What is the Significance of the 'Red Heifer?'

   This may get a bit complicated as this was a part of the Old Testament laws. A special red heifer was needed as a sacrifice for purification of sin.  In the Jewish ceremony only the ashes of a red heifer were used. The red heifer was a reddish cow of at least two years old. It had to be without any flaws or defects. The sacrifice of the red heifer was definitely different because they used a female animal — the animal was sacrificed away from the entrance to the tabernacle and it was the only sacrifice mentioned in the Bible where a specific color was required. 

   In Numbers 19:1-19, we see the steps that were required for this special sacrifice. Eleazar the priest watched the ritual outside the Hebrew camp. After the animal was killed, the priest sprinkled some of the blood toward the front of the tabernacle seven times (v 4). Then the priest observed the burning of the carcass of the red heifer (v 5). As the red heifer was burning, the priest added some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool to the burn (v 6). The ashes of the red heifer were then stored “in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp.” The ashes were used “in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin” (v 9). The use of the ashes required special handling as well. The ashes of the red heifer were used for purifying those who came into contact with a dead body(v11-12) . The purification process using the red hiefer ashe ...