Über diesen [ Mikvaot, die bisher beschrieben wurden, und als nächstes in der Hierarchie von Mikvaot ] befinden sich verdorbenes Wasser, das sich selbst beim Fließen reinigt. Über diesen befinden sich lebende Gewässer (dh reines, trinkbares Quellwasser), mit denen Zavim (Personen mit bestimmten Arten von atypischen Genitalentladungen, die sie unrein machen) gereinigt und Leprakranke [als Teil des Prozesses von] besprüht werden können sie reinigen], und sie [diese Gewässer] gelten für das Chatat- Ritual [dh um sie im Rahmen des Reinigungsrituals mit der Asche einer roten Färse zu heiligen].
Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
מים מוכים – waters that flow that are salty or warm.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Mikvaot
Introduction
Today's mishnah deals with the two bodies of water that have the highest degree of purity.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
שהן מטהרים בזוחלין – for whereas a spring, whose waters are few as above, it doesn’t purify in moving waters but rather in a collection of water.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Mikvaot
Superior to them are "smitten waters" which can purify even when flowing [on the ground]. "Smitten waters" is a term used to refer to a spring whose water has somehow been despoiled. Either the water is salty or it is not cold because it is standing. These waters are purer than the spring whose standing waters have been augmented with drawn water because the water of this spring purifies even when the water is flowing on the ground. However, it still does not count as "living waters" which is the purest form of water. Indeed, "smitten waters" literally could be translated as "killed waters" which is the opposite of "living waters."
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
מים חיים – that flow but are not salty/afflicted.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Mikvaot
Superior to them are "living waters" for in them there is immersion for zavim and sprinkling for metzoraim, and they are valid for the preparation of the hatat waters. "Living waters" are fresh water in the spring. This is the level of purity required for the immersion of a zav, a person with an abnormal genital discharge (see Leviticus 15:13). The metzora is a person who had some sort of skin disease (we learned about this in Negaim; see Leviticus 14). This is also the type of water required to make the "hatat waters" the waters into which are put the ashes of the red heifer (see Leviticus 19:16; we learned about this in Parah).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
שהן טבילה לזבים – as it is written concerning it (Leviticus 15:13): “[When one with a discharge becomes purified of his discharge, he shall count off seven days for his purification, wash his clothes,] and bathe his body In fresh water.”
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
והזייה למצורעים – as it is written regarding them (Leviticus 14:5): “The priest shall order one of the birds slaughtered] over fresh water in an earthen vessel.”
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Mikvaot
בשרם לקדש בהן מי חטאת – as it is written regarding them (Numbers 19:17): “[Some of the ashes of the fire of purification shall be taken for the impure portion,] and fresh water shall be added to them in a vessel.”
