The Red Heifer Of Numbers 19
DOES ANYONE HERE HAVE CURRENT INFORMATION REGARDING "THE SEARCH FOR THE RED HEIFER?"
I share the following for those who may not be familiar with the significance for "THE SEARCH FOR THE RED HEIFER!"
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THE "RED HEIFER" SACRIFICE PRECEDING THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE: The red heifer was to be sacrificed in a special ritual outside the camp. Everything about this sacrifice was unusual. Ordinarily, the sacrificial animal was a male, but this animal had to be female. The mention of the color of the animal ("red") is also unusual, as in no other sacrifice was the color of the animal specified.
Numbers 19:2 tells us that the cow is to be red, "without defect, in which there is no blemish…." Also, it is to be a cow which has never had a yoke upon it. This does tell us some things but not all things about this special sacrifice. T
There are oral traditions surrounding the cow and the requirements. It is generally accepted that the cow must be three years of age before it is eligible for sacrifice. The orthodox rabbis also say that three black or white hairs on the animal will render it invalid....there is some apparent disagreement about this point. The cow is to be a heifer, which by definition is a young cow that has never borne a calf.
REPORTS OF BIRTH OF RED HEIFER:
April 2002: Disqualified, November 2002
According to "Temple Mount Institute" (http://templeinstitute.org/current-events/RedHeifer/ ) there was a news flash about the birth of a red heifer in April 2002 on a farm in Israel. At that time, the cow was determined to be a kosher Red Heifer under Jewish Law. However, an update in November 2002 indicated that the Red Heifer had been disqualified. No details were given regarding the disqualification; e.g. "Did it change color as it matured; did someone deliberately disqualify it, either by permanently injuring it or putting it in a harness?" Again, the reason for disqualification was not given in the article.
1990 - 1997: Red Heifer - The Nebraska Rancher
In the early 1990's, a cattle rancher ran across the scriptures describing the red heifer. As he pondered what he had just read, he realized that he indeed had that kind of heifer. Coming into contact with a group from Israel, he began communicating and eventually worked a deal to provide them with the Biblically-defined red heifer.
The original agreement was to provide 200 pregnant red heifers, which would be shipped via ocean lined to Jerusalem. Statistically, these pregnant heifers would produce 100 bulls and 100 heifers. The resultant 100 heifers would become the "potential" sacrificial stock.
Time went by, and this event did not occur. The interest and motivation had by no means disappeared but are fervently still there. The plan has now reached a much grander scale. The goal now is to repopulate the nation of Israel with this man's breed of cattle stock. So instead of 200 heifers, they are planning to ship thousands of heifers to Jerusalem.
In the Spring of 1997, a rabbi from Israel was to examine the red heifer in Nebraska.
The rancher is Clyde Lott. He has said that they are looking for "prayerful minded people" to help with their efforts. He also said that they are "set on go" and ready for the process of shipment and repopulating to begin. Most of this information has been obtained from a tape interview of Clyde Lott by Hatikva Ministries and from telephone conversations with him.
Update: I have contacted the group associated with Mr. Clyde Lott, requesting an update re the breeding of the Red Heifer. No response as of this date. (I did this in 2003. Bobbye)
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1995-96: Israel
There have also been reports of red cows being born in Israel. One is said to have been born in the fall of 1995 and one in the winter of 1996. One cow, which has had some media attention, was artificially inseminated and there are reports of some black hairs appearing -- this cow is invalid. The other cow is not spoken of much, and may be a valid "Red Heifer." Confirmation of the cow has not been received.
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THE "RED HEIFER" SACRIFICE:
Romans 9:13-14 KJV , "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ASHES OF AN HEIFER sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
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First Heifer Offered:
Genesis 15:8-9, 12 & 17
This red heifer was sacrificed (along with other animals) to ratify the Covenant between God and Abraham.
Last Heifer A.D. 70 (Historic fact)
Hosea 3:4-5
It has indeed been many days since Israel’s last sacrifice.
The Ashes of The Red Heifer Are Used For:
A. Temple Purification
B. Priestly Purification
C. Altar Purification
D. Personal defilement: Hebrews 9:13-14
THE SACRIFICE OF THE "RED HEIFER" WAS THE FORERUNNER TO THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST WHICH COULD DO SO MUCH MORE THAN "PURIFY THE FLESH."
A heifer is a young female bovine (cow) prior to the time that she has produced her first calf. God has specified a "red heifer" for the purification of the Israelites whenever they were "unclean".
The red heifer must meet certain physical criteria and must be sacrificed in a certain way. Once sacrificed, the ashes were to be mixed with "clean" water and the mixture sprinkled over the "unclean". Numbers 19 is the basis for understanding and the direction from God for the physical purification.
The ordinance of the Red Heifer is found in Numbers 19.
Numbers 19:1-6 NKJV
Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come.
You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him; and Eleazar* the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle some of its blood SEVEN TIMES directly in front of the tabernacle of meeting.
Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, itsblood, and its offal (dung) shall be burned. And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. (*Eleazar, chief priest; son of Aaron, the High Priest.)
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Christians should understand the above scriptures represented a "type" of Christ. For the sacrifice of the "red heifer" was the forerunner to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ which could do so much more than "purify the flesh". Please keep in mind that the red heifer was to be "without spot" (Numbers 19:2). Compare this with the following passage written by Paul in the book of Hebrews (as cited previously).
Hebrews 9:13-14 KJV
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
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During the sacrifice of the heifer, hyssop, cedar and scarlet was to be added. While on trial Jesus had a scarlet robe placed on him, (Matthew 27:28).
The Red Heifer of Numbers 19
Morganite, please research the status of the future Temple, as well as the search for the perfect Red Heifer. THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING AS I WRITE.
It is a current and on-going project within the Jewish faith. Therefore, it is not an allegory.
Blessings,
Bobbye