Hello, I'm Gary Stevens, and welcome to the History in the Bible podcast.

All the history, in all the books, in all the Bibles.

Thank you. Episode 1.20, Out of the Wilderness.

In our last episode, the Israelites had been rebuffed in their first attempt to enter Canaan,

and a major rebellion led by Moses' cousin Cora had been decisively smashed.

We are now at Chapter 18 of Numbers.

This chapter repeats material found throughout the Torah, laying out the responsibilities of the priests and Levites,

and the rewards they are to receive for carrying out their duties.

And those rewards are generous indeed.

All the best of the new oil, wine and grain, the firstborn of all cattle, sheep and goats.

Everything taken from conquered enemies.

And that's just the start.

Chapter 18 also recounts the extraordinary ritual of the red heifer, Parah Arumar.

As usual with the peace source, first a remedy is specified, then the affliction it cures is defined.

First the remedy.

Quote, Numbers 191.

Yave spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

Instruct the Israelite people to bring you a red heifer without blemish,

in which there is no defect and on which no yoke has been laid. You shall give it to Eliezer the priest. It should be taken outside the camp

and slaughtered in his presence. The cow shall be burned in his sight. Its hide, flesh and blood shall be burned, its dung included.

And the priest shall take cedar wood, hyssop and crimson stuff, and throw them into the fire consuming the cow.

A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the cow and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place.

...