The Mystery of the Red Heifer

The rabbis consider the red heifer one of the greatest mysteries of the Torah.  Even they wonder how it’s possible that the ashes of the sacrificial animal can purify from sin and defilement.

Furthermore, in an apparent paradox, these same ashes that purified also made anyone involved in the red heifer preparations—from the person who gathered the ashes to the person who sprinkled the water—unclean until evening.

The commandment regarding the red heifer is such a mystery that the rabbis place it in the category of chukkim—divine decrees that cannot be understood by our limited human understanding.  Kosher and dietary laws also fit into this category.

The Third Temple: Finding the Red Heifer

In order for a cow to qualify as a red heifer for this holy purpose of purification, it must meet the following requirements, as outlined in Numbers 19, and also in the writings of the oral tradition of the Talmud:

1.  The red heifer must be absolutely perfect in its redness.  Even two hairs of any other color will disqualify it.  Even its hooves must be red.

2.  It was to be three or four years old.  Although older animals could be used, younger could not.

3.  It must be free of any kind of internal or external defect or blemish.

4.  It must not have been used for any type of physical labor and never have been placed under a yoke – not even once!

Only an animal that meets all these requirements may be used to provide the ashes of the purification process in fulfillment of the commandment.

What Does the Bible Say about Red Heifers?

Numbers 19:1-10 explains the directive God gave Moses and Aaron regarding red heifers (red female cows). The people of Israel were to bring a defect- and blemish-free heifer that had never carried a yoke. Unlike other offerings made inside the camp, the priest Eleazar was to take the red heifer outside the camp and slaughter it. Eleazar was then to “take some of its blood with his finger” and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting (Numbers 19:4). At that point, the whole red heifer, including its dung, would be burned in Eleazar’s sight. The priest would then add cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet yarn to the fire along with the red heifer (the why of the scarlet yarn or “wool” is a mystery).

The overseeing priest could return to camp only after he bathed himself and washed his clothes, but he would remain unclean until the evening. Likewise, the one who burned the red heifer was to wash his clothes, bathe, and remain unclean until evening. A clean man then gathered the ashes of the red heifer and “deposited them in a clean place,” again outside the camp. The Bible then explains that the ashes “are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin” (Numbers 19:9). Whoever gathered the ashes would also need to wash his clothes, and he would be unclean until evening. The Lord added this proviso: “this will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them” (Numbers 19:10).

Once the Israelites had the red heifer’s ashes properly stored, they would use them to cleanse unclean people. Numbers 19:11-22 outlines an important way someone could become unclean (touching dead bodies) and how to combine the ashes with clean running water then sprinkle the mixture with hyssop on the person to be cleansed. 

Hebrew Media Claims Christians Brought  Red Heifer to Israel to Establish Antichrist

August 4, 2023

The Channel 12 article cites a project by Boneh Israel, an organization that brings together Jews and Christians. In cooperation with the Temple Institute, Boneh Israel successfully imported five red calves in September to Israel from Texas for the purpose of raising them for the Biblical commandment.

The red heifer was the main component in the Biblically mandated process of ritual purification for impurity that results from proximity or contact with a dead body. Because the elements needed for this ceremony have been lacking since the destruction of the Second Temple, all Jews today are considered ritually impure, thereby preventing the return of the Temple service.

The article noted that the Temple Institutes was founded by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel who was a former member of the right-wing Kach party which was declared illegal by the Israeli government. The article claimed that Rabbi Ariel is the “spiritual patron” of the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir.

The article claimed that the Netanyahu government is complicit.

“A few years ago, the Jerusalem Ministry submitted a design proposal for the construction of the Mount of Olives Promenade, and officials who were involved in the planning claim that its route is intended to serve, among other things, the future ceremony of burning the cow,” the article wrote, also blaming the Ministry of Agriculture for complicity by issuing permits for importing the red calves. The article noted that the ministry exempted the calves from being ear-tagged as it would have rendered them unfit for the mitzvah. …

The article quoted Dr. Tomer Persico,a Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, who claimed that Christians are involved in the project in order to help bring about the “Temple of the Antichrist”.

“The Antichrist, the ‘Satan’ one might say, needs to come here and defile the Temple,” notes Persico. “Then the war of Gog and Magog begins, in which two-thirds of the Jews die, and one-third of them convert to Christianity. The world doesn’t exactly last either. You know, such is a biblical disaster.” …

The article raised an uproar among the Arab media. Al Jazeera cited Dr. Saleh Lutfi, “a researcher in Jewish, Zionist, and political affairs,” as saying that in light of the current Palestinian and regional circumstances, the Netanyahu government the time is ripe to “realize the myth of building the alleged ‘Third Temple.’”

“All parties in the government coalition, including the Likud Party, agree among themselves on the need to continue preparations and preparations for the construction of the Temple, the preparation of priests’ clothing, the raising of the red cow, and the strengthening of the position of the Chief Rabbi,” Lufti wrote.  …

But it is not only Palestinians who object to the imminent red heifer ritual. Chavat Ha Chofesh (The Freedom Farm Sanctuary), dedicated to stopping the industrial farming of animals, posted on Facebook an appeal to save the red cows. Its petition has garnered over 5,700 signatures since last week. https://www.israel365news.com/374213/hebrew-media-claims-christians-brought-red-heifer-to-israel-to-establish-antichrist/

Before going further, let me state that I saw a red heifer at a local fair less than two weeks ago. But the Jews looking for one have certain non-biblical standards for them, based on their traditions, which make them conclude that there have only been nine pure red heifers throughout history and that one more will come–they currently have four that they think have potential to be that one. As far as people opposing animal sacrifices go, that is something I warned could happen nearly nine years ago (see India court bans religious animal sacrifices: will this impact the Jews?).

Anyway, last September, five red heifer candidates arrived in Israel from the USA. One, later, was disqualified by the Jews.

Certain Jews consider that the fate of the world depends on sacrificing an unblemished red heifer that is at least twenty-four months old.

Some believe that this could happen in 2024.

Here is what the Hebrew  scriptures say about a red heifer:

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “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. 3 You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him; 4 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. 5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, he shall bathe in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening. 8 And the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water, bathe in water, and shall be unclean until evening. 9 Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin. 10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. It shall be a statute forever to the children of Israel and to the stranger who dwells among them. (Numbers 19:1-10)

Jews have interpreted this to mean that another red heifer needs to be sacrificed for sacrifices to be resumed or for the Messiah to return. While that is not directly stated above, it could be implied from it that one is again needed.

As far as ‘Antichrist’ goes, some Protestants have tied a red heifer in with that one. Here is something I posted about that back in 2019:

Hebrew Media Claims Christians Brought  Red Heifer to Israel to Establish Antichrist

August 4, 2023

The Channel 12 article cites a project by Boneh Israel, an organization that brings together Jews and Christians. In cooperation with the Temple Institute, Boneh Israel successfully imported five red calves in September to Israel from Texas for the purpose of raising them for the Biblical commandment.

The red heifer was the main component in the Biblically mandated process of ritual purification for impurity that results from proximity or contact with a dead body. Because the elements needed for this ceremony have been lacking since the destruction of the Second Temple, all Jews today are considered ritually impure, thereby preventing the return of the Temple service.

The article noted that the Temple Institutes was founded by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel who was a former member of the right-wing Kach party which was declared illegal by the Israeli government. The article claimed that Rabbi Ariel is the “spiritual patron” of the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir.

The article claimed that the Netanyahu government is complicit.

“A few years ago, the Jerusalem Ministry submitted a design proposal for the construction of the Mount of Olives Promenade, and officials who were involved in the planning claim that its route is intended to serve, among other things, the future ceremony of burning the cow,” the article wrote, also blaming the Ministry of Agriculture for complicity by issuing permits for importing the red calves. The article noted that the ministry exempted the calves from being ear-tagged as it would have rendered them unfit for the mitzvah. …

The article quoted Dr. Tomer Persico,a Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, who claimed that Christians are involved in the project in order to help bring about the “Temple of the Antichrist”.

“The Antichrist, the ‘Satan’ one might say, needs to come here and defile the Temple,” notes Persico. “Then the war of Gog and Magog begins, in which two-thirds of the Jews die, and one-third of them convert to Christianity. The world doesn’t exactly last either. You know, such is a biblical disaster.” …

The article raised an uproar among the Arab media. Al Jazeera cited Dr. Saleh Lutfi, “a researcher in Jewish, Zionist, and political affairs,” as saying that in light of the current Palestinian and regional circumstances, the Netanyahu government the time is ripe to “realize the myth of building the alleged ‘Third Temple.’”

“All parties in the government coalition, including the Likud Party, agree among themselves on the need to continue preparations and preparations for the construction of the Temple, the preparation of priests’ clothing, the raising of the red cow, and the strengthening of the position of the Chief Rabbi,” Lufti wrote.  …

But it is not only Palestinians who object to the imminent red heifer ritual. Chavat Ha Chofesh (The Freedom Farm Sanctuary), dedicated to stopping the industrial farming of animals, posted on Facebook an appeal to save the red cows. Its petition has garnered over 5,700 signatures since last week. https://www.israel365news.com/374213/hebrew-media-claims-christians-brought-red-heifer-to-israel-to-establish-antichrist/

Before going further, let me state that I saw a red heifer at a local fair less than two weeks ago. But the Jews looking for one have certain non-biblical standards for them, based on their traditions, which make them conclude that there have only been nine pure red heifers throughout history and that one more will come–they currently have four that they think have potential to be that one. As far as people opposing animal sacrifices go, that is something I warned could happen nearly nine years ago (see India court bans religious animal sacrifices: will this impact the Jews?).

Anyway, last September, five red heifer candidates arrived in Israel from the USA. One, later, was disqualified by the Jews.

Certain Jews consider that the fate of the world depends on sacrificing an unblemished red heifer that is at least twenty-four months old.

Some believe that this could happen in 2024.

Here is what the Hebrew  scriptures say about a red heifer:

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “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. 3 You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him; 4 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. 5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, he shall bathe in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening. 8 And the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water, bathe in water, and shall be unclean until evening. 9 Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin. 10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. It shall be a statute forever to the children of Israel and to the stranger who dwells among them. (Numbers 19:1-10)

Jews have interpreted this to mean that another red heifer needs to be sacrificed for sacrifices to be resumed or for the Messiah to return. While that is not directly stated above, it could be implied from it that one is again needed.

As far as ‘Antichrist’ goes, some Protestants have tied a red heifer in with that one. Here is something I posted about that back in 2019: