“Then shall he wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.”
Context:Numbers 19 deals with the instructions for the purification of the people of Israel and their ceremonial objects. It specifically focuses on the ritual of the red heifer, which was used to purify those who had become ceremonially unclean due to contact with a dead body.
Purification Process:In verse 21, it describes what the priest must do after dealing with the red heifer’s ashes. The priest, having been involved in the purification process, needed to cleanse himself before offering the burnt offering for the people.
Washing with Water:The verse begins by stating that the priest should wash his flesh with water in the holy place. This act symbolised the cleansing and purifying of the priest from any impurities. Water has often been associated with purification throughout the Bible, representing spiritual cleansing and renewal.
Putting on Garments:After washing, the priest would put on his holy garments. The special clothing worn by the priest represented his consecration and separation for service to God. By putting on these garments, the priest would signify his readiness to fulfil his duties before God.
Offering the Burnt Offering:The priest would then come forth and offer the burnt offering. The burnt offering was one of the main sacrifices in the Old Testament, symbolising complete surrender and dedication to God. It was entirely consumed by fire, indicating the worshipper’s desire to offer their whole self to God.
Making Atonement:The purpose of offering the burnt offering was to make atonement for both the priest and the people. Atonement means the reconciliation of a sinful person with God through the payment of a penalty or the offering of a sacrifice. In this case, the burnt offering served as a means of seeking forgiveness for any sins or impurities that had been incurred.
Overall, Numbers 19:21 provides instructions for the purification of the priest before offering the burnt offering for the people. It emphasises the need for cleansing, consecration, and atonement in order to approach God and serve Him faithfully. This passage points to the importance of spiritual purity and the significance of sacrifices in the worship and relationship with God in the Old Testament context.
