Chukas 19:17 · unit 4 — ashes must enter the water by human force

Parashas Chukas · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 17

The Complete Passuk

וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ לַטָּמֵ֔א מֵעֲפַ֖ר שְׂרֵפַ֣ת הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְנָתַ֥ן עָלָ֛יו מַ֥יִם חַיִּ֖ים אֶל־כֶּֽלִי׃

And they shall take for the unclean person of the ashes of the burning of the purification offering, and put living water upon them in a vessel.

Chabad.org — 19:17

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Parah 6:1

Sefaria — Parah 6:1

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הַמְקַדֵּשׁ וְנָפַל הַקִּדּוּשׁ עַל יָדוֹ אוֹ עַל הַצַּד וְאַחַר כָּךְ נָפַל לַשֹּׁקֶת פָּסוּל, דִּכְתִיב וְלָקְחוּ וְנָתַן, עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא הָאֵפֶר בְּתוֹךְ הַמַּיִם מִכֹּחַ אָדָם.

English: One who sanctifies and the sanctification fell on his hand or on the side and afterward fell into the trough — it is invalid, as it is written “and they shall take and put,” until the ashes enter the water by the force of a person.

Type of Learning

Requirement of direct human force from the verse pair.

What Is Learned

The ashes must reach the water by a continuous human act; intermediate accidental landing invalidates.