All of the physical blemishes that disqualify sacrificial animals, also disqualify a red heifer, for the prooftext cited above states: "Which does not possess a blemish." If the heifer was born by Caesarian section, was exchanged for a dog, was a present given a prostitute, was
treifah, or had been sodomized, it is unacceptable. For any factor that invalidates a sacrificial animal for the altar invalidates the red heifer even though it is considered only as consecrated for the upkeep of the Temple, for Scripture has called it a sin-offering. It is permitted to purchase a red heifer from a gentile. We do not suspect that the gentile sodomized it, for he would not destroy the value of his animal.
There is a more severe element to the red heifer than to animals consecrated as sacrifices: work disqualifies it, for Numbers 19:2 states: "upon which a yoke was never placed." Now concerning a calf whose neck is broken, Deuteronomy 21:3 states: "With which no work was performed and which was not led with a yoke." Just as with regard to the yoke mentioned in connection with this calf, the Torah equated other labor with a yoke, so too, with regard to the red heifer, other forms of labor also disqualify it like a yoke does. There is, however, a greater stringency that applies with regard to a yoke. A yoke disqualifies the heifer whether it was placed upon it during work or not during work and other forms of labor disqualify it only when work was actually performed.
What is implied? If one tied a yoke upon it, it is disqualified even if one did not plow with it. If one placed it in a threshing team, it is not disqualified unless it actually threshed. Similar principles apply in analogous situations.
If one rode upon it, leaned upon it, hung on to its tail, crossed a river using it for support while swimming, folded its lead rope on top of it, placed his garment on it, placed a covering of sacks on it, it is disqualified. If one tied it with a rope because it was rebellious and required to be safeguarded, it is acceptable. If not, it is disqualified, for any safeguarding that is unnecessary is a burden.
If one shod its hooves so that it would not slip or spread his garment over it to protect it from flies, it is acceptable. This is the general principle: If anything is done for its own needs, it remains acceptable. If it is performed for another purpose, it is disqualified.
When work was performed with it as a matter of course or a yoke was placed over it as a matter of course, if the owner is pleased, it is disqualified. The rationale is that the verse above states: "With which no work was performed." The implication is that if work was performed with it and the owner would be satisfied, it is as if he performed work with it. Therefore, if a bird rested upon it, it is acceptable. If a male mounted it, it is unacceptable. Needless to say, a pregnant heifer is unacceptable.
If one placed it among a team of animals and it threshed grain on its own accord, it remains acceptable. If he placed it among the team so that it would nurse and thresh, it is disqualified, for he is satisfied that the work is performed. Similar laws apply in all analogous situations.
א. בד׳ לית. וחסרון המורגש הוא.
ב. ד (מ׳חרשה׳): חרש בה. שינוי לשון שלא לצורך.
ג. כך ב3-2, וכ״ה במשנה פרה ב, ג בכ״י שהוגה מכ״י רבנו. א: ונתן.
ד. ד (גם פ) [מ׳לא׳]: לאו. קיצור מכוון.
ה. ד: בה. וקלקול לשון הוא.
ו. ב2: מנעל. אך במשנה פרה ב, ג בכ״י שהוגה מכ״י רבנו כבפנים.
ז. ב3: תחלוק. ד: תחלק. וקלקול לשון המשנה הנ״ל הוא.
ח. ב2: פרש. ב3: פרס. וכ״ה במשנה פרה ב, ג בכ״י שהוגה מכ״י רבנו, אך במשנה סוכה א, ג בכ״י רבנו כבפנים.
ט. ד (גם פ): עול. אך בכתבי־היד כבפנים.
י. ב2: כמו.
יא. ב2: שתניק. אך בגמ׳
פסחים כו. כבפנים.
יב. ד: עשה. ושיבוש הוא.