PRECEDENCE FOR THE MOUNT OF OLIVES AS THE PLACE OF RED HEIFER SACRIFICE

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.