Outside the Camp

“Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” (Heb 13:13)

In the book of Numbers chapter 19, the sacrifice of the unblemished red heifer is detailed for the children of Israel. This sacrifice was to be made outside the camp, and the body was to be completely immolated, including even the dung (Num 19:5). This differed from the other sacrifices in that, in those others, some part of the sacrifice was physically presented before God on the altar or given to the priests to consume. Here, however, the heifer was to be burned to ash, and those ashes used to make for the people the water for impurity (Num 19:9).

This water was to be used in the purification of those who had become unclean through touching a dead body (Num 19:13), or for purifying those things which are not fully consumed by fire (Num 31:23).

Being outside the camp was a real manifestation of being outside the presence of God. Those who were unclean were not allowed in the camp because the presence of God was there (Num 5:3).

This is the situation being referred to by the author of Hebrews when he points out: “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Heb 13:12). Notice that there is no water for impurity here – it is the blood of Christ itself which now purifies all believers – all of those who become “… partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus” (Eph 3:6) by being “grafted in among them” (Rom 11:17).

In verse 13, therefore, we are called to join with Christ in His rejection at the hands of men by joining Him outside the camp of Judaism, “…hold[ing] fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Heb 10:23) and to endure the reproach that will follow. RST