What is the definition of "Mayim Kedoshim"?
Rashi and Targum Yonasan: It is water that the Kohen takes from the Kiyor. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 87.
What is the definition of "Afar"?
Sotah, 16b: "Afar" means literally 'earth' - to preclude ashes, 1 but not vegetables that have rotted - in the event that he cannot find earth - which are considered 'Afar'.
See Torah Temimah, note 90.
How much earth must the Kohen place into the cup?
Sotah, 15b: Enough to be discernable floating on the water.
What is the significance of the water and the earth that the Kohen places in the cup?
R. Bachye #1: Water from the heaven and earth from the land. 1
R. Bachye #2 (citing Sotah 17a): 'Earth' - If she is innocent, she will bear a son like Avraham Avinu 2 - who said "ve'Anochi Afar va'Eifer", and if not, she will die and return to dust. 3
Ba'al ha'Turim (citing the Yerushalmi in Sotah, 2:2): The water reminds the Sotah from where she came (from semen) and the earth, to remind her of where she is going (the grave). 4
Targum Yonasan: The water - refer to 5:17:3:1; The earth - to remind the Sotah that all flesh ends up in the earth. 5
See R. Chavel' footnotes DH 'u'me'Afar'.
Which ascribes all the details regarding Sotah to the principle 'be'Midah she'Adam Moded bah, Mod'din lo' (Midah k'Neged Midah), whose source lies in the Pasuk in Yeshayah 27:8 "be'Halchah Terivenah". See R. Bachye.
R. Bachye: She stood at the entrance of her house to seee him - the ohen stands her by the Nikanor Gate to shame her in public; she wore a nice hat in order to look beautiful - the Kohen uncovers her hair; she wore make-up on her face - her face turns green; she painted her eyes - her eyes protrude from their sockets; she fed him delicious foods - her Korban consists of (animal food (barley); she acted in secret - Haadosh-Baruch-Hu publicices what she did!
See Ba'al ha'Turim.
As Hashem told Adam in Bereishis, 3:19. Refer also to 5:2:1:1.
What is the significance of the fact that the Kohen gives the Sotah Mayim Kedoshim from the Kiyor to drink?
Rashi: To point out that the Kiyor was made from the copper that the righteous women who donated towards the Mishkan, 1 whereas she departed from their ways by lying with another man. Let her be examined via that Kiyor!
What is the significance of the K'li Cheres?
Rashi, R. Bachye #1 and Targum Yonasan: Since she gave the adulterer good-quality wine to drink out of expensive cups, they give her bitter water to drink from an earthenware cup.
Ramban #1: Refer to 5:15:1:3.
Ramban #2 (on Pasu 15) and R. Bachye #2: It is a sign that, assuming she is guilty, she will be like a broken earthenware vessel that is irreparable - she will lose both this world and the next and she will not get-up together with her husband at Techi'as ha'Meisim. 1
Sotah, 15b: We learn via a Gezeirah Shavah from Metzora, Vayikra, 14:5 "K'li Cheres" "K'li Cheres" that the earthenware vessel must be new. 2
Where did the Kohen find earth on the floor of the Beis-Hamikdash which was covered with marble?
Chizkuni (citing Sotah 2b): There was a stone tablet in the Heichal with a handle. He lifted it and took earth from underneath it. 1
If "be'Karka ha'Mishkan" implies that the Kohen must take earth from the Mishkan and not from anywhere else, why does the the Torah add the words "asher Yih'yeh b'Karka ha'Mishkan"?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because whilst the Mishkan moved constantly from place to place - so that the earth that formed the floor was earth that happened to be there at that time.
Sotah, 15b: To teach us that that, in the event that there is no soft earth in the Mishkan, it is not necessary to dig up hard earth wih an axe, but it will suffice to bring in soft earth from outside and place it in the Mishkan for a short time. 1
Sotah: Without placin it on the floor of the Mishkan it is not eligible, because the Torah writes "be'Karka ha'Mishkan".
Why does the Torah write "u'min ha'Karka asher Yih'yeh (future) be'Karka ha'Mishkan"?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because whilst the Mishkan moved constantly from place to place - so that the earth that formed the floor was earth that happened to be there at that time.
