Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 19:9. It's a pretty important passage about handling animal remains – specifically, ashes after a ritual sacrifice. Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling us to treat the ashes of a sacrificed animal with extreme care and to use them for a special purpose – a temporary purification that will be shared with the Israelites. It's about cleansing and preparation. Let’s look at it piece by piece: “And a man [that is] clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer…” This immediately clarifies who needs to handle these ashes. It only applies to a “clean” man – someone who has been ritually cleansed and is considered pure enough to handle sacred items. "Heifer" was a young goat used in religious ceremonies, so this refers to a clean animal. “…and lay [them] up without the camp in a clean place…” This means they need to put the ashes away from the group of people who are gathered around the sacrifice. It's a deliberate separation. “It [is] a purification for sin.” This is the key part! The rabbis (Jewish priests) believed that offering animal sacrifices was a way of making amends for humanity's sins. By treating the ashes with care and putting them away, they were symbolically cleansing themselves – removing the taint of the sacrifice and preparing the land for worship. It's like saying, "Let this act be a reminder of our desire to be closer to God." In simpler terms: Imagine you’re offering a special meal to God. After the meal is finished, you need to carefully handle the leftover food – the ashes. It's a way for the priests to symbolically clean themselves and prepare the land for a time of worship, reminding them that they are striving to be right with God. Important Context (Briefly): This verse is found in the Book of Numbers, chapters 27-28, and it’s part of Jewish law and tradition about how to handle sacrificial animals. It's a reminder of the importance of ritual purity and reverence. --- Do you want me to: Explain any particular aspect of this verse in more detail? Give an example of what this might look like in practice? Compare it to another related biblical passage?