Commento su Parah 9:1

צלוחית – a vessel that they place in it the waters mixed with ashes (i.e., waters of lustration) after he had cast the ashes into them, is called צלוחית/a flask [with a wide body and a narrow neck- containing the sprinkling water], and the vessel that they place in it the water in order to mix them prior to placing in the ashes is called שוקת/trough.

Introduction Water that has not been drawn from a source of living water cannot be used for the red cow ritual. Our mishnah discusses what happens if invalid water falls into the flask that has the valid water.

מים כל שהן – which are not fit for sprinkling.

If the smallest amount of water fell into a flask: Rabbi Eliezer says: the sprinkling must be done twice; But the sages say that the mixture is invalid. A drop of invalid water falls into the flask. According to Rabbi Eliezer this can be remedied by sprinkling twice onto the person who requires sprinkling. If only one drop was invalid, then with two sprinklings he has definitely been sprinkled once with valid water. The sages disagree and say that even the smallest amount of water disqualifies the mixture.

יזה שתים – for if he sprinkles once, perhaps there isn’t here from the fit/appropriate [waters], but when he sprinkles twice, it is impossible that there isn’t in one of hem from the fit/appropriate [waters]. But the sprinkling does not need a [set] measure.

If dew dropped into it: Rabbi Eliezer says: let it be put out in the sun and the dew will rise. But the sages say that the mixture is invalid. Dew also disqualifies the mixture because it has not been drawn from a source of living waters. Rabbi Eliezer again offers a simple remedy. Leave the water out in the hot sun for a while and the dew will steam up and rise out. It seems that Rabbi Eliezer assumes that the dew doesn't mix up the rest of the water and stays on top so that it will evaporate first. The other sages again say that there is nothing that can be done and the entire flask is invalid.

וחכמים פוסלים – that they hold that sprinkling requires a [fixed] measure, and we don’t combine sprinklings. And the Halakha is according to the Sages. But Maimonides explained that he should make two sprinklings and cast them outside of the vessel, the rest should remain the waters of lustration which are fit/appropriate. And this is a hidden thing in my eyes, for in the Gemara in the chapter, "כל הזבחים"/All of the offerings (Chapter 8 of Tractate Zevakhim) [folio 80a], it is implied as I explained it.

If a liquid or fruit juice fell into it, all the contents must be poured away and it is also necessary to dry the flask. If any of these materials fall into the flask, the entire contents must be thrown away. In addition, he must dry out the flask to make sure nothing remains (see also 5:2).

יניחנו בחמה והטל עולה – that it is the manner of the dew to evaporate/to go up towards the sun. And similarly, it (i.e., Scripture) states (Exodus 16:13-14): “In the morning…when the fall of dew lifted, [there, over the surface of the wilderness lay a fine and flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground].” But the Halakha is not according to Rabbi Eliezer.

If ink, gum or sulphate of copper, or anything that leaves a mark, fell into it, the contents must be poured away but it is not necessary to dry the flask. In contrast, these materials leave their mark. Therefore, while they do invalidate the contents of the flask, if they were left over inside, they could be seen (the flask seems to have been made of glass). Therefore, he need not dry out the flask.

יערה וכו' – he empties out what is within the vessel, and it is not fit to leave in it the waters of purification until it dries from the liquids and fruit juice.

יערה ואינו צריך לנגב – and if there is that remains from it in the vessel, its mark is recognized.