1When a nazirite drinks wine or eats a grape product, even if he does so for many days, he does not invalidate even one of the days of his nazirite vow.1 Similar principles apply if he shaved a minority of his head, whether intentionally or unintentionally. If, however, the majority of his head was shaved, whether with a razor or through another means which is as effective as a razor and enough of the hairs to fold over their head to their base2 were removed whether intentionally or unintentionally3 - even if thieves shaved his head against his will - thirty days are invalidated. He must wait until he has an uncut mane of hair.4 Afterwards, he counts the remaining days.אנָזִיר שֶׁשָּׁתָה יַיִן, וְאָכַל יוֹצֵא מִן הַגֶּפֶן, אַפִלּוּ יָמִים רַבִּים - אֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר מִימֵי נְזִירוּתוֹ אַפִלּוּ יוֹם אֶחָד. וְכֵן אִם גִּלַּח מִעוּט שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ, בֵּין בִּשְׁגָגָה בֵּין בְּזָדוֹן. נִתְגַּלַּח רֹב רֹאשׁוֹ, בֵּין בְּתַעַר בֵּין כְּעֵין תַּעַר, וְלֹא נִשְׁאַר מִן הַשְּׂעָרוֹת כְּדֵי לָכוֹף רֹאשָׁן לְעִיקָרָן, בֵּין בְּזָדוֹן בֵּין בִּשְׁגָגָה, אַפִלּוּ גִּלְּחוּהוּ לִסְטִים בְּאֹנֶס - הֲרֵי זֶה סוֹתֵר שְׁלוֹשִׁים יוֹם, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ פֶּרַע, וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת.
2What is implied? A person took a nazirite vow for 100 days5 and after 20 days, the majority of his hair was shaved. He must wait 30 days until the hair of his head grows. After 30 days, he counts eighty days to complete his nazirite vow. Throughout these 30 days, he must observe all the particular nazirite law, but the days are not counted as part of his nazirite vow.בכֵּיצַד? נָדַר נְזִירוּת מֵאָה יוֹם, וּלְאַחַר עֶשְׂרִים יוֹם נִתְגַּלַּח רֹב רֹאשׁוֹ - הֲרֵי זֶה שׁוֹהֶה שְׁלוֹשִׁים יוֹם, עַד שֶׁיִּרְבֶּה שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ, וְאַחַר הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁים יוֹם, מוֹנֶה שְׁמוֹנִים יוֹם תַּשְׁלוּם יְמֵי נְזִירוּתוֹ. וְכָל אוֹתָן הַשְּׁלוֹשִׁים יוֹם - כָּל דִּקְדּוּקֵי נְזִירוּת עָלָיו, אֶלָא שֶׁאֵין עוֹלִין לוֹ מִן הַמִּנְיָן.
3When a nazirite contracted ritual impurity stemming from a corpse whether intentionally or unintentionally - even if gentiles caused him to incur impurity against his will - all of the days he observed are invalidated. He must perform the shaving required for impurity,6 bring the sacrifices associated with arising from impurity, and begin to count the days of his nazirite vow anew. This is implied by Numbers 6:12: “The first days will fall.” Even if he becomes impure on the day that he completes his nazirite vow,7 at the conclusion of the day, all of the days are invalidated.גנָזִיר שֶׁנִּטְּמָּא, בֵּין בְּזָדוֹן בֵּין בִּשְׁגָגָה, וְאַפִלּוּ טִמְּאוּהוּ גּוֹיִים בְּאֹנֶס - סוֹתֵר הַכֹּל, וּמְגַלֵּחַ תִגְלַחַת טֻמְאָה, וּמֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹת טֻמְאָה, וּמַתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת יְמֵי נְזִירוּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהַיָּמִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים יִפְּלוּ" (במדבר ו, יב). וְאַפִלּוּ נִטְּמָּא בְּיוֹם מְלֹאת יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ בְּסוֹף הַיּוֹם, סוֹתֵר הַכֹּל.
4If he contracted impurity on the day after he completed his nazirite vow, i.e., the day on which he would have brought the sacrifices associated with the completion of a nazirite vow in purity had he not become impure, he invalidates only 30 days.8 דנִטְּמָּא אַחַר יוֹם מְלֹאת, שֶׁהוּא יוֹם הֲבָאַת קָרְבְּנוֹת טָהֳרָה אִלּוּ לֹא נִטְּמָּא - סָתַר שְׁלוֹשִׁים יוֹם בִּלְבָד.
What should he do? He must bring the sacrifices associated with arising from impurity when he becomes pure and perform the shaving required for impurity. He then observes the nazirite laws for 30 days, he performs the shaving associated with completing a nazirite vow in purity and brings the appropriate sacrifices.9וְכֵיצַד יַעֲשֶׂה? מֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹת טֻמְאָה כְּשֶׁיִּטְהַר, וּמְגַלֵּחַ תִגְלַחַת טֻמְאָה, וּמַתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת נְזִירוּת שְׁלוֹשִׁים יוֹם, וּמְגַלֵּחַ תִגְלַחַת טָהֳרָה, וּמֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹת טָהֳרָה.

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

If he contracts ritual impurity after the blood of any of the sacrifices was sprinkled upon him, none of the days are invalidated.10 Instead, he should bring the remainder11 of the sacrifices associated with completing a nazirite vow in purity after he regains ritual purity.12 וְאִם נִטְּמָּא אַחַר שֶׁנִּזְרַק עָלָיו אֶחָד מִן הַדָּמִים - אֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר כְּלוּם, אֶלָא מֵבִיא שְׁאָר קָרְבְּנוֹת טָהֳרָה שֶׁלּוֹ כְּשֶׁיִּטְהַר.
5If he contracted ritual impurity on the following day,13 i.e., the day which is fit for him to begin letting his hair grow, had he shaven his hair after the completion of his vow14, he does not invalidate anything even though he did not shave yet. For he has completed his nazirite vow and everything associated with it.15 הנִטְּמָּא בְּיוֹם שֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו, שֶׁהוּא יוֹם שֶׁרָאוּי לְגַדַּל שְׂעַר אִלּוּ גִּלַּח אַחַר מְלֹאת - הֲרֵי זֶה אֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר כְּלוּם, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא גִלַּח; שֶׁהֲרֵי שָׁלְמָה הַנְּזִירוּת וְכָל הַנִּטְפָּל לָהּ.
6If he becomes impure on the day he took the nazirite vow or on the second day, these days are not invalidated. Instead, he completes the days of his vow including them after he brings his sacrifices.16 This is derived from the prooftext cited above: “The days will fall.” The use of the plural implies that there must be at least two full days. Therefore if he becomes impure from the third day onward, he invalidates all the previous days.ונִטְּמָּא בְּיוֹם שֶׁנָּדַר אוֹ בַּשֵּׁנִי - אֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר, אֶלָא מַשְׁלִים עֲלֵיהֶם אַחַר שֶׁיָּבִיא קָרְבָּנוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהַיָּמִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים יִפְּלוּ" (במדבר ו, יב) - עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שָׁם יָמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים. לְפִיכָךְ אִם נִטְּמָּא מִשְּׁלִישִׁי וָהָלְאָה - סוֹתֵר כָּל הַקּוֹדְמִין.
7When a person takes a nazirite vow although he is ritually impure due to contact with a corpse, the nazirite vow takes effect.17 If he becomes impure again,18 drinks wine, or shaves his head, he is liable for lashes. זנָדַר בְּנָזִיר וְהוּא טְמֵא מֵת - חָלָה עָלָיו נְזִירוּת; וְאִם נִטְּמָּא פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת, אוֹ שָׁתָה יַיִן, אוֹ גִּלַּח - לוֹקֶה.
If he remains impure for several days, they are not counted for him until he has the ashes of the Red Heifer sprinkled upon him on the third and seventh days after he contracted ritual impurity and he immerses himself in a mikveh on the seventh day.19וְאִם שָׁהָה בְּטֻמְאָתוֹ כַּמָּה יָמִים - אֵין עוֹלִין לוֹ, עַד שֶׁיַּזֶּה שְׁלִישִׁי וּשְׁבִיעִי, וְיִטְבֹּל בַּשְּׁבִיעִי.
When a person takes a nazirite vow while he is ritually impure, the seventh day is counted for him.20 When, by contrast, a nazirite who was ritually pure, became impure, he should not begin counting until the eighth day.וְיוֹם שְׁבִיעִי שֶׁלּוֹ עוֹלֶה לוֹ מִמִּנְיַן נְזִירוּת לָזֶה שֶׁנָּדַר וְהוּא טָמֵא. אֲבָל נָזִיר טָהוֹר שֶׁנִּטְּמָּא, אֵינוֹ מַתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת אֶלָא מִיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי וָהָלְאָה.
8When a person takes a nazirite vow in a cemetery, the nazirite vow takes effect.21חמִי שֶׁנָּדַר וְהוּא בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת, נְזִירוּת חָלָה עָלָיו.
Even if he remains there for several days, they are not counted for him. He is liable for lashes for remaining there.22 וְאַפִלּוּ שָׁהָה שָׁם כַּמָּה יָמִים - אֵין עוֹלִין לוֹ, וְלוֹקֶה עַל שְׁהִיָּתוֹ שָׁם.
If he was warned not to take a nazirite vow while there, he should not shave his hair when he leaves there.23וְאִם הִתְרוּ בּוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיר שָׁם, אֵינוֹ מְגַלֵּחַ שְׂעָרוֹ כְּשֶׁיֵּצֵא מִשָּׁם.
If while in the cemetery he contracted impurity in one of the ways which would require a nazirite to shave,24 he should neither shave nor bring a sacrifice associated with emerging from impurity.25 וְאִם נִטְּמָּא שָׁם בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת בְּאַחַת מִן הַטֻּמְאוֹת שֶׁהַנָּזִיר מְגַלֵּחַ עֲלֵיהֶן, אֵינוֹ מְגַלֵּחַ וְאֵינוֹ מֵבִיא קָרְבָּן טֻמְאָה.
9If a nazirite entered a cemetery in a closed container, chest, or closet, made a nazirite vow there, and then a colleague came and opened the top,26 causing him to contract ritual impurity, he is not liable for lashes even though he remains there.27 He does, however, receive stripes for rebellious conduct if he remains there.28 טנִכְנַס לְשָׁם בְּשִׁדָּה תֵּבָה וּמִגְדָּל, וּבָא חֲבֵרוֹ וּפָרַע עָלָיו אֶת הַמַּעְזִבָה וְנִטְּמֵָא, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשָּׁהָה שָׁם - אֵינוֹ לוֹקֶה, אֲבָל מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ מַכַּת מַרְדּוּת אִם שָׁהָה.
10When the nazirite29 left the cemetery, remained several days outside, and then returned, the days he remained outside are not counted as part of his nazirite vow.30 If he departed, had the ashes of the Red Heifer sprinkled upon him, immersed himself in a mikveh,31 counted several days of his nazirite vow and returned to the cemetery, the days that he counts are significant for him.32 Even if he enters the cemetery on the eighth day after becoming impure, the seventh day is counted for him.33ייָצָא מִבֵּית הַקְּבָרוֹת וְשָׁהָה יָמִים וְחָזַר וְנִכְנַס - אֵין אוֹתָן הַיָּמִים עוֹלִין לוֹ. יָצָא וְהִזָּה וְטָבַל וְטָהַר, וּמָנָה יָמִים מִנְּזִירוּתוֹ, וְחָזַר לְבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת - הֲרֵי אוֹתָן הַיָּמִים שֶׁמָּנָה עוֹלִין לוֹ. וְאַפִלּוּ נִכְנַס בְּיוֹם שְׁמִינִי שֶׁלּוֹ, הֲרֵי שְׁבִיעִי שֶׁלּוֹ עוֹלֶה לוֹ מִן הַמִּנְיָן.
If while there he contracted one of the types of impurity for which a nazirite is required to shave, he is required to bring a sacrifice as required when emerging from impurity.34 The days he counted previously are invalidated35 and he must perform the shaving required when emerging from impurity.וְאִם נִטְּמָּא שָׁם אַחַר שֶׁנִּכְנַס בְּאַחַת מִן הַטֻּמְאוֹת שֶׁהַנָּזִיר מְגַלֵּחַ עֲלֵיהֶן - מֵבִיא קָרְבָּן טֻמְאָה, וְסוֹתֵר הַיָּמִים הַקּוֹדְמִין, וּמְגַלֵּחַ תִגְלַחַת טֻמְאָה.
11What does the shaving required when emerging from ritual impurity involve? When a nazirite becomes impure in one of the ways which require him to shave because of it, he must have the ashes of the Red Heifer sprinkled upon him on the third and seventh days. He then has his hair shaved on the seventh day.36 And after having the ashes sprinkled on him on the seventh day, he immerses in a mikveh as is required of all those who are ritually impure due to contact with a human corpse.37 He waits until sunset and brings his sacrifices on the eighth day.38 These sacrifices are: two turtle doves39 or two young doves,40 one as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering, and a year-old lamb as a guilt offering. All of the preceding days are invalidated and he begins counting his nazirite vow anew. If he shaved on the eighth day,41 he may bring his sacrifices on that day.יאתִגְלַחַת טֻמְאָה כֵּיצַד הִיא? נָזִיר שֶׁנִּטְּמָּא בְּאַחַת מִן הַטֻּמְאוֹת שֶׁהוּא מְגַלֵּחַ עֲלֵיהֶן, הֲרֵי זֶה מַזֶּה עָלָיו בִּשְׁלִישִׁי וּבִשְׁבִיעִי, וּמְגַלֵּחַ שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ בַּשְּׁבִיעִי, וְטוֹבֵל בַּשְּׁבִיעִי אַחַר הַהַזָּיָה כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל טְמֵאֵי מֵת, וּמַעְרִיב שִׁמְשׁוֹ וּמֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו בַּשְּׁמִינִי - וְהֵן שְׁתֵּי תּוֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה, אֶחָד לְעוֹלָה וְאֶחָד לְחַטָּאת, וְכֶבֶשׂ בֶּן שְׁנָתוֹ לְאָשָׁם. וְסוֹתֵר כָּל הַיָּמִים הַקּוֹדְמִין, וּמַתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת נְזִירוּתוֹ. וְאִם גִּלַּח בַּשְּׁמִינִי, מֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם.
12When does he begin counting the days of his nazirite vow? When he brings his sin offering. His burnt offering and his guilt offering,42 by contrast, do not hold him back from beginning his counting.43 יבמֵאֵימָתַי מַתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת? מִשֶּׁיָּבִיא חַטָּאתוֹ. אֲבָל עוֹלָתוֹ וַאֲשָׁמוֹ אֵין מְעַכְּבִין אוֹתוֹ מִלִּמְנוֹת.
13If he had the ashes of the Red Heifer sprinkled upon him on the third day and the seventh day, but did not immerse himself, but instead delayed his immersion, when he immerses, he should wait until sunset and bring his sacrifices on the following day.44יגהֲרֵי שֶׁהִזָּה בִּשְׁלִישִׁי וּשְׁבִיעִי וְלֹא טָבַל, וְנִתְאַחֵר כַּמָּה יָמִים - כְּשֶׁיִּטְבֹּל, יַעְרִיב שִׁמְשׁוֹ וְיָבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו לְמָחָר.
If he immersed himself and waited until after sunset, but delayed bringing his sacrifices, he cannot begin counting the days of his vow until he brings his sin offering.45 His burnt offering and guilt offering do not hold him back from counting, as explained in the previous halachah.טָבַל וְהֶעֱרִיב שִׁמְשׁוֹ, וְאֵחַר קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו - אֵינוֹ מַתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא חַטָּאתוֹ. אֲבָל עוֹלָתוֹ וַאֲשָׁמוֹ אֵין מְעַכְּבִין אוֹתוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ.
14When a nazirite performs the shaving required after ritual impurity, he does not have to shave at the entrance to the Temple or cast his hair on the fire where his sacrifices are being cooked.46ידכְּשֶׁמְּגַלֵּחַ הַנָּזִיר תִגְלַחַת טֻמְאָה - אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְגַלֵּחַ פֶּתַח הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְלֹא לְהַשְׁלִיךְ שְׂעָרוֹ עַל הָאֵשׁ.
Whether he shaves outside the Temple or inside, it is forbidden to benefit from his hair.47 It must be buried. If it is burnt, it is forbidden to benefit from its ashes as is true of the ashes of all forbidden substances that must be buried.48 When one shaves in the Temple,49 if he casts his hair under the pot where his guilt offering is being cooked, he fulfills his obligation.50 וּבֵין שֶׁגִּלַּח בַּמְּדִינָה אוֹ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, שְׂעָרוֹ אָסוּר בַּהֲנָיָה, וְטָעוּן קְבִירָה, וְאֶפְרוֹ אָסוּר, כְּאֵפֶר כָּל הַנִּקְבָּרִין. וְהַמְּגַלֵּחַ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ - אִם הִשְׁלִיכוֹ תַּחַת דּוּד הָאָשָׁם, יָצָא.
15When a nazirite becomes impure through contact with a corpse on several occasions, whether he was warned about each individual time or he was not warned about each individual time,51 he brings only one set of sacrifices for all the times he became impure.טונָזִיר שֶׁנִּטְּמָּא טֻמְאוֹת הַרְבֵּה - בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא הִתְרוּ בּוֹ עַל כָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת, בֵּין שֶׁהִתְרוּ בּוֹ עַל כָּל אַחַת וְאַחַת - אֵינוֹ מֵבִיא עַל טֻמְאוֹתָיו אֶלָא קָרְבָּן אֶחָד.
When does the above apply? When he becomes impure a second time before he brings the sacrifices associated with emerging from impurity the first time, but was delayed for several days after he regain ritual purity from bringing his sin offering and contracted impurity in those days.52 In such a situation, he only brings one sacrifice. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? שֶׁנִּטְּמָּא פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹת טֻמְאָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּתְאַחֵר כַּמָּה יָמִים אַחַר טַהְרָתוֹ קֹדֶם הֲבָאַת חַטָּאתוֹ, וְנִטְּמָּא בְּאוֹתָן הַיָּמִים - אֵינוֹ מֵבִיא אֶלָא קָרְבָּן אֶחָד.
When, however, he contracted impurity, became ritually pure, and brought his sin offering, should he contract impurity a second time after bringing his sin offering, he is required to bring a second set of sacrifices even though he has not brought his guilt offering or his burnt offering.אֲבָל אִם נִטְּמָּא וְטָהַר וְהֵבִיא חַטָּאתוֹ, וְנִטְּמָּא פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה אַחַר שֶׁהֵבִיא חַטָּאתוֹ - אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא הֵבִיא אֲשָׁמוֹ וְעוֹלָתוֹ, חַיָּב בְּקָרְבָּנוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת.
16The following rules apply when a nazirite performed the shaving required when completing his vow in purity and afterwards discovered that he had contracted the ritual impurity stemming from contact with a corpse in the midst of the days of his vow. If he became impure due to a the source for impurity that was known by others, all of the days of his vow are invalidated.53 He must bring the sacrifices required when emerging from impurity, perform the shaving required when emerging from impurity, count the days of another nazirite vow, and bring the sacrifices required when completing his vow in purity. If he became impure due to a source of impurity likened to the depths,54 he does not invalidate the days he observed.55 This is a law communicated by the Oral Tradition.56 טזנָזִיר שֶׁגִּלַּח תִגְלַחַת טָהֳרָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹדַע שֶׁטָּמֵא הָיָה בְּתוֹךְ יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ: אִם בְּטֻמְאָה יְדוּעָה נִטְּמָּא - סוֹתֵר הַכֹּל, וּמֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹת טֻמְאָה, וּמְגַלֵּחַ תִגְלַחַת טֻמְאָה, וּמוֹנֶה נְזִירוּת אַחֶרֶת, וּמֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹת טָהֳרָה; וְאִם בְּטֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם נִטְּמָּא - אֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר. וְדָבָר זֶה הֲלָכָה מִפִּי הַקַּבָּלָה.
17If he discovered that he was impure - whether from a known source of impurity or a source of impurity likened to the depths - before the blood from one of his sacrifices57 was sprinkled upon him, all the days are invalidated.58יזוְאִם עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִזְרַק עָלָיו אֶחָד מִן הַדָּמִים נוֹדַע שֶׁהוּא טָמֵא, בֵּין בְּטֻמְאָה יְדוּעָה, בֵּין בְּטֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם - סוֹתֵר הַכֹּל.
If he discovers this after the blood from one of his sacrifices was sprinkled upon him,59 should this be an unknown source of impurity, it does not invalidate the days even though he has not performed his shaving yet.נוֹדַע לוֹ אַחַר שֶׁנִּזְרַק אֶחָד מִן הַדָּמִים, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא גִלַּח - הוֹאִיל וְטֻמְאָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ יְדוּעָה הִיא, אֵינוֹ סוֹתֵר.
18What is meant by impurity likened to the depths?60 A human corpse which no one, not even one at the end of the world knows about.יחאֵיזוֹ הִיא טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם? כָּל שֶׁאֵין אָדָם מַכִּירָהּ, אַפִלּוּ בְּסוֹף הָעוֹלָם.
The concept of impurity likened to the depths applies only with regard to a person who died naturally, but not to a person who was killed. For the killer knows of the existence of the corpse. 61וְלֹא אָמְרוּ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם אֶלָא לְמֵת בִּלְבָד; אֲבָל הָרוּג - לֹא, שֶׁהֲרֵי יָדַע בּוֹ זֶה שֶׁהֲרָגוֹ.
19When a corpse is found in open view, this is not considered impurity likened to the depths.62יטנִמְצָא הַמֵּת גָּלוּי, אֵין זוֹ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם.
If a corpse is found sunk in the earth of a cave while covered with water, this is impurity likened to the depths which is not known.נִמְצָא מֻשְׁקָע בְּקַרְקָעִית מְעָרָה וְהַמַּיִם עַל גַּבָּיו, הֲרֵי זוֹ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם שֶׁאֵינָהּ יְדוּעָה.
If it is discovered buried in straw or in pebbles, it is impurity likened to the depths.63הָיָה טָמוּן בְּתֶבֶן אוֹ בִּצְרוֹרוֹת, הֲרֵי זוֹ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם שֶׁאֵינָהּ יְדוּעָה.
If it is discovered in water in the dark or clefts of the rocks, it is not impurity likened to the depths.64 הָיָה טָמוּן בַּמַּיִם בָּאֲפֵלָה וּבִנְקִיקֵי הַסְּלָעִים, אֵינָהּ טֻמְאַת הַתְּהוֹם.
20The following rule applies when a nazirite who became impure through contact with a corpse goes down to a cave and immerses there,65 brings the sacrifices required after emerging from impurity, counts the days of his nazirite vow, performs the shaving required after completing the vow in purity, and afterwards, discovers that there was a corpse sunk in the earth of the cave when he descended to immerse himself. Although this is an unknown source of impurity, all of the days are invalidated. The rationale is that his impurity was an established fact and hence, that condition is presumed to continue until he definitely purified himself.66כנָזִיר שֶׁנִּטְּמָּא בְּמֵת, וְיָרַד וְטָבַל בִּמְעָרָה, וְהֵבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹת טֻמְאָה, וּמָנָה נְזִירוּת וְגִלַּח תִגְלַחַת טָהֳרָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹדַע שֶׁמֵּת הָיָה מֻשְׁקָע בְּקַרְקָעִית הַמְּעָרָה כְּשֶׁיָּרַד לִטְבֹּל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא טֻמְאָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ יְדוּעָה - סָתַר הַכֹּל; מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֻחְזַק לַטֻּמְאָה, וְחֶזְקַת הַטָּמֵא טָמֵא, עַד שֶׁיִּטְהַר וַדַּאי.
In the above situation, if a nazirite descended to the pool to cool himself off, he is ritually pure until he has certain knowledge that he touched the corpse.67יָרַד לְהָקֵר - הֲרֵי זֶה טָהוֹר, עַד שֶׁיֵּדַע שֶׁנָּגַע.
If the corpse is found floating on the water, we presume that the nazirite is impure. Since the corpse is floating, we operate under the presumption that the nazirite touched it.68נִמְצָא הַמֵּת צָף עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם - הֲרֵי זֶה בְּחֶזְקַת טָמֵא, שֶׁחֶזְקָתוֹ שֶׁנָּגַע בָּזֶה שֶׁהוּא צָף.