verse 5,) setting us an example how to suffer, (verse 6,) and by his blood communicating virtue to the sacraments, verse 5. His body, derived from Adam, (or red earth, verse 2,) was buried in a most clean place, (verse 9,) and those who crucified him became more unclean; (verse 8) while even those who were employed in burying him (verse 9,) required to be cleansed by the grace of his passion, which must be communicated to them by baptism, in the name of the blessed Trinity, without which they cannot partake of any of the sacraments. Calmet. 12. The old law could bring nothing to perfection. Those who lived under that dispensation, were forced to wait till the evening, (verse 7,) when in the last ages the new law commenced, that by faith in Christ they might obtain the remission of their sins. Thus we perceive the meaning of many things which to the Jews were veiled in shadows. Hebrews 10. Saint Augustine q. 33. Theod. q.36. Worthington.—The Fathers observe also, that the infirmity of our Saviour’s flesh, and his liberty in giving and resuming his life, (John 10:18,) were denoted by the cow, which had never been yoked. Calmet.

Verse 4. And. Hebrew “And Eleazar, the priest, shall take part of her blood with his finger.” He looked from the pile of wood, where he was standing, towards the west, and sprinkled the blood, and wiping his fingers upon the skin of the cow, waiting till the fire was kindled, before he opened her belly; he then threw into the fire the cedar-wood, and so forth Drusius.—Others believe that this last ceremony was performed by some one else, (verse 7,) as it is not clear that Eleazar became unclean. His being substituted instead of Aaron, might shew that Christ would institute a new priesthood.

Verse 6. Dyed. With which the cedar and hyssop were tied together, as being deemed most proper instruments of purifications. Leviticus 14:4. 49. Saint Paul informs us (Hebrews 9:19,) that Moses thus sprinkled the people and the book: and branches of this description were probably used when the people took this holy water, verse 18. The ashes intimate that those who have sinned, may be purified by the sacrament of penance, verse 9. Calmet.

Verse 10. Strangers. Even those who had not embraced the Jewish religion. Grotius.—Thus, the baptism of Christ brings salvation both to the Jews and to the Gentiles. Saint Augustine

Verse 12. Seventh. If he neglect to be sprinkled on the third day, his purification will be protracted till the 10th. As this was the only means of removing the legal uncleanness contracted by touching a dead body, some of the ashes must have been reserved in various parts of the country, after the Israelites were dispersed. Calmet.

Verse 13. Upon him, unless he be excused by ignorance, (Leviticus 5:3. 6,) he shall be slain.

Verse 14. Days. Almost all nations seem to have considered themselves defiled by the presence of a corpse. Virgin (Æn. vi. 149,) writes, Præterea jacet exanimum tibi corpus amici—Heu nescis! totamque incestat funere classem.

Verse 15. Cover. Sam. “neither chains nor bands.” Formerly boxes were tied down. Hom. Odys. viii. If the covering of any hollow vessel was off, when a corpse was present, it became unclean. Calmet.

Verse 16. Grave. The Hebrews buried it at a distance from towns, and set up some mark to apprise all people, that they might not be defiled for seven days. Calmet.

Verse 17. Burning of the red cow, which was also a sin-offering, verse 9. Bible.—Upon the ashes they poured some running or spring water. The pagans generally preferred the water of the sea; or if they could not procure any, they mixed salt with common water. Ovid (Fast iv,) mentions a lustration made with the ashes of a calf, mixed with horse blood; and another, which was used in honour of Pales, the goddess of harvests, by the oldest virgins present, who sprinkled the ashes of calves, populos purget ut ille cinis. Athenæus (ix. 18,) observes that a stick was taken from the fire of the altar, was extinguished in water for the purification of the unclean; and the ancient Romans, who had been at a funeral, sprinkled themselves with water, and jumped over fire for the same purpose; as the Greeks were accustomed to place a vessel full of water, at the doors where a corpse was lying, that all might purify themselves when they came out. Calmet.

Verse 20. Church, or assembly of the people. Bible.—He shall be put to death by the judges, or by God. Menochius.

Verse 21. Evening. The victims which were appointed for the expiation of sin, communicated a legal uncleanness to those who were employed about them. They were looked upon as so holy, that the most pure were guilty of a sort of irreverence by touching them. Calmet.

Verse 22. Is unclean, by touching the dead, must remain defiled seven days. But those whom he touches, as well as all who may have communication with them in infinitum, may be purified in the evening. Calmet.