Paul the Poke

July 2022: Five red heifers from a farm near Comanche, Texas have emerged as candidates for the Temple Institute in Jerusalem.

Because of COVID 19, these red heifers were not tagged. The ranch hand who typically tags cattle in the ear at birth was not available due to the pandemic. The hole in the ear from tagging would have disqualified the heifers from being a sacrificial candidate.

Members from the Temple Institute have flown to Texas to inspect the heifers. Reports indicate two of the heifers are very close to passing. One heifer allegedly had only one little white spot, otherwise it qualified.

The Temple Institute has stepped up its game in the search for the perfect red heifer. Boneh Israel is an organization who connects Christians who love Israel. Boneh Israel has placed full-page ads in ranching magazines. All red heifers have been requested to be set apart for inspection.

Byron Stinson is the American leader for Boneh Israel.

“I didn’t set out to do this, but right now, I am probably the best red heifer hunter in Texas. The Bible says to bring a red cow to purify Israel, and I may not understand it, but I am just doing what the Bible said.”

“The prophecies came true, and the Jews are back in Israel. Now they need to build a Temple. But it’s like buying a really nice car. If you don’t have the key, you aren’t going anywhere. The red heifer is the key to making the Temple work like it’s supposed to.” -Byron Stinson

https://www.israel365news.com/270956/christians-help-jews-search-for-red-heifer-to-reinstate-temple-service

Let’s look at the qualifications of the red heifer per the Bible in Numbers 19:1-2.

Numbers 19:1-2 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.

The ashes from the sacrifice of the red heifer are necessary for purification prior to the building of the Temple.

Interpretation of verses provided by the Temple Institute. This is the criteria used for the identification of the red heifer.

…and take a heifer… Since the verse instructs us to take a heifer, we do not purchase a calf and wait for it to grow older while in our custody; “and take a heifer” means that the act of acquisition has to take place while the animal is a heifer. However, if a red calf is available, a price can be set with its owner, and the transaction can be concluded, but we do not take possession until it reaches the proper age as mandated by the Bible.

A heifer by definition is a female cow.

…an unblemished red heifer in which is no defect… This means that the presence of as few as two hairs of any other color will render it invalid. Even its hooves must be red. It must also be totally free from any physical blemish or defect, whether internal or external. A list of blemishes that would disqualify the animal for sacrifice are noted in Leviticus 22.

…on which a yoke has never been placed. The red heifer must have never been used to perform any physical labor. This would include riding, or even leaning on her. But if a yoke were placed upon her even once, even if she were not used to plow – this would be enough to render the heifer unfit for use.

Three to four years of age is an oral tradition that has been passed down through the generations.

Learn more about the red heifer at https://templeinstitute.org/red-heifer/

~

Numbers 19:5-6 And the heifer shall be burned in his sight. Its skin, its flesh, and its blood, with its dung, shall be burned. And the priest shall take cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn, and throw them into the fire burning the heifer.

The dye for the Scarlet Yarn has been confirmed by rabbis at the Temple Institute. The following is an excerpt from https://www.israel365news.com/270895/crimson-worm-dye-a-key-element-for-red-heifer-sacrifice-developed-in-preparation-for-temple

In 2002, Dr. Zohar Amar of Bar Ilan University claimed to have verified the specific insect referred to in the Bible and even extracted some dye. He concluded that the color produced was orange rather than red.

“We checked many historical sources, the most important of which is Josephus, who was the last to describe and document the existence of the ‘Shani’ in the Temple,” Dr. Amar said. “Josephus describes the color as symbolizing fire, which is orange – as opposed to the red that many think it is. Our production process also produced orange.”

The rabbinic authorities have finally confirmed his conclusions at the Temple Institute. The process is quite involved. In rabbinic literature, the dye is referred to as zehorit, which was extracted from the body of the “crimson worm” (carmine), the Kermes biblicus. In Israel, this worm can be found on the branches of the oak Quercus ithaburensis found in a few specific areas of Israel and for approximately two weeks in the early spring. The females attach egg sacs to the tree and fill them with red eggs. The tree’s egg sacs are difficult to discern due to their size and color. Collecting the insects is painstaking and produces a minuscule amount of the dye. The demonstration was carried out by Rabbi Yehoshua Friedman, the dean of the Mikdash Yeshiva, a Torah institute that focuses on studies concerning the Temple. Rabbi Friedman, who has taken a Nazirite vow and thus has long hair, is a recognized expert in Temple-related issues.

The process begins by dissolving alum in boiling water, and then the insects are immersed in that water. The alum sets the dye and intensifies the crimson color. The wool is then immersed in the water and left to sit for about one hour. After it is removed from the water, the insects are then removed from the wool. Halacha (Jewish law) requires that the wool be immersed all at one and the initial effect of the dye be used for Temple purposes. Straining the insects may diminish the effect, so it is preferable to remove the insects only after the dying process has been completed.

https://www.israel365news.com/270895/crimson-worm-dye-a-key-element-for-red-heifer-sacrifice-developed-in-preparation-for-temple

For recent history regarding the search for the red heifer, click on the link below.

https://paulthepoke.com/?s=red+heifer

2 Peter 3:10-12 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N