(Mishnah): Ezov used to sprinkle [Mei Chatas on a Tamei Mes] is Kosher to be Metaher a Metzora.

(R. Imi citing R. Lazar): This teaches unlike [the Tana] R. Lazar;

(Beraisa - R. Eliezer): [Ezov] used to sprinkle on Chatas (i.e. Mei Chatas on a Tamei Mes) is Pasul for a Metzora. [Ezov] used to sprinkle on a Metzora is Pasul for [Mei] Chatas.

(R. Yehoshua): A Kal v'Chomer teaches this. Melachah does not disqualify [anything] for Metzora, and [Ezov] used to sprinkle on Chatas is Pasul for a Metzora. Melachah disqualifies [Parah Adumah and Mei] Chatas - [Ezov] used to sprinkle on a Metzora, all the more so it should be Pasul for Metzora!

Question: [Ezov] used to sprinkle on this Metzora - is it Kosher for another Metzora?

Answer: The one who says that it is Kosher, R. Yehudah and R. Lazar agree with him. The one who says that it is Pasul, R. Yehudah and R. Lazar do not agree with him;

(Beraisa - R. Yehudah): It was my Shabbos [to expound]. I went to R. Tarfon's house [to receive permission]. He said to me, 'Yehudah, my son - give to me my sandal.' I gave it to him. He stretched his hand to the window, and gave to me a stick from it;

He told me, 'Yehudah, my son - with this I was Metaher three Metzora'im.' (R. Tarfon was a Kohen.)

R. Yehudah: I learned seven Halachos from this. [Erez may be] of Berus (a species of cedar), its head is smooth, and it was an Amah long, and its thickness was about a quarter of that of a bed leg - divide one [leg] into two, and the two into four (and this is the thickness);

[And I learned that] we may sprinkle [with Erez] and repeat [with it] a second and third time, and we are Metaher while the Mikdash stands and not while the Mikdash stands. (Even though R. Tarfon lived also before the Churban - he heard the Kohen Gadol say Hash-m's name (Kidushin 71a) - surely, he did not keep the stick so long. We explained this like R. SHIMSHON on Sifra.)

Note: Perhaps he was Metaher them shortly before the Churban, and showed the stick to R. Yehudah shortly after the Churban! The Tosefta (Megilah 2:8, Yevamos 12:15) connote that R. Yehudah learned from R. Tarfon in his youth. He later learned from R. Akiva, after the 24,000 Talmidim died (Yevamos 65b), shortly before the Churban. If he came to ask permission from R. Tarfon because R. Akiva had died, this was more than 50 years after the Churban (PF).

[And I learned that] we are Metaher [even] in the Gevulin (Chutz la'Aretz).

Note: KORBAN AHARON and the MALBIM (both on the Sifra ibid.) say that we find that R. Tarfon was in Chutz la'Aretz (Pesachim 72b-73a). I question this. There, he said that he was doing Avodah, and expounded that eating Terumah is called Avodah [even after the Churban, and even] in the Gevulim. How could he eat Terumah mid'Oraisa in Chutz la'Aretz? Chachamim already decreed Tum'ah on Chutz la'Aretz from the time of Yosi ben Yo'ezer (Shabbos 14b), or even before Bayis Sheni, according to R. Yehudah himself (Tosefta Parah 3:8)! Rather, he expounded that even in Chutz la'Aretz, eating Terumah is called Avodah. Also, there he responded to R. Gamliel, who headed the academy in Yavneh! And even if it was in Chutz la'Aretz, perhaps he was Metaher the Metzora'im in Eretz Yisrael! PERUSH HA'MISHNAYOS (Sof Nega'im) says that R. Yehudah understood from their conversation that he was Metaher the Metzora'im in Chutz la'Aretz. Perhaps R. Tarfon went to Chutz la'Aretz in a box; R. Yehudah's son holds that one who does so remains Tahor (Gitin 8b).

One might have thought that "Mei [ha'Marim]" has the appearance of water [after the Megilah is erased into it]. It says Arar (i.e. "ha'Me'arerim", to teach unlike this). One might have thought that Arar [teaches that] it has the appearance of ink (with which the curses were written). It says "[mi']Mei"" to teach unlike this).

How do we fulfill this? It has the appearance of water and the appearance of ink. Chachamim estimated that a half-Log of water from the Kiyor [should be used].

Question (Beraisa - R. Yehudah): A Revi'is is used.

Answer: R. Yehudah says so based on his opinion. Just like he requires less writing (in the scroll), he also requires a smaller quantity of water.

(Mishnah): (Queen Hilni made a gold Nivreshes (candelabra) at the opening of the Heichal.) She also made a gold tablet on which Parshas Sotah was written [from which the Kohen would copy onto a parchment]. When the sun shone on [the Nivreshes], rays shot out from it, and people knew that the sun is shining. ('When the sun...' is not relevant here. ALEI TAMAR deletes it from the text.)

Question: What was written on [the tablet]?

Answer #1 (Reish Lakish citing R. Yanai): Aleph Beis (i.e. the first letters of the words in the Parshah) was written on it.

Question (Beraisa): Like the writing here [on the gold tablet], so is the writing here [in Megilas Sotah]. It was not thick or thin, rather, average.

Answer: Like the Aleph here, so is the Aleph here. Like the Beis here, so is the Beis here. (However, the gold tablet had only the initial letters, and the Megilah had the entire words. We explained this like SHA'AREI TORAS ERETZ YISRAEL.)

Answer #2 (R. Hoshayah - Beraisa): The entire Parshas Sotah was written on it. From it, [the Kohen] read and explained [to the Sotah] all details of the Parshah.

Question: Why are water, earth and writing [used]?

Answer: Water [hints to] the place from which she came (a putrid drop of semen). Earth [hints to] the place to which she is going (the grave). The writing [hints that all her deeds are written, and she should consider] in front of Whom she will later need to give reckoning (for her deeds);

(Mishnah - Akavyah ben Mehale'el): Look at (ponder) three things (from where you came, to where you are going, and in front of Whom you will need to give reckoning), and you will not come to sin. (MESHECH CHACHMAH Bamidbar 5:17 - man is liable for damage without intent, only in another's Reshus. You came from nowhere, you are going to nowhere - this world is not your Reshus, rather, Hash-m's, so you are liable even without intent. One who thinks about this will be terrified, and not sin even without intent!)

(R. Aba brei d'Rav Papi and R. Yehoshua of Sichnin citing R. Levi): Akavyah expounded all three from one verse - "u'Zchor Es Bor'echa"- [this alludes to] Be'ercha, Borcha, Bor'echa. Be'ercha (your wellspring) - from where you came (semen). Borcha (your pit) - to where you are going (the grave). Bor'echa (you Creator) - in front of Whom you will need to give reckoning.

Three things must be Lishmah - "v'Chasav Lah" (a Get), "v'Asah Lah" (what the Kohen does for the Sotah, e.g. writing the Megilah and erasing it), "Oh Chufshah Lo Nitan Lah" (Get Shichrur).

Three things must be seen (the first two must be seen on the water) - ashes of Parah Adumah, earth of Sotah, and spit of a Yevamah.

(Beraisa - R. Yishmael): Also blood of a bird of [Taharas] Metzora [must be seen on the water].

(R. Ze'ira): [Chachamim] estimated that blood of [even] a small bird is not Batel in a Revi'is of water (it can be seen), and blood of [even] a big bird is not Mevatel a Revi'is of water (the water can be seen).

(o) Support (Beraisa) Suggestion: "[He immerses the live bird, cedar wood, red wool and hyssop] b'Dam." Perhaps this is Vadai (looks like regular) blood!

Rejection: "[Al ha']Mayim Chayim."

Suggestion: Since [we need] Mayim Chayim], perhaps it is (looks like) all water!

Rejection: "[B']Dam." How [do we fulfill both of these]? It is water in which a bird's blood is recognized. Chachamim estimated that it is a Revi'is.

(R. Pedas citing R. Yochanan): Sotah water is disqualified through Linah (if it is left overnight).

(R. Acha citing Rav Avina): Anything from which no part goes on the Mizbe'ach, Linah does not disqualify it.

Suggestion: "U'Min he'Afar" - perhaps one may take from what is resting in a basket!

Rejection: "Asher Yihyeh b'Karka ha'Mishkan."

Suggestion: Perhaps "Asher Yihyeh b'Karka ha'Mishkan" permits to dig with a shovel [to get earth]!

Rejection: "Asher Yihyeh."

How [does one do]? If there is no [earth], he brings and puts there.

(R. Avin): However, it was said 'perhaps it is not Kosher unless he digs with a shovel'! "Asher Yihyeh" teaches in any case. "Ha'Mishkan" includes Nov, Giv'on, Shilo and the Beis ha'Mikdash.