This is the observance of the victim, which the Lord hath ordained. Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee a red cow of full age, in which there is no blemish, and which hath not carried the yoke:

The ordinance

Numbers 31:21 Eleazar also the priest spoke to the men of the army, that had fought, in this manner: This is the ordinance of the law, which the Lord hath commanded Moses:

Hebrews 9:10 And divers washings and justices of the flesh laid on them until the time of correction.

a red heifer.

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, unfit to be sacrificed.'

4. Without blemish.

5. On which never came yoke: because an animal which had been used for a common purpose was deemed improper for sacrifice.

Numbers 19:6 The priest shall also take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet twice dyed, and cast it into the flame, with which the cow is consumed.

Leviticus 14:6 But the other that is alive, he shall dip, with the cedar wood, and the scarlet and the hyssop, in the blood of the sparrow that is immolated:

Isaiah 1:18 And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood

no blemish

Exodus 12:5 And it shall be a lamb without blemish, a male, of one year; according to which rite also you shall take a kid.

Leviticus 22:20-25 If it have a blemish you shall not offer it: neither shall it be acceptable. . . .

Malachi 1:13,14 And you have said: Behold of our labour, and you puffed it away, saith the Lord of hosts, and you brought in of rapine the lame, and the sick, and brought in an offering: shall I accept it at your hands, saith the Lord? . . .

Luke 1:35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Hebrews 7:26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens:

1 Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb unspotted and undefiled

1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.

upon which

Deuteronomy 21:3 And the ancients of that city which they shall perceive to be nearer than the rest, shall take a heifer of the herd, that hath not drawn in the yoke, nor ploughed the ground,

1 Samuel 6:7 Now, therefore, take and make a new cart: and two kine that have calved, on which there hath come no yoke, tie to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.

Lamentations 1:14 Nun. The yoke of my iniquities hath watched: they are folded together in his hand, and put upon my neck: my strength is weakened: the Lord hath delivered me into a hand, out of which I am not able to rise.

John 10:17,18 Therefore doth the Father love me: because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. . . .

Philippians 2:6-8 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: . . .