Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Numbers 19

Num 19:2 This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:

a red heifer

The red heifer: Type of the sacrifice of Christ as the ground of the cleansing of the believer from the defilement contracted in his pilgrim walk through this world, and illustration of the method of his cleansing. The order is:

1. the slaying of the sacrifice;
2. the sevenfold sprinkling of the blood, typical public testimony before the eyes of all of the complete and never-to-be-repeated putting away of all the believer's sin as before God (Hebrews 9:12-14; 10:10-12);
3. the reduction of the sacrifice to ashes which are preserved and become a memorial of the sacrifice;
4. the cleansing from defilement (sin has two aspects—guilt and uncleanness) by sprinkling with the ashes mingled with water. Water is a type of both the Spirit and the Word (John 7:37-39; Ephesians 5:26).

The operation typified is this: the Holy Spirit used the Word to convict the believer of some evil allowed in his life to the hindering of his joy, growth, and service. Thus convicted, he remembers that the guilt of his sin has been met by the sacrifice of Christ (1 John 1:7). Instead, therefore, of despairing, the convicted believer judges and confesses the defiling thing as unworthy a saint, and is forgiven and cleansed (John 13:3-10; 1 John 1:7-10).

upon which never came yoke

Deu 21:3; 1Sa 6:7.

Num 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:

without the camp

Lev 4:12, 21; 16:27; Heb 13:11.

Num 19:4 And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:

sprinkle of her blood…seven times

Lev 4:6; 16:14-19.

Num 19:6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet

Lev 14:4, 6, 49.

hyssop

Exo 12:22.

Num 19:9 And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.

ashes of the heifer

Heb 9:13.

water of separation

Num 19:13, 20, 21; Num 31:23.

Num 19:12 He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

purify himself

Literally purge himself from sin.

Num 19:17 And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:

an unclean person

Scofield Numbers 19:2, note [above]; John 13:1-10, note.