Numbers 19:1-10

Good News Translation

Ashes of the Red Cow

19 The Lord commanded Moses and Aaron ² to give the Israelites the following regulations. Bring to Moses and Aaron a red cow which has no defects and which has never been worked, ³ and they will give it to Eleazar the priest. It is to be taken outside the camp and killed in his presence.^{[a] 4} Then Eleazar is to take some of its blood and with his finger sprinkle it seven times in the direction of the Tent. ⁵ The whole animal, including skin, meat, blood, and intestines, is to be burned in the presence of the priest. ⁶ Then he is to take some cedar wood, a sprig of hyssop, and a red cord and throw them into the fire. ⁷ After that, he is to wash his clothes and pour water over himself, and then he may enter the camp; but he remains ritually unclean until evening. ⁸ The one who burned the cow must also wash his clothes and pour water over himself, but he also remains unclean until evening. ^9 (A)Then someone who is ritually clean is to collect the ashes of the cow and put them in a ritually clean place outside the camp, where they are to be kept for the Israelite community to use in preparing the water for removing ritual uncleanness. This ritual is performed to remove sin. ¹⁰ The one who collected the ashes must wash his clothes, but he remains unclean until evening. This regulation is valid for all time to come, both for the Israelites and for the foreigners living among them.