The Red Heifer as Israel and the Promise of Future Purification

Another interpretation: "A heifer" (Numbers 19:2) - this is Israel, as it is written, "for like a stubborn heifer Israel was stubborn" (Hosea 4:16). "Red" (ibid.) - this is Israel, as it is written, "they were ruddier in body than rubies" (Lamentations 4:7). "Perfect" (ibid.) - this is Israel, as it is written, "one is my dove, my perfect one" (Song of Songs 6:9). "In which there is no blemish" (ibid.) - this is Israel, as it is written, "you are wholly beautiful, my love, and there is no blemish in you" (Song of Songs 4:7). "Upon which no yoke has come" (ibid.) - this is the generation of Jeremiah, who did not accept upon themselves the yoke of the Holy One, blessed be He. "And you shall give it to Elazar the priest" (Numbers 19:3) - this is Jeremiah, "of the priests who were in Anathoth" (Jeremiah 1:1). "And he shall bring it outside the camp" (ibid.) - "and he exiled its people to Babylon" (Ezra 5:12). "And he shall slaughter it before him" (ibid.) - "and they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes" (II Kings 25:7). "And he shall burn the heifer before his eyes" (Numbers 19:5) - "and he burned the house of the LORD and the house of the king" (II Kings 25:9). "Its hide and its flesh" (Numbers 19:5) - "and all the houses of Jerusalem and every great house he burned with fire" (II Kings 25:9). And why does it call it "the great house"? Rather, this is the study house of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, where they would recount the greatness of the Holy One, blessed be He. "And he shall take" (ibid.) - this is wicked Nebuchadnezzar. "Cedar wood and hyssop and crimson wool" (ibid.) - these are Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. "And he shall cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer" (ibid.) - "the flame of the fire slew those men" (Daniel 3:22). "And he shall gather" (Numbers 19:9) - this is the Holy One, blessed be He, "and He shall raise a banner for the nations and gather the dispersed of Israel" (Isaiah 11:12). "A man" (ibid.) - this is the Holy One, blessed be He, of whom it is written, "the LORD is a man of war" (Exodus 15:3). "Pure" (ibid.) - this is the Holy One, blessed be He, of whom it is written, "pure of eyes, too pure to behold evil" (Habakkuk 1:13). "The ashes of the heifer" (ibid.) - these are the exiles of Israel. "And he shall place outside the camp in a pure place" (ibid.) - this is Jerusalem, which is pure. "And it shall be for the congregation of the children of Israel as a charge" (ibid.) - because in this world they are declared impure and pure by the mouth of a priest, but in the future to come the Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to purify them, as it is written, "and I will sprinkle pure water upon you" (Ezekiel 36:25). The portion is ended.