Chapter II
1. Rabbi Eliezer said, “a heifer for a sin-offering is allowed even in pregnancy.” But the Sages disallow her. R. Eliezer said, “she is not to be taken from foreigners.” But the Sages allow her. And not only she, but all the offerings of the congregation, and of the individual, may come from the Land (of Israel), or from outside the land, from the fresh harvest and [pg 269] from the old harvest, except the omer,[723] and the two loaves,[724] which may only come from the fresh harvest, and from the Land.
2. A heifer whose horns and hoofs are black should have them cut away. The pupil of the eye and the teeth and the tongue cause no blemish in the heifer. If she be diminutive, she is allowed. “Had she a wen which was cut away?” R. Judah “disallowed her.” Rabbi Simon said, “every place which was cut down, and no red hair sprang up in its place, renders her blemished.”
3. A heifer produced from the side or from the hire of immorality or exchanged for a dog is disallowed. R. Eliezer allowed it, “as is said, ‘Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore or the price of a dog into the house of the Lord thy God.’[725] But she did not come into the house.” All blemishes which are disallowed in holy things are disallowed in the heifer. If one rode on her or leaned on her or hung something on her tail or crossed a river on her or doubled the rope over her or put his garment on her, she is disallowed. But if one bound her with a rope or made a shoe to prevent her slipping or spread his garment over her because of the flies, she is allowed. This is the rule: Everything which was necessary for her is allowed; if there be any use of her for another's benefit, she is disallowed.
4. If a bird rested on her, she is allowed. If the male came to her, she is disallowed. R. Judah said, “if he were brought, she is disallowed, but if he came of himself, she is allowed.”
5. If she had two black or white hairs in one cavity, she is disallowed. R. Judah said, “even in one pore.” “If they be in two pores and they prove united?” “She is disallowed.” Rabbi Akiba said, “even four or five, if they be scattered, may be plucked out.” Rabbi Eleazar said, “even fifty.” R. Joshua, son of Bathira, said, “if there be even one in her head [pg 270] and one in her tail, she is disallowed.” “If there be two hairs, their roots black and their tops red, their roots red and their tops black?” “All follows after the appearance,” the words of Rabbi Meier. But the Sages say, “after the root.”
Chapter III
1. Seven days before the burning of the heifer, the priest who burned the heifer was removed from his house to the chamber in front of the Temple Palace toward the northeast;[726] and it was called the Stone House. And he was sprinkled during all the seven days from all the ashes of red heifers which were there. R. José said, “they did not sprinkle him save on the third and seventh days only.” R. Hananiah, the deputy high-priest, said, “on the priest who burned the heifer they sprinkled during all the seven days, but on him who took service on the Day of Atonement they did not sprinkle save on the third and seventh days only.”