Read Numbers 19:1-22 at Bible Gateway.
Hebrew paragraph divisions:
Num 19:1-22 {p} The law of the red heifer for purification
Chiastic structure:
1a) Num 19:1-2a, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded;
1b) Num 19:2b-10b, Law of the red heifer, water of purification/ they who prepare the ashes shall wash clothes + bathe + be unclean until evening;
1a) Num 19:2b-4, The red heifer without blemish + defect/ slaughtered outside the camp + blood sprinkled;
1b) Num 19:5, The heifer shall be burned in his sight: hide + flesh + blood + offal shall be burned;
central axis) Num 19:6a, And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet;
2b) Num 19:6b, And cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer;
2a) Num 19:7-10b, Its ashes: water of purification, for purifying from sin/ unclean until evening (afterward they may come into the camp);
1a) Num 19:7-8, Priest + he who burns it shall wash clothes + bathe + unclean until evening (afterwards they may come into the camp);
1b) Num 19:9a, A clean man shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place;
central axis) Num 19:9b, They shall be kept for the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin;
2b) Num 19:10a, The man who gathers up the ashes;
2a) Num 19:10b, Shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening;
1c) Num 19:10c, It shall be a statue forever to the children of Israel and to the stranger who dwells with them;
central axis) Num 19:11-20, Four part theme repeated twice:
1.1) Num 19:11, He who touches a dead body shall be unclean seven days;
1.2) Num 19:12, He shall purify himself with the water on the 3rd and 7th days, then he will be clean;
1.3) Num 19:13a, Whoever touches death and does not purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the Lord; that person shall be cut off from Israel.
1.4) Num 19:13b, Because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him.
2.1) Num 19:14-16, Anyone who touches death shall be unclean seven days;
2.2) Num 19:17-19, The process of purification with the water on the 3rd and 7th days;
2.3) Num 19:20a, But the one who is unclean and does not purify himself, he shall be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord;
2.4) Num 19:20b, The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean;
2c) Num 19:21a, It is a perpetual statute;
2b) Num 19:21b, He who sprinkles the water shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening;
2a) Num 19:22, The ordinance of the unclean person.
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