Num 19:7-10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 19:7-10: 19:7-10 Three people were needed to produce and collect the heifer’s ashes—Eleazar, the man who burned the animal, and the man who gathered its ashes. All three became ritually impure for a day because of this process. This was also true for the person who used the finished product, a potion made from the ash dust and water (cp. 19:21 ) that had the same defiling effect as blood associated with sacrifices (Lev 6:27-28 ).

a19:7-10►

cLev 6:27-28►

e19:11-22►

‏ Numbers 19:7-10

Summary for Num 19:7-10: 19:7-10 ^a Three people were needed to produce and collect the heifer’s ashes—Eleazar, the man who burned the animal, and the man who gathered its ashes. All three became ritually impure for a day because of this process. This was also true for the person who used the finished product, a potion made from the ash dust and water (cp. 19:21 ^b) that had the same defiling effect as blood associated with sacrifices (Lev 6:27-28 ^c).
19:9 ^d The purpose of the ceremony of burning the red heifer was to produce ashes. These were collected and deposited in a purified place outside the camp until the Israelites needed them in the water for the purification ceremony to remove such defilement as coming into contact with a corpse (19:11-22 ^e).