Numbers 19:3
And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:
Original Language Analysis
וּנְתַתֶּ֣ם
And ye shall give
H5414
וּנְתַתֶּ֣ם
And ye shall give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 13
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֹתָ֔הּ
H853
אֹתָ֔הּ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 13
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַכֹּהֵ֑ן
the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֑ן
the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
5 of 13
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
וְהוֹצִ֤יא
that he may bring her forth
H3318
וְהוֹצִ֤יא
that he may bring her forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
6 of 13
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אֹתָהּ֙
H853
אֹתָהּ֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 13
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִח֣וּץ
without
H2351
מִח֣וּץ
without
Strong's:
H2351
Word #:
9 of 13
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה
the camp
H4264
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה
the camp
Strong's:
H4264
Word #:
10 of 13
an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e
וְשָׁחַ֥ט
and one shall slay
H7819
וְשָׁחַ֥ט
and one shall slay
Strong's:
H7819
Word #:
11 of 13
to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre)
Cross References
Leviticus 4:12Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.Leviticus 4:21And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.
Historical Context
Slaughtering the heifer outside the camp separated this unique ritual from regular sacrificial worship at the tabernacle. This extraordinary location emphasized the extraordinary nature of death's pollution and the special provision needed to address it. Normal worship structures couldn't contain this purification.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ's suffering 'outside the camp' affect your willingness to identify with Him socially?
- What does it cost to follow Jesus into places of rejection and uncleanness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The heifer was brought 'without the camp' for slaughter—outside the holy precinct. This detail prefigures Christ's crucifixion 'outside the gate' (Hebrews 13:11-13), where He bore our uncleanness. The paradox: what purifies must itself be treated as unclean. Christ became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), bearing contamination to provide cleansing.