Shalom All:

In the links provided by Donna Danna (5 July 2005)
"THE MYSTERY OF THE RED HEIFER: DIVINE PROMISE OF PURITY"
.. I read this in "The Ceremony"
http://www.templeinstitute.org/red_heifer/ceremony.htm
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At the Place of Burning, they await the arrival of the procession. The Mishna records that an unusual procedure took place once the priest reached them: After the entire week during which he was so carefully guarded from the slightest shadow of impurity, the elders would deliberately contaminate him! Once again, this was done on account of the serious dispute between the Sages and the Sadducees. The traditional Mosaic law which states that immersion is sufficient purification for the attending priest, and that it is unnecessary for him to wait until after sunset, was not accepted by the Sadducees. By not accepting any traditional laws, the Sadducees declared war on the system established by the G-d of Israel Himself. In order to prove and maintain the authority and authenticity of these laws, the sages were careful at such an important and public occasion as the burning of a new heifer, to undermine the seditious Saduccean influence with the greatest publicity, and in the most ostentatious manner, as possible.
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A little "denominational" wars going on?  Strange that this should happen among the Children of Israel ... oh, but maybe it's the result of that horrible mixed multitude of Moses coming out of Egypt?

The Children's behavior kind of flies in the face of this statement in
"Symbolic Levels Of Interpretation" where they state Israel is the only nation that can follow God unquestionably!
http://www.templeinstitute.org/red_heifer/symbolic_levels.htm
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The nations hound Israel on account of the red heifer, precisely because her adherence to this precept is a revelation of Israel's truly inimitable spiritual status. Israel's obedience to commandments such as the red heifer reflects her level of faith, a level that is impossible for others to grasp or emulate. It irks the nations of the world to perceive this unflinching faith; Israel is the only nation that can follow God unquestionably.
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I think they need a better understanding of that Red Heifer!  Their understanding can't be correct when they argue over the ceremony!

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The fire will be ignited from its western side, the end facing the Temple.
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Reminds me of how "judgment" is going to home to the House of YHVH first!

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The priest stands atop the altar and slaughters the heifer. He uses his right hand for the act, then gathers the blood, not in a vessel, but in his left hand. With his right index finger he sprinkles from it seven times, standing opposite the entrance to the Holy Temple, facing that direction all the while and looking towards the entrance, as the verse states: "towards the front of the Tent of Meeting."
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How interesting that his hand becomes the vessel for the blood.

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He descends from the altar and lights the fire, then the heifer is placed on the fire. He takes up the three ingredients required by the Bible to throw into the fire: cedar wood, hyssop, and wool dyed with scarlet.

Publicly Acknowledging Our Adherence to Scripture

Lifting each item, the priest faces all those assembled and asks aloud:

"This cedar? This cedar? This cedar?"
 "This hyssop? This hyssop? This hyssop?"
 "This crimson dye? This crimson dye? This crimson dye?"

He asks for confirmation of the identity of these particulars, repeating the question three times for each thing. To which the entire congregation gathered there responds resoundingly: "Yes! Yes! Yes!" for each.

This was done because there are many variations of these things; of the cedar tree alone, there are seven different varieties. There are four species of hyssop, and the scarlet dye which is used is obtained from a particular type of worm, though it can be produced from other sources as well. The priest publicly acknowledges and displays that these are the types which are required by Scripture.

He wraps the hyssop together with the cedar inside the crimson wool, and throws it into the belly of the heifer - as it is written, "and he shall throw it into the fire of the heifer." These words teach us that the ingredients must be cast into the fire while it is burning; that is, he must wait until the majority of the heifer has been consumed, but he also must not wait until the entire mass has been reduced to ashes.

After the fire is finished and all has been completely burned, everything there is ground down and pulverized - including the wood, and all parts of the animal. The entire black mass is beaten with rods and sifted, and these are the ashes which will be saved and used for purity.

The ashes would be divided into three portions. One share was watched for safe keeping in the Holy Temple, within the wall in front of the Women's Court. Another portion was kept at the burning station on the Mount of Annointment, and the third was divided for use between all the priestly shifts serving in the Temple. The attending priests would then use their respective portions to purify the country folk and the impure, while the allotment that was on the mount, was to be used for the priest who came to burn a new heifer.

The third portion that was kept within the wall in the Holy Temple was not used at all - it was placed there as a remembrance, as the Holy One commanded: "and it shall be for the congregation of the Children of Israel for a remembrance."
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Just as in the Yom Kippur ceremony must be prophetic, I'm certain this ceremony is somehow linked with and teaches of the "seed of the woman" - Yeshua!

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It is not necessary for a large amount of the sanctified waters to come in contact with the impure. As long as a slight amount of the water touches him, it is sufficient to purify. Even if a tiny drop touched only his fingertip or lips, it would be enough.
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Oh, how I rejoice at this statement!!!  Even a tiny drop! would be ENOUGH!!!!!!  Consider Yeshua's Blood!

Dianne
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( Request a flow chart of Revelation Seals at  talsmawi@centurytel.net  )