* the ordinance.
31:21 Heb 9:10
* a red heifer.
The following curious particulars have been remarked in this
ordinance: 1. A heifer was appointed for sacrifice, in
opposition to the Egyptian superstition, which held these
sacred, and worshipped their goddess Isis under this form; and
this appears the more likely, because males only were chosen
for sacrifice. So Herodotus says, they sacrifice males, both
old and young; but it is not lawful for them to offer females.
2. It was to be a red heifer, because the Egyptians
sacrificed red bulls to the evil demon Typhon. 3. It was to
be without spot, having no mixture of any other colour.
Plutarch says, the Egyptians "sacrifice red bulls, and select
them with such scrupulous attention, that if the animal has a
single black or white hair, they reckon it [athuton,] unfit
to be sacrificed." 4. Without blemish. (See note on Le
22:21.) 5. On which never came yoke: because an animal
which had been used for a common purpose was deemed improper
for sacrifice.
6 Le 14:6 Isa 1:18 Re 1:5
* no blemish. See on
Ex 12:5 Le 22:20-25 Mal 1:13,14 Lu 1:35 Heb 7:26 1Pe 1:19
1Pe 2:22
* upon which.
De 21:3 1Sa 6:7 La 1:14 Joh 10:17,18 Php 2:6-8
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