Chapter IV
1. “The heifer which was slaughtered without the proper intention, (the priest) caught the blood and sprinkled it without the proper intention, or with the proper intention and afterward without the proper intention, or without the proper intention and (afterward) with the proper intention?” “She is disallowed.” R. Eliezer “allowed her.” “And if the priest did not wash his hands and his feet?” “She is disallowed.” R. Eliezer “allowed her.” “If she was not slaughtered by the High-priest?” “She is disallowed.” R. Judah “allowed her.” “If any of his garments were wanting?” “She is disallowed.” And the rites were performed in white vestments.
2. “If the priest burned her out of her prepared place, or in two places, or burned two in one place?” “She is disallowed.” “If he sprinkled her blood but not straight in front of the DOOR?” “She is disallowed.” “If he sprinkled her blood the sixth time for the seventh—he then turned and sprinkled the seventh?” “She is disallowed.” “If the priest sprinkled the seventh time for the eighth—he then turned and sprinkled the eighth?” “She is allowed.”
3. “If the priest burned the red heifer without wood, or with every sort of wood, even with stubble and dung?”[734] “She is allowed.” “If he skinned and cut her?” “She is allowed.” “If he slaughtered her on condition of eating from her flesh and drinking from her blood?” “She is allowed.” Rabbi Eliezer said, “intention does not disallow the heifer.”
4. All who are busied about the heifer from the beginning to the end render their garments legally unclean. And any work gained from her renders her disallowed. If any illegality happened during her slaughter, she does not render their garments unclean. If it happened during the sprinkling of her blood, everyone busied before her disallowance renders his garments unclean. After her disallowance he does not render his garments unclean. It follows that her difficulty is his convenience. They who are busied about her are always liable for a trespass-offering. They may add wood to her during her burning. And her business is done in the day and by a priest. [pg 274] Every work for gain with her causes her disallowance until she be reduced to ashes. And work for gain causes disallowance in the water also, until the ashes be strewn upon it.
Chapter V
1. He who brings earthen vessels for the ashes of the heifer must wash them, and place them in the furnace over night. Rabbi Judah said, “even if he bring them from his house they are allowed. Since everyone is trusted about the heifer. But in the heave-offering he opens the furnace and takes out the vessels.” R. Simon said, “from the second[735] row.” R. José said, “from the third row.”
2. He who washes vessels for the ashes of the red heifer, in water unsuitable for purification, must dry them. If he wash them in water suitable for purification, it is not necessary to dry them. If he add therein water for purification, whether of one sort or the other sort of water, he must dry them.