Chapter 19

1The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
2This is the statute of the Torah which the Lord commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel and have them take for you a perfectly red unblemished cow, upon which no yoke was laid.   בזֹ֚את חֻקַּ֣ת הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר דַּבֵּ֣ר | אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֣וּ אֵלֶ֩יךָ֩ פָרָ֨ה אֲדֻמָּ֜ה תְּמִימָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵֽין־בָּהּ֙ מ֔וּם אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־עָלָ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ עֹֽל:
This is the statute of the Torah. Because Satan and the nations of the world taunt Israel, saying, “What is this commandment, and what purpose does it have?” Therefore, the Torah uses the term “statute.” I have decreed it; You have no right to challenge it. — [Yoma 67b]   זֹאת חֻקַּת הַתּוֹרָה.  לְפִי שֶׁהַשָּׂטָן וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מוֹנִין אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, לוֹמַר מַה הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת וּמַה טַּעַם יֵשׁ בָּהּ? לְפִיכָךְ כָּתַב בָּהּ חֻקָּה — גְּזֵרָה הִיא מִלְּפָנַי, אֵין לְךָ רְשׁוּת לְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרֶיהָ (יומא ס"ז):
and have them take for you. It will always be called on your name; 'the cow which Moses prepared in the desert.’- [Mid. Tanchuma Chukath 8, see Etz Yosef]   וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ.  לְעוֹלָם הִיא נִקְרֵאת עַל שִׁמְךָ — פָּרָה שֶׁעָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה בַּמִּדְבָּר:
perfectly red. Heb. אֲדֻמָּה תְּמִימָה, lit., red, perfect. It shall be perfect in redness, so that two black hairs disqualify it. — [Sifrei Chukath 5]   אֲדֻמָּה תְּמִימָה.  שֶׁתְּהֵא תְמִימָה בְּאַדְמִימוּת, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ בָהּ שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת שְׁחֹרוֹת פְּסוּלָה (פרה פ"ב):
3And you shall give it to Eleazar the kohen, and he shall take it outside the camp and slaughter it in his presence.   גוּנְתַתֶּ֣ם אֹתָ֔הּ אֶל־אֶלְעָזָ֖ר הַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְהוֹצִ֤יא אֹתָהּ֙ אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה וְשָׁחַ֥ט אֹתָ֖הּ לְפָנָֽיו:
Eleazar. The mitzvah was performed by the deputy [to the kohen gadol]. — [Sifrei Chukath 8]   אֶלְעָזָר.  מִצְוָתָהּ בַּסְּגָן (ספרי):
outside the camp. Outside all three camps. — [Yoma 68a]   אֶל־מִחוּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶה.  חוּץ לְשָׁלוֹשׁ מַחֲנוֹת:
and slaughter it in his presence. A non- kohen slaughters it while Eleazar watches. — [Yoma 42a]   וְשָׁחַט אֹתָהּ לְפָנָֽיו.  זָר שׁוֹחֵט וְאֶלְעָזָר רוֹאֶה (שם; יומא מ"ב):
4Eleazar the kohen shall take from its blood with his finger and sprinkle it toward the front of the Tent of Meeting seven times.   דוְלָקַ֞ח אֶלְעָזָ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מִדָּמָ֖הּ בְּאֶצְבָּע֑וֹ וְהִזָּ֞ה אֶל־נֹ֨כַח פְּנֵ֧י אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֛ד מִדָּמָ֖הּ שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים:
toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. [In later generations, when this rite will be performed outside the Temple in Jerusalem,] he is to stand to the east of Jerusalem and to direct his gaze toward the entrance to the Temple while sprinkling the blood. — [Sifrei Chukath 14]   אֶל־נֹכַח פְּנֵי אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵד.  עוֹמֵד בְּמִזְרָחוֹ שֶׁל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וּמִתְכַּוֵּן וְרוֹאֶה פִתְחוֹ שֶׁל הֵיכָל בִּשְׁעַת הַזָּאַת הַדָּם (ספרי; זבחים ק"ה):
5The cow shall then be burned in his presence; its hide, its flesh, its blood, with its dung he shall burn it.   הוְשָׂרַ֥ף אֶת־הַפָּרָ֖ה לְעֵינָ֑יו אֶת־עֹרָ֤הּ וְאֶת־בְּשָׂרָהּ֙ וְאֶת־דָּמָ֔הּ עַל־פִּרְשָׁ֖הּ יִשְׂרֹֽף:
6The kohen shall take a piece of cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson wool, and cast them into the burning of the cow.   ווְלָקַ֣ח הַכֹּהֵ֗ן עֵ֥ץ אֶ֛רֶז וְאֵז֖וֹב וּשְׁנִ֣י תוֹלָ֑עַת וְהִשְׁלִ֕יךְ אֶל־תּ֖וֹךְ שְׂרֵפַ֥ת הַפָּרָֽה:
7The kohen shall wash his garments and bathe his flesh in water, and then he may enter the camp, and the kohen shall be unclean until evening.   זוְכִבֶּ֨ס בְּגָדָ֜יו הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְרָחַ֤ץ בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ בַּמַּ֔יִם וְאַחַ֖ר יָבֹ֣א אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה וְטָמֵ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
enter the camp. The camp of the Divine Presence, because no ritually unclean person is banished from two camps, except one who experienced a flow, one who experienced a seminal emission, or one afflicted with tzara’ath. [Hence, he is admitted to the one camp from which he was banished.] - [Pes. 67a]   אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶה.  לְמַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה, שֶׁאֵין טָמֵא מְשֻׁלָּח חוּץ לִשְׁתֵּי מַחֲנוֹת אֶלָּא זָב וּבַעַל קֶרִי וּמְצֹרָע (עי' פסחים ס"ז):
and the kohen shall be unclean until evening. Transpose it [the verse] and explain it [thus]: He shall be unclean until evening, and then he may enter the camp.   וְטָמֵא הַכֹּהֵן עַד־הָעָֽרֶב.  סָרְסֵהוּ וְדָרְשֵׁהוּ — וְטָמֵא עַד הָעֶרֶב וְאַחַר יָבֹא אֶל הַמַּחֲנֶה:
8The one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water and cleanse his body in water, and he shall be unclean until evening.   חוְהַשֹּׂרֵ֣ף אֹתָ֔הּ יְכַבֵּ֤ס בְּגָדָיו֙ בַּמַּ֔יִם וְרָחַ֥ץ בְּשָׂר֖וֹ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְטָמֵ֖א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
9A ritually clean person shall gather the cow's ashes and place them outside the camp in a clean place, and It shall be as a keepsake for the congregation of the children of Israel for sprinkling water, [used] for cleansing.   טוְאָסַ֣ף | אִ֣ישׁ טָה֗וֹר אֵ֚ת אֵ֣פֶר הַפָּרָ֔ה וְהִנִּ֛יחַ מִח֥וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֖ה בְּמָק֣וֹם טָה֑וֹר וְ֠הָֽיְתָ֠ה לַֽעֲדַ֨ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל לְמִשְׁמֶ֛רֶת לְמֵ֥י נִדָּ֖ה חַטָּ֥את הִֽוא:
and place them outside the camp. He divided it into three parts; one was put on the Mount of Olives, one was divided among all the watches, and one was put on the rampart surrounding the Temple area. The one given to the watches was outside the courtyard, allowing access to it for the inhabitants of outlying cities, whoever needed to purify himself. The one on the Mount of Olives was for the kohanim gedolim to sanctify themselves from it for use with other [red] cows. The one put on the rampart was kept as a keepsake by Scriptural ruling, as it says, "It shall be as a keepsake for the congregation of Israel." — [Sifrei Chukath 30, Parah 3:11 Tosefta Parah 3:8]   וְהִנִּיחַ מִחוּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶה.  לִשְׁלֹשָׁה חֲלָקִים מְחַלְּקָהּ, אֶחָד נָתַן בְּהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה, וְאֶחָד מִתְחַלֵּק לְכָל הַמִּשְׁמָרוֹת, וְאֶחָד נָתַן בַּחֵיל (ספרי; פרה פ"ג), זֶה שֶׁל מִשְׁמָרוֹת הָיָה חוּץ לָעֲזָרָה, לִטֹּל מִמֶּנּוּ בְּנֵי הָעֲיָרוֹת וְכָל הַצְּרִיכִין לִטָּהֵר, וְזֶה שֶׁבְּהַר הַמִּשְׁחָה כֹּהֲנִים גְּדוֹלִים לְפָרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת מְקַדְּשִׁין הֵימֶנָּה, וְזֶה שֶׁבַּחֵיל נָתוּן לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת מִגְּזֵרַת הַכָּתוּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר והיתה לעדת בני ישראל למשמרת:
for sprinkling water. Heb. לְמֵי נִדָּה, water used for sprinkling, as in, “they cast (וַיַּדּוּ) a stone at me” (Lam. 3: 53); “to cast down (לְיַדּוֹת) the horns of the nations” (Zech. 2:4); an expression denoting throwing.   לְמֵי נִדָּה.  לְמֵי הַזָּיָה, כְּמוֹ "וַיַּדּוּ אֶבֶן בִּי" (איכה ג'), "לְיַדּוֹת אֶת קַרְנוֹת הַגּוֹיִם" (זכריה ב'), לְשׁוֹן זְרִיקָה:
for purification. חַטָּאת, an expression of cleansing (חִטּוּי), according to its simple meaning, but according to its halachoth, Scripture calls it חַטָּאת, “sin-offering,” to tell us that it is like holy objects, and using it for personal benefit is forbidden. — [Sifrei Chukath 34]   חַטָּאת הִֽוא.  לְשׁוֹן חִטּוּי, כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ, וּלְפִי הִלְכוֹתָיו קְרָאָהּ הַכָּתוּב חַטָּאת, לוֹמַר שֶׁהִיא כְּקָדָשִׁים לֵאָסֵר בַּהֲנָאָה (עי' ספרי; מנחות נ"א):
10The one who gathers the cow's ashes shall wash his clothes, and he shall be unclean until evening. It shall be an everlasting statute for the children of Israel and for the proselyte who resides in their midst.   יוְכִבֶּ֠ס הָֽאֹסֵ֨ף אֶת־אֵ֤פֶר הַפָּרָה֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וְטָמֵ֖א עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב וְהָֽיְתָ֞ה לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְלַגֵּ֛ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתוֹכָ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָֽם:
11Anyone touching the corpse of a human soul shall become unclean for seven days.   יאהַנֹּגֵ֥עַ בְּמֵ֖ת לְכָל־נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָדָ֑ם וְטָמֵ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
12On the third and seventh days, he shall cleanse himself with it, so that he can become clean. But if he does not sprinkle himself with it on the third and seventh days, he shall not become clean.   יבה֣וּא יִתְחַטָּא־ב֞וֹ בַּיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛י וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י יִטְהָ֑ר וְאִם־לֹ֨א יִתְחַטָּ֜א בַּיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֛י וּבַיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י לֹ֥א יִטְהָֽר:
He shall cleanse himself with it. With these ashes. - [Sifrei Chukath 39]   הוּא יִתְחַטָּא־בוֹ.  בָּאֵפֶר הַזֶּה:
13Whoever touches the corpse of a human soul which dies, and he does not cleanse himself, he has defiled the Mishkan of the Lord, and that soul shall be cut off from Israel. For the sprinkling water was not sprinkled on him, so he remains unclean, and his uncleanness remains upon him.   יגכָּל־הַנֹּגֵ֡עַ בְּמֵ֣ת בְּנֶ֩פֶשׁ֩ הָֽאָדָ֨ם אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֜וּת וְלֹ֣א יִתְחַטָּ֗א אֶת־מִשְׁכַּ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ טִמֵּ֔א וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּי֩ מֵ֨י נִדָּ֜ה לֹֽא־זֹרַ֤ק עָלָיו֙ טָמֵ֣א יִֽהְיֶ֔ה ע֖וֹד טֻמְאָת֥וֹ בֽוֹ:
corpse of a human soul. Which type of corpse? That of a human soul, to exclude an animal, that its uncleanness does not require sprinkling. Another explanation: “Of a human soul” refers to a quarter [of a log] of blood [necessary for maintaining life] - [Chul. 72a]   בְּמֵת בְּנֶפֶשׁ.  וְאֵי זֶה מֵת? שֶׁל נֶפֶשׁ הָאָדָם, לְהוֹצִיא נֶפֶשׁ בְּהֵמָה שֶׁאֵין טֻמְאָתָהּ צְרִיכָה הַזָּאָה; דָּבָר אַחֵר, בנפש זוֹ רְבִיעִית דָּם (חולין ע"ב):
he has defiled the Mishkan of the Lord. If he enters the courtyard even after [ritual] immersion, without having been sprinkled on both the third and seventh days. — [Sifrei Chukath 45]   אֶת־מִשְׁכַּן ה' טִמֵּא.  אִם נִכְנַס לָעֲזָרָה אֲפִלּוּ בִטְבִילָה בְּלֹא הַזָּאַת שְׁלִישִׁי וּשְׁבִיעִי:
his uncleanness remains. Although he [ritually] immersed himself. - [Sifrei Chukath 45]   עוֹד טֻמְאָתוֹ בֽוֹ.  , אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁטָּבַל:
14This is the law: if a man dies in a tent, anyone entering the tent and anything in the tent shall be unclean for seven days.   ידזֹ֚את הַתּוֹרָ֔ה אָדָ֖ם כִּֽי־יָמ֣וּת בְּאֹ֑הֶל כָּל־הַבָּ֤א אֶל־הָאֹ֨הֶל֙ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּאֹ֔הֶל יִטְמָ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
anyone entering the tent. while the corpse is inside.   כָּל־הַבָּא אֶל־הָאֹהֶל.  בְּעוֹד שֶׁהַמֵּת בְּתוֹכוֹ:
15Any open vessel which has no seal fastened around it becomes unclean.   טווְכֹל֙ כְּלִ֣י פָת֔וּחַ אֲשֶׁ֛ר אֵֽין־צָמִ֥יד פָּתִ֖יל עָלָ֑יו טָמֵ֖א הֽוּא:
any open vessel. Scripture refers to an earthenware vessel, whose exterior does not accept contamination, only its interior. Thus, if the seal around its top is not securely fastened, it becomes contaminated. But if there is a securely fastened seal, it remains clean. - [Sifrei Chukath 50, Chul. 25a]   וְכֹל כְּלִי פָתוּחַ.  בִּכְלִי חֶרֶס הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁאֵין מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה מִגַּבּוֹ אֶלָּא מִתּוֹכוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ אִם אֵין מְגוּפַת צְמִידָתוֹ פְּתוּלָה עָלָיו יָפֶה בְּחִבּוּר, טָמֵא הוּא, הָא אִם יֵשׁ צָמִיד פָּתִיל עָלָיו טָהוֹר (שם כ"ה):
fastened. Heb. פָּתִיל, an expression meaning “fastened” in Hebrew. Similarly, “[With] divine bonds נִפְתַּלְתּי, I have been joined, with my sister” (Gen. 30:8).   פָּתִיל.  לְשׁוֹן מְחֻבָּר בִּלְשׁוֹן עִבְרִי, וְכֵן (בראשית ל') "נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים נִפְתַּלְתִּי" — נִתְחַבַּרְתִּי עִם אֲחוֹתִי:
16Anyone who touches one slain by the sword, or a corpse, or a human bone or a grave, in an open field, he shall be unclean for seven days.   טזוְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁר־יִגַּ֜ע עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה בַּֽחֲלַל־חֶ֨רֶב֙ א֣וֹ בְמֵ֔ת אֽוֹ־בְעֶ֥צֶם אָדָ֖ם א֣וֹ בְקָ֑בֶר יִטְמָ֖א שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
in an open field. The Sages expounded [on this phrase] to include the top and side of a coffin (Sifrei Chukath 56, Chul. 72a). But the simple meaning is that in an open field, where there is no tent, a corpse contaminates through contact.   עַל־פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה.  רַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ לְרַבּוֹת גּוֹלֵל וְדוֹפֵק (ספרי; חולין ע"ב). וּפְשׁוּטוֹ — עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה, שֶׁאֵין שָׁם אֹהֶל, מְטַמֵּא הַמֵּת שָׁם בִּנְגִיעָה:
17They shall take for that unclean person from the ashes of the burnt purification offering, and it shall be placed in a vessel [filled] with spring water.   יזוְלָֽקְחוּ֙ לַטָּמֵ֔א מֵֽעֲפַ֖ר שְׂרֵפַ֣ת הַֽחַטָּ֑את וְנָתַ֥ן עָלָ֛יו מַ֥יִם חַיִּ֖ים אֶל־כֶּֽלִי:
18A ritually clean person shall take the hyssop and dip it into the water and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, and on the people who were in it, and on anyone who touched the bone, the slain person, the corpse, or the grave.   יחוְלָקַ֨ח אֵז֜וֹב וְטָבַ֣ל בַּמַּ֘יִם֘ אִ֣ישׁ טָהוֹר֒ וְהִזָּ֤ה עַל־הָאֹ֨הֶל֙ וְעַל־כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֔ים וְעַל־הַנְּפָשׁ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָֽיוּ־שָׁ֑ם וְעַל־הַנֹּגֵ֗עַ בַּעֶ֨צֶם֙ א֣וֹ בֶֽחָלָ֔ל א֥וֹ בַמֵּ֖ת א֥וֹ בַקָּֽבֶר:
19The ritually clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day, and he shall cleanse him on the seventh day, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and he shall become ritually clean in the evening.   יטוְהִזָּ֤ה הַטָּהֹר֙ עַל־הַטָּמֵ֔א בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖י וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י וְחִטְּאוֹ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וְכִבֶּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָהֵ֥ר בָּעָֽרֶב:
and he shall cleanse him on the seventh day. This consummates his cleansing.   וְחִטְּאוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי.  הוּא גְמַר טָהֳרָתוֹ (עי' ספרי):
20If a person becomes unclean and does not cleanse himself, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation, for he has defiled the Sanctuary of the Lord; the sprinkling waters were not sprinkled upon him. He is unclean.   כוְאִ֤ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִטְמָא֙ וְלֹ֣א יִתְחַטָּ֔א וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַקָּהָ֑ל כִּי֩ אֶת־מִקְדַּ֨שׁ יְהֹוָ֜ה טִמֵּ֗א מֵ֥י נִדָּ֛ה לֹֽא־זֹרַ֥ק עָלָ֖יו טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא:
If a person becomes unclean…. If “Sanctuary” is stated [here], why need it say “ Mishkan …” [in verse 13]? The answer is that if it would say “ Mishkan,” I would say that the person is punished with excision only if he enters the Mishkan in a state of uncleanness because the Mishkan was anointed with the anointing oil, but if he enters the Temple in a state of uncleanness, he would not be punished since the Temple was not anointed with the anointing oil. If it would say, “Sanctuary,” denoting the Temple, I would say that only for entering the Temple in a state of uncleanness, would he be punished by excision because its sanctity is permanent, but for entering the Mishkan in a state of uncleanness, he would not be punished because its sanctity was temporary. Therefore, it was necessary to mention both,]… as it is stated in [Tractate] Shevuoth [16b].   וְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִטְמָא וגו'.  אִם נֶאֱמַר מִקְדָּשׁ לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר מִשְׁכָּן? כו' כִּדְאִיתָא בִשְׁבוּעוֹת (דף ט"ז):
21This shall be for them as a perpetual statute, and the one who sprinkles the sprinkling waters shall wash his clothes, and one who touches the sprinkling waters shall be unclean until evening.   כאוְהָֽיְתָ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם לְחֻקַּ֣ת עוֹלָ֑ם וּמַזֵּ֤ה מֵֽי־הַנִּדָּה֙ יְכַבֵּ֣ס בְּגָדָ֔יו וְהַנֹּגֵ֨עַ֙ בְּמֵ֣י הַנִּדָּ֔ה יִטְמָ֖א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
and the one who sprinkles the sprinkling waters. Our Rabbis said that the one who sprinkles is actually ritually clean, but this teaches us that the one who carries the purifying waters becomes defiled with a stringent uncleanness, for even the clothes he is wearing are contaminated, unlike the one who merely touches [the sprinkling waters]. Scripture uses the expression מַזֵּה, “the one who sprinkles” to teach that the waters do not contaminate until there is an amount of water adequate for sprinkling. — [Yoma 14a]   וּמַזֵּה מֵֽי־הַנִּדָּה.  רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ שֶׁהַמַּזֶּה טָהוֹר, וְזֶה בָא לְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַנּוֹשֵׂא מֵי חַטָּאת טָמֵא טֻמְאָה חֲמוּרָה לְטַמֵּא בְגָדִים שֶׁעָלָיו, מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בַּנּוֹגֵעַ, וְזֶה שֶׁהוֹצִיא בִּלְשׁוֹן "מַזֶּה", לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁאֵינָן מְטַמְּאִין עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בָהֶן שִׁעוּר הַזָּאָה (נדה ט'):
and the one who touches… shall be unclean. but he is not required to wash his clothes.   וְהַנֹּגֵעַ יִטְמָא.  וְאֵין טָעוּן כִּבּוּס בְּגָדִים:
22Whatever the unclean one touches shall become unclean, and anyone touching him shall be unclean until evening.   כבוְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יִגַּע־בּ֥וֹ הַטָּמֵ֖א יִטְמָ֑א וְהַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַנֹּגַ֖עַת תִּטְמָ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
Whatever the unclean one touches. I.e., this unclean one who was defiled by a corpse [touches], “becomes unclean.”   וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר־יִגַּע־בּוֹ הַטָּמֵא.  הַזֶּה שֶׁנִּטְמָא בְּמֵת, יטמא:
and anyone touching. him, that is, the one defiled by a corpse-   וְהַנֶּפֶשׁ הַנֹּגַעַת.  בּוֹ: בִּטְמֵא מֵת:
shall be unclean until evening. From here we derive that a corpse is the supreme source of contamination, whereas one touching it is a primary source of contamination, who can in turn defile another person [through contact]. This is the explanation [of this passage] according to its literal meaning and the laws associated with it. I have transcribed a homiletic interpretation from the commentary of R. Moshe Hadarshan [the preacher], which is as follows: [2]   תִּטְמָא עַד־הָעָֽרֶב.  כָּאן לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהַמֵּת אֲבִי אֲבוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה, וְנוֹגֵעַ בּוֹ אַב הַטֻּמְאָה וּמְטַמֵּא אָדָם; זֶה פֵרוּשָׁהּ לְפִי מַשְׁמָעָהּ וְהִלְכוֹתֶיהָ. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה הֶעְתַּקְתִּי מִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן וְזֶהוּ:
and have them take for you. From their own [possessions]; just as they removed their own golden earrings for the [golden] calf, so shall they bring this [cow] from their own [possessions] in atonement. — [Midrash Aggadah]   וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ.  מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהֵם פֵּרְקוּ נִזְמֵי הַזָּהָב לָעֵגֶל מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם, כָּךְ יָבִיאוּ זוֹ לְכַפָּרָה מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]
a red cow. This can be compared to the son of a maidservant who soiled the king’s palace. They said, “Let his mother come and clean up the mess.” Similarly, let the cow come and atone for the calf. — [Midrash Aggadah and Tanchuma Chukath 8]   פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה.  מָשָׁל לְבֶן שִׁפְחָה שֶׁטִּנֵּף פָּלָטִין שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ, אָמְרוּ תָּבֹא אִמּוֹ וּתְקַנֵּחַ הַצּוֹאָה, כָּךְ תָּבֹא פָרָה וּתְכַפֵּר עַל הָעֵגֶל (תנחומא): [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]
red. Alluding to [the verse], “if they [your sins] prove to be as red as crimson dye” (Isa. 1:18), for sin is described as [being] ‘red.’ - [Midrash Aggadah]   אֲדֻמָּה.  עַל שֵׁם "אִם יַאְדִּימוּ כַתּוֹלָע" (ישעיהו א'), שֶׁהַחֵטְא קָרוּי אָדֹם: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]
perfectly. An allusion to the Israelites, who were perfect, but became blemished. Let this come and atone for them so that they regain their perfection. — [See Midrash Aggadah.]   תְּמִימָה.  עַל שֵׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהָיוּ תְמִימִים, וְנַעֲשׂוּ בוֹ בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, תָּבֹא זוֹ וּתְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם וְיַחְזְרוּ לְתַמּוּתָם: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]
and upon which no yoke was laid. Just as they cast off from themselves the yoke of Heaven. — [Midrash Aggadah] [3]   לֹֽא־עָלָה עָלֶיהָ עֹֽל.  כְּשֵׁם שֶׁפָּרְקוּ מֵעֲלֵיהֶם עֹל שָׁמַיִם: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]
to Eleazar the kohen. just as they assembled against Aaron, who was a kohen, to make the calf, but because Aaron made the calf, this service was not performed through him, for the prosecution cannot serve as the defense. — [Midrash Aggadah] [5]   אֶל־אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן.  כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּקְהֲלוּ עַל אַהֲרֹן, שֶׁהוּא כֹּהֵן, לַעֲשׂוֹת הָעֵגֶל; וּלְפִי שֶׁאַהֲרֹן עָשָׂה אֶת הָעֵגֶל לֹא נִתְּנָה לוֹ עֲבוֹדָה זוֹ עַל יָדוֹ, שֶׁאֵין קַטֵּיגוֹר נַעֲשֶׂה סַנֵּיגוֹר: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]
The cow shall then be burned. just as the calf was burned. - [Midrash Aggadah]   וְשָׂרַף אֶת־הַפָּרָה.  כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּשְׂרַף הָעֵגֶל: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]
a piece of cedar wood, hyssop, and of crimson wool. These three types [of objects] correspond to the three thousand men who fell because of the [sin of the golden] calf. The cedar is the highest of all trees, and the hyssop is the lowest of them all. This symbolizes that the one of high standing who acts haughtily and sins should lower himself like a hyssop and a worm [for the תּוֹלַעַת means ‘worm’ as well as ‘crimson.’ See Rashi on Isa. 1:18], and he will then gain atonement. - [Midrash Aggadah] [9]   עֵץ אֶרֶז וְאֵזוֹב וּשְׁנִי תוֹלָעַת.  שְׁלֹשָׁה מִינִין הַלָּלוּ כְּנֶגֶד שְׁלֹשֶׁת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ שֶׁנָּפְלוּ בָעֵגֶל, וְאֶרֶז הוּא הַגָּבוֹהַּ מִכָּל הָאִילָנוֹת וְאֵזוֹב נָמוּךְ מִכֻּלָּם, סִימָן שֶׁהַגָּבוֹהַּ שֶׁנִּתְגָּאָה וְחָטָא יַשְׁפִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ כְּאֵזוֹב וְתוֹלַעַת וְיִתְכַּפֵּר לוֹ: [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]
a keepsake. Just as the transgression of the calf is preserved throughout the generations for retribution, for there is no reckoning [punishment] which does not include a reckoning for the calf, as it says, “But on the day I make an accounting [of sins upon them], I will bring their sin to account…” (Exod. 32:34). Just as the calf defiled all those who were involved in it, so does the cow render unclean all those involved with it. And just as they were cleansed through its ashes, as it says, “[he] scattered [the ashes of the burned calf] upon the surface of the water” (ibid. 20), so [with the cow], “They shall take for that unclean person from the ashes of the burnt purification offering…” (verse 17). - [Midrash Aggadah]   לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת.  כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֶּשַׁע הָעֵגֶל שָׁמוּר לְדוֹרוֹת לְפֻרְעָנוּת, וְאֵין לְךָ פְּקֻדָּה שֶׁאֵין בָּהּ מִפְּקֻדַּת הָעֵגֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּבְיוֹם פָּקְדִי וּפָקַדְתִּי" וְגוֹ' (שמות ל"ב), וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהָעֵגֶל מְטַמֵּא כָּל הָעוֹסְקִים בּוֹ, כָּךְ פָּרָה תְטַמֵּא כָּל הָעוֹסְקִין בּוֹ, וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁנִּטְהֲרוּ בְּאֶפְרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּזֶר עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם" וְגוֹ' (שם), כָּךְ "וְלָקְחוּ לַטָּמֵא מֵעֲפַר שְׂרֵפַת הַחַטָּאת" וְגוֹ": [רש"י בשם ר' משה הדרשן]