Num 19:5-6 | NETfull | STEP | Then the heifer must be burned in his sight – its skin, its flesh, its blood, and its offal is to be burned.

Numbers 19:5-6

5 Then the heifer must be burned ^{▼▼ Again, the verb has no expressed subject, and so is given a passive translation.} in his sight – its skin, its flesh, its blood, and its offal is to be burned. ^{▼▼ The imperfect tense is third masculine singular, and so again the verb is to be made passive.} 6 And the priest must take cedar wood, hyssop, ^{▼▼ In addition to the general references, see R. K. Harrison, “The Biblical Problem of Hyssop,” EvQ 26 (1954): 218-24.} and scarlet wool and throw them into the midst of the fire where the heifer is burning. ^{▼▼ There is no clear explanation available as to why these items were to be burned with the heifer. N. H. Snaith suggests that in accordance with Babylonian sacrifices they would have enhanced the rites with an aroma (Leviticus and Numbers [NCB], 272). In Lev 14 the wood and the hyssop may have been bound together by the scarlet wool to make a sprinkling device. It may be that the symbolism is what is important here. Cedar wood, for example, is durable; it may have symbolized resistance to future corruption and defilement, an early acquired immunity perhaps (R. K. Harrison, Numbers [WEC], 256).}