Ver. 2. This is the ordinance of the law, which.] An ordinance, a law, a commanded law: all this to show the peremptoriness of the Lord in this point, that unless we lay hold upon the blood of Christ, prefigured by this red heifer, we cannot escape the damnation of hell. That they bring thee.] At a common charge, because for a common good. All the congregation must get them a bloody Saviour. A red heifer.] Typing out Christum cruentatum, Christ covered with his own blood: [see Isaiah 63:1,2] white and ruddy, as the Church says of him: (Song of Solomon 5:10) Tam recens mihi Christus crucifixus, ac si iam fudisset sanguinem. The pressure of his sufferings made him sweat great drops, or rather clods of blood, in a cold night, besides what afterwards issued from his many wounds in his head and body. Never came yoke.] Christ never bore the yoke either of sin or servitude. He laid down his life of himself. (John 10:17,18) See Hebrews 9:13,14. He was not subject to any command of man. (Luke 2:44 John 2:4) Luther.
Ver. 3. To Eleazar the priest.] To assure him of the succession of the priesthood. Besides, it was fitter he should be defiled than his father. (Numbers 19:7) Hereby also might haply be foretold, that the priests should kill Christ; but they were but our workmen, we should “look upon him whom we have pierced, and mourn over him,” (Zechariah 12:10) that the fountain opened for sin, and for separation from uncleanness, [see Numbers 19:9] may be free to us, the king’s bath of Christ’s blood. (Zechariah 13:1) Without the camp.] Signifying, that Christ should be taken from all earthly comforts, and crucified “without the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12) Before his face.] So was Christ before God’s face; yea, his Father laid upon him with his own hand, and let loose all the powers of darkness at him.
Ver. 4. Shall take of the blood with his finger.] Not with his whole hand. Christ’s blood must be touched or applied with great discretion and reverence; our practice also must be dyed in Christ’s blood.
Ver. 5. Shall he burn.] To set forth Christ’s ardent love and bitter sufferings. Love itself is a passion, and delights to express itself by suffering for the party beloved.
Ver. 6. Cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet.] Hereby was signified, that Christ, howsoever in respect of our sins he was burnt up with the fire of his Father’s wrath; yet by the everlasting Spirit, whereby he offered up himself without spot to God, and by the gifts and graces of it, he was a full sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God to purge offences. (Hebrews 9:14 Psalms 51:9 Ephesians 5:2)
Ver. 7. The priest shall wash his clothes.] To show the contagion and pollution of sin, (2 Corinthians 7:1) and imperfection of the legal priesthood. Unclean until the evening.] So Numbers 19:8,10. We had need take time till the evening, to humble our souls, and bewail our unworthiness of the blood of Christ.
Ver. 8. [See Trapp on “Nu 19:7”]
Ver. 9. And a man that is clean.] Hereby is meant the Gentile purified by faith, as one well observeth. The gathering of the ashes, is the applying of the merits of Christ, and laying hold of the mystery of his kingdom. The laying up of the ashes imports that the Christian accounts Christ’s merits his chief treasure. The clean place is the clean heart. Without the camp, notes, that the Gentiles were strangers from the commonwealth of Israel, &c. These ashes kept for the congregation, show the fulness of Christ’s merits for all his people. When he saith, it is to make a water of separation, it notes that our sins separate betwixt us and our God. But “now in Christ Jesus, we who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by his blood.” (Ephesians 2:13)
Ver. 10. Shall wash his clothes.] To note, that even the nearer a Christian comes to the merits of Christ, the more he is affected with the sense of his own uncleanness; yea, he retains it till even, that is, till death.
Ver. 11. He that toucheth.] To teach them to observe God’s curse in death, and to avoid the society of sinful men.
Ver. 16. Shall be unclean seven days.] [See Trapp on “Le 11:31”]
Ver. 17. And running water.] Signifying the ashes of Christ’s merit, and the water of his Spirit. See 1 Corinthians 6:11 Joh 7:38,39.
Ver. 18. Shall take hyssop.] No benefit by Christ, without mortification of sin.