Chukas 19:17 · unit 6 — ashes after water; living water into the vessel

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: Sotah 16b

Sefaria — Sotah 16b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן, הִקְדִּים עָפָר לְמַיִם פָּסוּל, דִּכְתִיב וְנָתַן עָלָיו מַיִם חַיִּים אֶל כֶּלִי – אֶל כֶּלִי דַּוְקָא; עָלָיו – כְּדֵי לְעָרְבָן.

English: The Sages taught: If one put dust before water it is invalid, as it is written “and he shall put upon it living water into a vessel” — specifically into a vessel; “upon it” — in order to mix them.

Type of Learning

Order of placement from the verse’s wording.

What Is Learned

Living water must first be in the vessel; only then are the ashes mixed in so the water covers them.