As we read
in
Numbers 19, the Red Heifer is to be
taken to a place outside the camp,
verse 3,
and be slaughtered there.
Verse 4 tells
us that some of the blood is to be taken and sprinkled
toward the front of the tent of meeting. Then the cow is
to be burned; it's skin, flesh, hide, dung and blood. It
is to be burned with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet stuff
and cast them into the midst of the fire. The fire would
have to be built and continued to burn the whole cow into
ash. This would create a fairly large quantity of ash.
Again from rabbinic sources, we are told that there were
several portions of ash that were collected. This ash was
mixed with water to create the water of purification and
was used to cleanse those who came into contact with the
dead or were otherwise defiled.
Verse 9 tell us that a man who is
clean must gather the ash and put it in a "clean
place outside the camp" . This is a specific place.
During the Temple periods this place was/is on the Mount
of Olives. The altar of sacrifice and place of burning
for the Red Heifer was at or near the top of the Mount of
Olives.
The gates of Jerusalem are named for their use. The
Dung Gate leads out to the Hinnom Valley where the refuse
of the city was deposited and burned. Jaffa Gate leads to
Jaffa. Damascus Gate lead to Damascus and so on.....
In
Nehemiah 3:31 we read about the
Gate Miphkad (KJV). Looking at the word Miphkad we can
see that it means "appointed" and is translated
so in several renderings. The word Miphkad appears in
Ezekiel
43:21 also where it is translated appointed.
This is referring to a specific place not a place in
general. The rabbis have named the altar of sacrifice for
the Red Heifer as the "Miphkad Altar". It is
interesting that the passage in Ezekiel is speaking about
the sin offering. There is a connection there, but I will
not try to go into it right now.
The significance for us is in regard to the rebuilding
of the Temple. The Temple Mount has been trodden down by
Gentiles for nearly 2000 years. The Temple was destroyed
after it was defiled by Titus and has laid waste until
covered over by Islam. Before a Temple can be rebuilt,
the site must be cleansed. Before animal sacrifice can be
reinstated, the site and stone altar
( of course an
altar must be constructed first) must be cleansed.
This is why a Red Heifer is required.
I still
see a problem. Before a Red Heifer can be
sacrificed and burned, there must be access to the altar
site and place of burning on the Mount of Olives. The
Mount of Olives is nearly all controlled by Arabs. The
approximate site of the altar and place of burning is
under Arab control and is "trodden down by
Gentiles" and must be cleansed prior to any
sacrifice or offering being made. Remember the
requirements mentioned in Numbers 19:9..... a clean place
outside the camp. There is no clean place outside the
camp, it has been defiled. I, therefore, believe that a
quantity of ash from the last cow or "Ash of
old" must be found and used to purify the site
before a new cow can be offered.
