The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 260

the enduring effects of hie expiation to do away the contagion and terror of spiritual death; in a word, we have him who by dying overcame death, and delivered them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. In drawing out this great type we may consider-I. The circumstances under which the ordinance was given. 2. The choice of the victim. 3. The manner of sacrifice. 4. The application of ite cleansing virtue. I. As TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF TIME AND PLACE. Consider-I. That the (Y/'din- ance of the red heifer was given not at Sinai, but in the wilderneu of Paran, the region of exile, of wandering; the land of the shadow of death, which was but th0 ante-chamber of the tomb and of eternal darkness to that generation. The whole Levitical system had been given in the wilderness, but in the wilderness as a land of liberty to serve God, and as the threshold of the promised land of life flowing with milk and honey. Even eo Christ was given to us when we lay in darkness and the shadow of death, living in a world whose prince was Satan, wherein was no rest, and wherefrom was no escape, save into the gloomier land beyond the grave. 2. That it WQ.8 given at a time when Israel lay under condemnation for rebellion, and under sentence of death; when death, who had been restrained for a season, was let loose upon them with multiplied terrors to prey upon them until they were consumed, filling the minds of them that lived with borror and despair. Even so Christ was- given unto a dying race, lying under the wrath of God for sin, and in perpetual bondage through certain fear of coming death. Death was the universal tyrant whose terror sickened the boldest heart and saddened the uneasy mirth of the gayest. 3. That it was given at a time when the routine of sacrifices and holy rites was aban,loned, partly as out of their power to maintain, partly as useless for such ae were alienated from God and appointed to die. How should men eat the passover who had but escaped from Egypt to perish miserably in a howling wilderness? Even so Christ was given to a race which had little belief and Iese comfort in its religioWJ rites, Jewish or Gentile; which knew itself alienated from God, excluded from heaven , which had tried all outward and formal rites, and found that they could not deliver- from the fear of death. Even the Divinely-given, religious system of Moses had not a word to say about the life to come, could not whisper one syllable of comfort to- the dying soul. II. As TO THE CHOICE OF VICTIM. Consider-1. That the mctim WQ.8 (so far as could possibly be) one, and one only,· in striking contrast to the multiplicity and constant repetition (with its consequent difficulty and expense) of the ordinary sacrifices of the law. One red heifer availed for centuries. Only six are said to have been required during the whole of Jewish history; for the smallest quantity of the ashes availed to impart the cleansing virtue to the holy water. Had it indeed been possible to preserve the ashes from unavoidable waste, no second red heifer would ever have needed to be offered. Even so the sacrifice of Christ is one, and only one, as opposed to all the offerings of the law; and this because the availing power of it and the cleansing virtue of his atonement endure for ever, without the slightest loss of efficacy or possibility of being exhausted. 2. That the victim was a Jteifer, not a male animal, as in almost all other cases. Even so we may believe with reverence that there w11s a distinctly feminine side to the churacter of Christ, G tenderness and gentleness which might have been counted weakness hnd it not been united with so much masculine force of command and energy of will. And this was necessary to the perfect Man; for whereas Eve was taken from out of Adorn after his creation, this points to the subtraction from the ideal man of some elements of his nature, eo that man and woman only represent between them a complete humanity. As, therefore, we ever find in the greatest men some strongly-marked feminine traits of character, eo we may believe that in Christ, who was the second Adam, and (in a special sense) the seed of the wom11n, this feminine side of the perfect ide11l w11s fully restored. 3. That the victim was red. Even eo our Lord, as touching his bodily nature, was of that common earth, which is red, from which Adam took his name. Moreover, he w11s red in the blood of his passion, as the prophet testifies (Isa. )xiii. 1, 2; Rev. xix. 13), 4. That iJ, was without blem~h. A matter 11bout which the Jews took incredible pains, three hairs together of any but the one colour being held fatal to the choice. Even so our Lord, even by the te~tiwony of Jews JI, 2  244 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. (CB, XfX:. 1-2:!.