4. They did not make use of (what pertained) to one red heifer for a second one, nor did they use another lad for(728) his (prepared) companion. “And the lads themselves were in need of sprinkling,” the words of Rabbi José the Galilean. R. Akiba said, “they had no need of sprinkling.”
5. If they did not find (ashes) of seven red heifers, six were sufficient, five, four, three, two, one. “And who made them?” “Moses made the first, and Ezra the second, and (there were) five from Ezra and afterward,” the words of Rabbi Meier. But the Sages say, “seven from Ezra and afterward.” “And who made them?” “Simon the Just, and John the High-priest made each two. Elihueni, son of Hakuf, and Hanamel the Egyptian, and Ishmael, son of Piani, made one each.”
6. And a causeway was made from the Mountain of the House to the Mount of Olives, with arches over arches. And there was an arch in front of the last pillar for fear of an unseen grave. Over it the priest who burned the heifer, and the heifer with all her attendants, proceeded to the Mount of Olives.
7. If the heifer were unwilling to go, they did not bring with her a black one, lest it be said, “they slaughtered a black one” nor a red one, lest it be said, “they slaughtered two.” R. José said, this was not the reason, but because it is only said, “That he may bring her forth.”(729) And the elders of Israel preceded her on foot to the Mount of Olives. And a house for washing was there. And the priest who burned the heifer was rendered unclean because of the Sadducees,(730) lest they should say, “it is needful for sunset to pass over him.”(731)
8. The elders put their hands on the priest and said, “my Lord High-priest, wash once.” He descended and washed, and he came up and wiped himself. And wood was set in order there, cedar and ash and cypress and fig-wood smoothed. And it was made like a tower, and windows were opened in it, and their direction was westward.
9. The red heifer was bound with a rope of bulrushes and she was put on the place of preparation, with her head southward and with her face westward. The priest stood in the east with his face westward. He slaughtered the heifer with his right hand, and received (the blood) in his left hand. R. Judah said, “he received it in his right hand and put it into his left, and sprinkled it with his right hand.” He dipped his hand, and sprinkled the blood seven times in front of the House of the Holy of Holies. For every sprinkling of blood he dipped his hand. When he finished sprinkling the blood he wiped his hand on the body of the heifer. He went down and kindled the fire with chips. Rabbi Akiba said, “with palm-branches.”