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Although the Torah clearly states that the blood must be covered with afar – with dirt – the Mishna on today’s daf offers a number of substances that will suffice for this mitzva, including lime, fine sand, fine granulated manure, or crushed potsherd, brick, or earthenware. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel concludes by teaching that as long as plants can grow in it, it can be used for covering the blood. The Gemara teaches that ashes can be used, as well.
There are other mitzvot that also involve the use of dirt or ashes. Rava teaches –
As a reward for our father Abraham having said: “I am but dust and ashes” (see Bereishit 18:27) his children merited two commandments: the ashes of the Red Heifer, and the dust used in the ceremony of the sota.
The Gemara asks why Rava counts these two commandments and does not include also the dirt used for kisuy ha-dam.
We explore the humility of Avraham Avinu.