1. He who brings earthen vessels for the ashes of the heifer must wash them, and place them in the furnace over night. Rabbi Judah said, “even if he bring them from his house they are allowed. Since everyone is trusted about the heifer. But in the heave-offering he opens the furnace and takes out the vessels.” R. Simon said, “from the second(735) row.” R. José said, “from the third row.” 2. He who washes vessels for the ashes of the red heifer, in water unsuitable for purification, must dry them. If he wash them in water suitable for purification, it is not necessary to dry them. If he add therein water for purification, whether of one sort or the other sort of water, he must dry them. 3. A pumpkin bottle which is washed in water unsuitable for purification, may be used for purification, till it becomes legally unclean. When it is unclean, they may no longer purify in it. R. Joshua said, “if one purify in it at first, one may purify in it to the last; if it cannot purify at last, it cannot purify at first.” Whether it be clean or unclean, one must not add therein water for purification. 4. “A hollow reed cut for the ashes of the red heifer?” R. Eliezer said, “it must be washed at once.” R. Joshua said, “it must be rendered legally unclean, and afterward washed.” Everyone is suitable for purifying excepting a deaf person, an idiot, and a child. R. Judah “allows a child, but disallows a woman and a neuter.” 5. Water may be prepared for purification in every vessel, even in vessels of dung, in vessels of stone and vessels of clay and in a boat. Water must not be prepared for purification in the sides of vessels nor in the bottom of a vase nor in the cork of a barrel nor in one’s fists, since they are not used for filling water, and they must not purify with them. And the water of the ashes of the heifer is not sprinkled without a vessel. There is no safety from defilement in the covering(736) bound except in proper vessels—there is no safety from the defilement of earthen vessels except in proper vessels. 6. An egg-shaped vessel of the potters is allowed for the purifying water. R. José “disallows it.” “The egg (shell) of a hen?” R. Meier and R. Judah “allow it,” but the Sages “disallow it.”