Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Overview
Num 19:1, The water of separation made of the ashes of a red heifer; Num 19:11, The law for the use of it in purification of the unclean.
the ordinance: Num 31:21; Heb 9:10
a red heifer: The following curious particulars have been remarked in this ordinance:
1. A heifer was appointed for sacrifice, in opposition to the Egyptian superstition, which held these sacred, and worshipped their goddess Isis under this form; and this appears the more likely, because males only were chosen for sacrifice. So Herodotus says, they sacrifice males, both old and young; but it is not lawful for them to offer females.
2. It was to be a red heifer, because the Egyptians sacrificed red bulls to the evil demon Typhon.
3. It was to be without spot, having no mixture of any other colour. Plutarch says, the Egyptians "sacrifice red bulls, and select them with such scrupulous attention, that if the animal has a single black or white hair, they reckon it αθυτον, unfit to be sacrificed."
4. Without blemish. (See note on Lev 22:21.)
5. On which never came yoke. because an animal which had been used for a common purpose was deemed improper for sacrifice. Num 19:6; Lev 14:6; Isa 1:18; Rev 1:5
no blemish: Exo 12:5; Lev 22:20-25; Mal 1:13, Mal 1:14; Luk 1:35; Heb 7:26; Pe1 1:19; Pe1 2:22
upon which: Deu 21:3; Sa1 6:7; Lam 1:14; Joh 10:17, Joh 10:18; Phi 2:6-8
without the camp: Num 5:2, Num 15:36; Lev 4:12, Lev 4:21, Lev 13:45, Lev 13:46, Lev 16:27, Lev 24:14; Heb 13:11-13
sprinkle: Lev 4:6, Lev 4:17, Lev 16:14, Lev 16:19; Heb 9:13, Heb 9:14, Heb 12:24; Pe1 1:2
Exo 29:14; Lev 4:11, Lev 4:12, Lev 4:21; Psa 22:14; Isa 53:10
Lev 14:4, Lev 14:6, Lev 14:49; Psa 51:7; Isa 1:18; Heb 9:19-23
Num 19:8, Num 19:19; Lev 11:25, Lev 11:40, Lev 14:8, Lev 14:9, Lev 15:5, Lev 16:26-28
clean: Num 19:18, Num 9:13; Co2 5:21; Heb 7:26, Heb 9:13
lay them up: Num 19:17
a water of separation: That is, water prepared by being mixed with the ashes of the heifer, and set apart for the special purpose of being sprinkled on those who had contracted any legal defilement. To this rite the apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews. (Heb 9:13, Heb 9:14), pointedly alludes: "For if," says he, "the blood of bulls and of goats," alluding, probably, to the sin-offerings and the scape-goat, "and the ashes of a 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 unto God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." Num 19:13, Num 19:20, Num 19:21, Num 6:12, Num 31:23, Num 31:24; Lev 15:20; Zac 13:1; Co2 7:1
wash his: Num 19:7, Num 19:8, Num 19:19
it shall be: Num 15:15, Num 15:16; Exo 12:49; Rom 3:29, Rom 3:30; Col 3:11
toucheth the dead: He who touched a dead beast was only unclean for one day (Lev 11:12, Lev 11:27, Lev 11:39); but he who touches a dead man is unclean for seven days. This was certainly designed to show the peculiar impurity and sinfulness of man, and the hatefulness of sin, seven times worse than the vilest animal! Num 19:16, Num 5:2, Num 9:6, Num 9:10, Num 31:19; Lev 11:31, Lev 21:1, Lev 21:11; Lam 4:14; Hag 2:13; Rom 5:12; Co2 6:17; Eph 2:1; Heb 9:14
man: Heb. soul of man
He shall purify: Yithchatta, literally, "he shall sin himself," i.e., not add sin, but take it away, purify. So we say to fleece, and to skin, which do not signify to add a fleece, or a skin, but to take one away. Num 19:17, Num 19:18; Psa 51:7; Eze 36:25; Act 15:9; Rev 7:14
third day: Num 31:19; Exo 19:11, Exo 19:15; Lev 7:17; Hos 6:2; Co1 15:3, Co1 15:4
purifieth: Num 15:30; Lev 5:3, Lev 5:6, Lev 5:17, Lev 15:31; Heb 2:2, Heb 2:3, Heb 10:29; Rev 21:8, Rev 22:11, Rev 22:15
the water: Num 19:9, Num 19:18, Num 8:7
his uncleanness: Lev 7:20, Lev 22:3; Pro 14:32; Joh 8:24
Num 31:20; Lev 11:32, Lev 14:36
toucheth: Num 19:11, Num 31:19
a bone: Eze 39:11-16
ashes: Heb. dust, Num 19:9
running water shall be put thereto: Heb. living waters shall be given, Gen 26:19 *marg. Sol 4:15; Joh 4:10, Joh 4:11, Joh 7:38; Rev 7:17
Num 19:9; Psa 51:7; Eze 36:25-27; Joh 15:2, Joh 15:3, Joh 17:17, Joh 17:19; Co1 1:30; Heb 9:14
shall sprinkle: Eph 5:25-27; Tit 2:14, Tit 3:3-5; Jo1 1:7, Jo1 2:1, Jo1 2:2; Jde 1:23; Rev 1:5, Rev 1:6
on the seventh day he: Num 19:12, Num 31:19; Gen 2:2; Lev 14:9
shall not: Num 19:13, Num 15:30; Gen 17:14; Mar 16:16; Act 13:39-41; Rom 2:4, Rom 2:5; Pe2 3:14; Rev 22:11
Lev 11:25, Lev 11:40, Lev 16:26-28; Heb 7:19, Heb 9:10, Heb 9:13, Heb 9:14, Heb 10:4
whatsoever: Lev 7:19; Hag 2:13
the soul: Lev 15:5; Mat 15:19, Mat 15:20; Mar 7:21-23