Chukas 19:04 · unit 2 — with the finger, not a vessel

Parashas Chukas · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 4

The Complete Passuk

וְלָקַ֞ח אֶלְעָזָ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מִדָּמָ֖הּ בְּאֶצְבָּע֑וֹ וְהִזָּ֞ה אֶל־נֹ֨כַח פְּנֵ֧י אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֛ד מִדָּמָ֖הּ שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים׃

And Elazar the Kohen shall take of its blood with his finger and sprinkle toward the front of the Tent of Meeting of its blood seven times.

Torah Temimah: Sifrei — “With his finger” teaches that its mitzvah is by hand and not with a vessel.

Core Text

מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמִּצְוָתָהּ בַּיָּד וְלֹא בִּכְלִי.

English: It teaches that its mitzvah is by hand and not with a vessel.

Exclusion from “with his finger.”

The blood of the para aduma must be taken and sprinkled with the Kohen’s own finger; using a vessel is invalid.