This chapter describes the intriguing ritual of the red heifer to purify ceremonial impurity as a result of coming in contact with a dead person. But it wasn't that a heifer was killed every time such purification was needed. To the contrary this was a low cost ritual made from the ashes of a sacrificed burnt heifer which was kept in stock for a long period of time.
A red heifer was killed outside the camp and then burnt together with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool. The ashes were gathered and kept in a clean place outside the camp. When purification was needed some of the ash was mixed with water and sprinkled on the contaminated person in a 7-day ritual sprinkling the water of cleansing on the 3rd and 7th day. The person was clean after the 7-day ritual. Anyone who didn't purify himself in this way would be excommunicated.
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