The Sevenfold Sevens of the Red Heifer in Tanchuma Chukat

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Chukat 9:1

[(Psalms 12:7:) "Refined sevenfold."] Rabbi Hanan bar Pazzi expounded the verse with regard to the section of the [Red] Heifer, in which there are seven [sets] of seven: seven heifers, seven burnings, seven sprinklings, seven launderings, seven [who are] unclean, seven [who are] clean, seven priests. If a person should say to you that they are lacking [fewer than seven priests], say to him: Moses and Aaron were included in the count, as it is stated (Numbers 19:1-2), "And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: This is the statute of the Torah."

Themes

Biblical References