en. R. Jose said, "from their seats on the backs of the oxen they
let down (the cups) and filled them (with water)."

3. The lads came back to the Mountain of the House and dismounted. The
Mountain of the House and its courts were hollow below, through fear of an
unseen grave. And at the door of the court there were prepared the ashes
of the red heifers; and they brought a ram from the sheep, and they
twisted a rope between his horns, and they twisted a stick and stuck it
into the end of the rope, and it was dipped into the ashes, and the ram
got a blow, and he skipped backward, and took them, and caused them to
appear on the surface of the water. R. Jose said, "you should not give an
opportunity to the Sadducees for scoffing: but (the lad) took and prepared
the ashes."

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 Jose 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. Jose 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