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Numbers 19:6-8
New English Translation
Numbers 19:6-8
New English Translation
6 And the priest must take cedar wood, hyssop,[a] and scarlet wool and throw them into the midst of the fire where the heifer is burning.[b] 7 Then the priest must wash[c] his clothes and bathe himself[d] in water, and afterward he may come[e] into the camp, but the priest will be ceremonially unclean until evening. 8 The one who burns it[f] must wash his clothes in water and bathe himself in water. He will be ceremonially unclean until evening.
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- Numbers 19:6 sn In addition to the general references, see R. K. Harrison, “The Biblical Problem of Hyssop,” EvQ 26 (1954): 218-24.
- Numbers 19:6 sn There is no clear explanation available as to why these items were to be burned with the heifer. N. H. Snaith suggests that in accordance with Babylonian sacrifices they would have enhanced the rites with an aroma (Leviticus and Numbers [NCB], 272). In Lev 14 the wood and the hyssop may have been bound together by the scarlet wool to make a sprinkling device. It may be that the symbolism is what is important here. Cedar wood, for example, is durable; it may have symbolized resistance to future corruption and defilement, an early acquired immunity perhaps (R. K. Harrison, Numbers [WEC], 256).
- Numbers 19:7 tn The sequence continues with the perfect tense and vav (ו) consecutive.
- Numbers 19:7 tn Heb “his flesh.”
- Numbers 19:7 tn This is the imperfect of permission.
- Numbers 19:8 sn Here the text makes clear that he had at least one assistant.
New English Translation (NET)
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