Hebrew Literature Part 31

4. If one eat from the carca.s.s of a clean bird, as it is in his throat, it renders garments unclean. The carca.s.s itself does not render garments unclean. This is the proverb: "What makes thee unclean, cannot make me unclean, but thou canst make me unclean."

5. Every(742) secondary uncleanness does not render vessels unclean, but fluid does so. If fluid become unclean, it renders vessels unclean. This is the proverb, "What makes thee unclean, cannot make me unclean, but thou canst make me unclean."

6. Earthen vessels cannot render each other unclean, but fluid does so. If fluid becomes unclean, it renders vessels unclean. This is the proverb, "What makes thee unclean, cannot make me unclean, but thou canst make me unclean."

7. Everything(743) which disallows the heave-offering renders the fluid unclean so as to be a primary uncleanness, for rendering a person unclean, and disallowing him, except he was one who washed by day.(744) This is the proverb, "What makes thee unclean, cannot make me unclean, but thou canst make me unclean."

8. All seas are reckoned for a pool of purification, as is said, "And the gathering together of the waters called He seas,"(745) the words of R.

Meier. R. Judah said, "the great sea is as a purifying-pool; it is not said seas, but there is in it many kinds of seas." R. Jose said, "all seas may purify in flowing, but they are disallowed for issues, and leprosies, and for purifying with them the water of the ashes of the red heifer."

9. Waters with a nickname are disallowed. These are the nicknames-"salt"

and "lukewarm." Deceitful(746) waters are disallowed. These are deceitful waters-they failed once in seven years, they failed during war and during famine-yet they are allowed. R. Judah "disallows them."

10. The waters of Kirmion (Kishon?), and the waters of Pygah (Belus?) are disallowed, because they are the waters of marshes. The waters of the Jordan and the waters of Jarmuk(747) are disallowed, because they are mixed. And these are mixed waters, one allowed and one disallowed are mixed. Two which are allowed and mixed, are allowed. R. Judah "disallows them."

11. "The well of Ahab(748) and the cave of Panias(749) are allowed. Water which changed, but changed of itself, is allowed. A well of water which came from a distance is allowed, only it must be watched, that no man check it." R. Judah said, "it is taken for granted and allowed." "A well into which earth or clay fell?" "One must wait till it clear," the words of R. Ishmael. R. Akiba said, "there is no need of waiting."

Chapter IX

1. "A pan full of the water of purification into which ordinary water, however little, has fallen?" R. Eliezer said, "one must sprinkle twice with it." But the Sages "disallow it." "If dew fell into it?" R. Eliezer said, "let him leave it in the sun, and the dew evaporates." But the Sages "disallow it." "If fluid has fallen into it, or fruit juice?" "Let him pour it out, and it is necessary to dry it." Ink, gum, and vitriol, and everything which can be remarked, must be poured out, and there is no necessity to dry it.

2. "If insects and worms have fallen in and burst or changed their appearance?" "The water is disallowed." A black beetle, though not burst nor changed, disallows it, since it is like a pipe. Rabbi Simon and R.

Eliezer, the son of Jacob, said, "the wheat-worm and the grain-worm are allowed, because there is no matter in them."

3. "If a beast or animal drink of it?" "They disallow it." All fowls disallow it, excepting the dove, because it sucks. All creeping animals do not disallow it, excepting the weasel, because it laps. Rabban Gamaliel said, "also the serpent, because it spews." R. Eliezer said, "also the mouse."

4. "If one think to drink the water of purification?" R. Eliezer said, "it is disallowed." R. Joshua said, "when he drew it (toward him)." R. Jose said, "of what are they talking, of water in which there are no ashes."

"But of water in which there are ashes?" R. Eliezer said, "when he drew it (toward him)." R. Joshua said, "when he drinks." But if it be poured into his throat, it is allowed.

5. Water of purification which is disallowed, must not be kneaded in mortar, lest it bring misfortune to others. R. Judah said, "it is worthless." "A cow which drank water of purification?" "Her flesh is unclean for twenty-four hours."(750) R. Judah said, "it becomes worthless in her intestines."

6. The water of purification and the ashes of purification must not be pa.s.sed over a river even in a boat, nor may they be floated on the surface of water. Nor may one stand on one side and throw them to the other side.

But one may pa.s.s with them through water, which is up to his neck. He who is cleansed for purification, may pa.s.s over water with empty vessels in his hand cleansed for purification, and with water in which there are no ashes.

7. "Ashes which are allowed for purification, when they are mixed in ordinary ashes?" "We must follow the majority(751) (in reference to uncleanness) and they do not purify with them." Rabbi Eleazar said, "they may purify with them all."

8. Water intended for purification which was disallowed, renders unclean (him who was) cleansed for the heave-offering in his hands and body, but it does not render unclean him who was cleansed for purification, either in his hands or in his body. "If it were rendered unclean?" "It renders unclean (him who was) cleansed for the heave-offering in his hands and in his body, but (him who was) cleansed for purification it renders unclean, in his hands, but not in his body."

9. Ashes which are allowed when put on the surface of water, which is unsuitable for purification, render unclean him who was cleansed for the heave-offering in his hands and body, but it does not render unclean him who was cleansed for purification, either in his hands or in his body.

Chapter X

1. Everything suited for causing legal uncleanness in that which is trodden must be expelled from the ceremony of purification, whether it be unclean or clean, and man likewise. "Everything suited for producing defilement of the dead, whether it be unclean or clean?" R. Eliezer said, "it is not expelled." R. Joshua said, "it is expelled." But the Sages say, "if unclean it is expelled, but the clean thing is not expelled."

2. He who is cleansed for purification, when he touches that which is expelled, is unclean. A jug for purification, when it touches that which is expelled, is unclean. He who is cleansed for purification, when he touches eatable or drinkable things with his hand, is unclean. "But with his foot?" "He is clean." "The thing was moved with his hand?" R. Joshua p.r.o.nounces him "unclean"; but the Sages p.r.o.nounce him "clean."

3. "An earthen vessel for purification, which touched a creeping thing?"

"It is clean." "It was placed upon it?" R. Eleazar p.r.o.nounces it "clean"; but the Sages p.r.o.nounce it "unclean." "It touched eatable or drinkable things or holy writings?" "It is clean." "It was placed upon them?" R.

Jose p.r.o.nounced it "clean"; but the Sages p.r.o.nounced it "unclean."

4. "When he who was cleansed for purification touched a fireplace(752) with his hand?" "He is unclean." "But with his foot?" "He is clean." "He stood on the fireplace, and stretched his hand with the jug, and the water and ashes in it beyond the fireplace, and also the shoulder-pole, which he placed over the fireplace, and on it were two earthen vessels, one on either side?" R. Akiba p.r.o.nounces him "clean";(753) but the Sages p.r.o.nounce him "unclean."

5. "He stood outside the fireplace, and stretched his hand to the window, and took the jug (with water and ashes) and pa.s.sed it over the fireplace?"

R. Akiba p.r.o.nounces him "unclean," but the Sages p.r.o.nounce him "clean."

But he who was cleansed for purification, may stand over the fireplace, and in his hand an empty vessel cleansed for purification or (one) with water without ashes.

6. "When a jug for purification touched (one) in which there were holy things, or one in which there was a heave-offering?" "The one for purification is unclean; but those of the holy things and the heave-offering are clean." "If both be in his two hands?" "Both are unclean." "If both be in two papers?" "Both are clean." "If the one for purification be in paper, and the one for the heave-offering be in his hand?" "Both are unclean." "If the one for the heave-offering be in paper, and the one for purification be in his hand?" "Both are clean." R. Joshua said, "the one for the purification is unclean." "They were placed on the ground and one touched them?" "The one for purification is unclean, the one containing the holy things, and the one with the heave-offering are clean." "He moved them?" R. Joshua p.r.o.nounces them "unclean," but the Sages p.r.o.nounce them "clean."

Chapter XI

1. "A pan for purification which one left open, and he found it covered?"

"It is disallowed." "He left it open and found a covering on it?" "If a weasel could drink of it, or a serpent, according to the words of Rabban Gamaliel, or there fell in it dew by night, it is disallowed." Water with ashes cannot be saved (from legal impurity) by the covering(754) bound upon it. And water in which there are no ashes, is saved by the covering bound upon it.

2. Every doubt implies cleanness in the heave-offering and cleanness in purification. Every reason for suspense in the heave-offering causes pouring away of the water in purification. If acts requiring legal cleanness be afterward performed, they are in suspense. Shallow water(755) is clean for holy things, and the heave-offering and purification. R.

Eleazar said, "trickling water(756) is unclean for purification."

3. "A dried fig of the heave-offering which has fallen into water for purification, and one has taken it out and eaten it?" "If it be the size of an egg, whether it be unclean or clean, the water is unclean, and he who ate it is guilty of death." R. Jose said, "if it be clean the water is clean." He who was cleansed for the sin-offering, and afterward put his head and the greater part of his body into water of purification, is unclean.

4. Everyone charged by the words of the Law to enter water, renders unclean holy things, and the heave-offering and ordinary things and the t.i.the, and is prevented from entering the temple. "After entering (the water) he renders unclean holy things, and disallows the heave-offering,"

the words of R. Meier, but the Sages say, "he disallows holy things and the heave-offering, but he is permitted in ordinary things and t.i.thes, and if he came to the temple, whether before or after entering (water), he is a debtor (to the Law)."

5. "Everyone charged by the words of the Scribes to enter water, renders unclean holy things, and disallows the heave-offering, but allows ordinary things and the t.i.thes," the words of R. Meier; but the Sages "disallow him in t.i.thes." After his entering (water) he is permitted in all these. And if he come to the temple whether before or after entering water, he is free.

6. Everyone charged to enter water, whether by the words of the Law or the words of the Scribes, renders unclean the water for purification and the ashes for purification, and the sprinkler of the water of purification, by touching or lifting. "The hyssop, and the water without ashes, and empty vessels cleansed for purification (render unclean), by touching or lifting," the words of R. Meier; but the Sages say, "by touching, but not by lifting."

7. All hyssop which has a distinctive name is forbidden, simple hyssop is allowed; Grecian hyssop, colored hyssop, Roman hyssop, desert hyssop, are forbidden, and that of the unclean heave-offering is forbidden, but if it were of the clean (heave-offering) one should not sprinkle with it, but if one sprinkled with it, it is allowed. Men must not sprinkle with the sprouts or the berries of hyssop. When sprinkled with the sprouts, they are not prevented from entering the temple. R. Eliezer said, "not even with the berries." These are sprouts-stalks which have not ripened.

8. Hyssop used for sprinkling is allowed to cleanse the leper. "If one gathered it for wood, and fluid fell on it?" "He may dry it, and it is allowed." "If one gathered it for food, and fluid fell on it?" "Even though he dried it, it is disallowed." "If one gathered it for purification?" "It is reckoned as food," the words of R. Meier. R. Judah and R. Jose and R. Simon say, "it is reckoned as wood."

9. The order of the hyssop (requires) three roots, and in them three stalks. R. Judah said, "to every root three stalks." Hyssop which has three roots is to be separated and bound; if separated and not bound, if bound and not separated, if neither separated nor bound, it is allowed. R.

Jose said, "the order of the hyssop is three roots and in them three stalks, and if there remain over from sprinkling two, and their fibres however small, they are allowed."

Chapter XII

1. Short hyssop is made sufficient for sprinkling with a thread and spindle, and it is dipped and lifted, and one holds the hyssop and sprinkles. R. Judah and R. Simon say, "as is the rule for sprinkling with the hyssop, so is the dipping with the hyssop" (_i.e._, in holding it).

2. "If one sprinkled and there is a doubt if the water with ashes came from the thread, or a doubt if it came from the spindle, or a doubt if it came from the stalk?" "His sprinkling is disallowed." "If he sprinkled on two vessels, there is a doubt; if he sprinkled on both, there is a doubt that the sprinkling splashed from one to the other?" "His sprinkling is disallowed." "A needle is placed on a potsherd, and he sprinkled it, there is a doubt if he sprinkled on the needle, there is a doubt if the sprinkling splashed from the potsherd upon it?" "His sprinkling is disallowed." "A pan for purification with a narrow mouth?" "He is to dip the hyssop in and lift it out as usual." R. Judah says, "the first sprinkling (is allowed)." "The water of purification which became diminished?" "One may dip in even the tops of the stalks and sprinkle, except that he should not dry up the vessel." "His intention(757) was to sprinkle before him, and he sprinkled behind him; to sprinkle behind him, and he sprinkled before him?" "His sprinkling is disallowed." "Before him, and he sprinkled sidewise in front?" "His sprinkling is allowed." He may sprinkle a man whether he be aware of it or not. He may sprinkle a man, or vessels, even should they be 100.