What is the definition of "Mayim Kedoshim"?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: It is water that the Kohen takes from the Kiyor. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 87.
What is the definition of "Afar"?
Sotah, 16b: "Afar" means literally 'earth' - to preclude ashes, 1 but not vegetables that have rotted ? in the event that he cannot find earth - which are considered ?Afar?.
See Torah Temimah, note 90.
How much earth must the Kohen place into the cup?
Sotah, 15b: Enough to be discernable floating on the water.
What is the significance of the water and the earth that the Kohen places in the cup?
Ba'al ha'Turim (citing the Yerushalmi in Sotah, 2:2): The water reminds the Sotah from where she came (from semen) and the earth, to remind her of where she is going (the grave). 1
What is the significance of the fact that the Kohen gives the Sotah Mayim Kedoshim from the Kiyor to drink?
Rashi: To point out that the Kiyor was made from the copper that the righteous women who donated towards the Mishkan, 1 whereas she departed from their ways by lying with another man. Let her be examined via that Kiyor!
What is the significance of the K'li Cheres?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: Because she gave the adulterer good-quality wine to drink out of expensive cups.
Ramban: Refer to 5:15:1:3.
Sotah, 15b: We learn via a Gezeirah Shavah from Metzora, Vayikra, 14:5 "K'li Cheres" "K'li Cheres" that the earthenware vessel must be new. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 88.
Where did the Kohen find earth on the floor of the Beis-Hamikdash which was covered with marble?
Chizkuni (citing Sotah 2b): There was a stone tablet in the Heichal with a handle. He lifted it and took earth from underneath it. 1
If "be'Karka ha'Mishkan" implies that the Kohen must take earth from the Mishkan and not from anywhere else, why does the the Torah add the words "asher Yih'yeh b'Karka ha'Mishkan"?
Sotah, 15b: To teach us that that, in the event that there is no soft earth in the Mishkan, it is not necessary to dig up hard earth wih an axe, but it will suffice to bring in soft earth from outside and place it in the Mishkan for a short time.
Why does the Torah write "u'min ha'Karka asher Yih'yeh (future) be'Karka ha'Mishkan"?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because whilst the Mishkan moved constantly from place to place - so that the earth that formed the floor was earth that happened to be there at that time.
