Without the Camp

2023-08-25

What happened outside the camp of the people Israel? Let us summarize:

Sin offerings were burnt outside the camp. Sin is unclean, so it must be put out of the camp. “But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering” (Exodus 29:14).

The leper or those who touched dead bodies must stay outside the camp until they were healed or cleansed. “All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be” (Leviticus 13:46). And again, “Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell” (Numbers 5:2-3).

The blasphemer and the Sabbath breaker were brought outside the camp to be executed. “Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him” (Leviticus 24:14). And again, “And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp” (Numbers 15:35).

The ashes of the red heifer were stored outside the camp in a clean place to be used for purification for sin. “And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face” (Numbers 19:3). And again, “And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin” (Numbers 19:9).

The bathroom was outside the camp. “Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad” (Deuteronomy 23:12).

Rahab, the Gentile from Jericho, with here family were placed outside the camp. “And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel” (Joshua 6:23).

In short, sin offerings were burnt there, the leper was there, the ones defiled by the dead were there, the ones who intentionally sinned were there, the refuse was there, and the Gentiles were there.

But there was also a clean place outside the camp that offered cleansing from sin. The cleansing took place on the third day, nonetheless. “He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean” (Numbers 19:12). The sinner finds hope without the camp amid all the filth in that separate, clean place.

Jesus suffered outside of the camp also. “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” (Hebrews 13:12-13).