Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Avodah Zarah 46:4

ע"כ לא פליגי אלא בחששא אבל היכא דודאי רבעה פסלה ש"מ דפרה קדשי מזבח היא דאי קדשי בדק הבית מי מיפסלא בה רביעה

The difference of opinion up until here is only in regard to suspicion [of bestiality], but if we know for certain that he had bestiality with it, it is unfit. From here then you can deduce that the [degree of sanctity of the red heifer] is that of sacrifices offer on the altar; for if it had only the sanctity of those [dedicated] to repairs of the temple, even bestiality would not disqualify it.

Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah

On the previous two pages we learned of a dispute about whether we are suspicious that the non-Jew had sex with the red heifer. But if he certainly did, then the conclusion would be that all agree the red heifer is disqualified from use. This implies that the red heifer has a high level of sanctity, equivalent to animals dedicated so that they may be sacrificed. For had its sanctity been lower, bestiality would not disqualify it. The problem is that we don’t generally consider the red heifer to have this degree of sanctity.
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