Translations
Original
Notes
Death made a person ceremonially unclean, and this uncleanness could spread. It could pass to an object or to a place where someone had died (compare Leviticus 15:1–12). This means that anything connected to the dead body could also become unclean. People had to be careful so that impurity did not spread through the camp.
If someone touched a human dead body, that person became ceremonially unclean for seven days (compare Leviticus 21:1–3). This meant a person was not allowed to take part in worship until they were made clean.
To become clean again, the person had to use the water of purification. This water was sprinkled on the third day and again on the seventh day.
This section explains how ordinary Israelites can become ceremonially clean again after touching a corpse and avoid defiling the Tent of Meeting (see 9:4–12; Leviticus 17:15; 21:1–4, 11–12). God's holiness demands that the place of his presence remains pure and separate from pollution (compare 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18–20).
Glossary
Banish, Banishment Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Hyssop John the Baptist Numbers, Book of Water of Separation
Topics
Defilement: Caused by Touching the Dead Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Being Alone with a Dead Body Defilement: Things Liable to Ceremonial: Furniture Mourning: Caused Ceremonial Defilement Sanitation: Carcasses Sanitation: Contagion The Dead in a House Rendered It Unclean Water of Separation