ב"ה

Torah Reading for Tazria

Parshat Tazria
Shabbat, 3 Nissan, 5787
10 April, 2027
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Complete: (Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59; Kings II 4:42 - 5:19)
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First Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 12

1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male, she shall be unclean for seven days; as [in] the days of her menstrual flow, she shall be unclean.   בדַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִשָּׁה֙ כִּ֣י תַזְרִ֔יעַ וְיָֽלְדָ֖ה זָכָ֑ר וְטָֽמְאָה֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים כִּימֵ֛י נִדַּ֥ת דְּו‍ֹתָ֖הּ תִּטְמָֽא:
If a woman conceives: Rabbi Simlai said: “Just as in the Creation, man was created after all domestic animals, wild beasts, and birds, so too, the law [concerning the cleanness] of man is stated after the law [concerning the cleanness] of domestic animals, wild beasts, and birds.”- [Vayikra Rabbah 14:1]   אִשָּׁה כִּי תַזְרִיעַ: אָמַר רַבִּי שִׂמְלַאי: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁיְּצִירָתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אַחַר כָּל בְּהֵמָה חַיָּה וָעוֹף בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, כָּךְ תּוֹרָתוֹ נִתְפָּרְשָׁה אַחַר תּוֹרַת בְּהֵמָה חַיָּה וָעוֹף (ויקרא רבה יד):
If [a woman] conceives: Heb. כִּי תַזְרִיעַ. [These words are stated] to include the case of [a woman] who gave birth to a dissolved [fetus, i.e., the fetus had matured, but had subsequently] dissolved [in the womb], resulting in a semen-like mass (זֶרַע akin to תַזְרִיע), its mother has the impurity of birth. — [Niddah 27b]   כִּי תַזְרִיעַ: לְרַבּוֹת שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ יְלָדַתּוּ מָחוּי — שֶׁנִּמְחָה וְנַעֲשָׂה כְּעֵין זֶרַע — אִמּוֹ טְמֵאָה לֵידָה (נדה כ"ז):
as [in] the days of her menstrual flow: According to the order of all the uncleanness mentioned in regard to the menstruating woman (נִדָּה), she becomes unclean on account of giving birth. [This is true] even if the womb opens without [any issue of] blood.   כִּימֵי נִדַּת דותה תִּטְמָֽא: כְּסֵדֶר כָּל טֻמְאָה הָאֲמוּרָה בְנִדָּה מִטַּמְּאָה בְטֻמְאַת לֵידָה, וַאֲפִלוּ נִפְתַּח הַקֶּבֶר בְּלֹא דָם (שם כ"א):
flow: Heb. דְּוֹתָהּ This expression denotes a substance that flows from her body. Another explanation: It denotes illness (מַדְוֶה) and sickness, for there is not a woman who sees [menstrual] blood without feeling ill, [since] her head and limbs become heavy upon her.   דותה: לְשׁוֹן דָּבָר הַזָּב מִגּוּפָהּ; לָשׁוֹן אַחֵר לְשׁוֹן מַדְוֶה וְחֹלִי, שֶׁאֵין אִשָּׁה רוֹאָה דָם שֶׁלֹּא תֶחֱלֶה וְרֹאשָׁהּ וְאֵבָרֶיהָ כְבֵדִין עָלֶיהָ (שם ט'):
3And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.   גוּבַיּ֖וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֑י יִמּ֖וֹל בְּשַׂ֥ר עָרְלָתֽוֹ:
4And for thirty three days, she shall remain in the blood of purity; she shall not touch anything holy, nor may she enter the Sanctuary, until the days of her purification have been completed.   דוּשְׁלשִׁ֥ים יוֹם֙ וּשְׁל֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים תֵּשֵׁ֖ב בִּדְמֵ֣י טָֽהֳרָ֑ה בְּכָל־קֹ֣דֶשׁ לֹֽא־תִגָּ֗ע וְאֶל־הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ לֹ֣א תָבֹ֔א עַד־מְלֹ֖את יְמֵ֥י טָֽהֳרָֽהּ:
she shall remain: The word תֵּשֵׁב means only staying [or remaining], like, “And you dwelled (וַתֵּשְׁבוּ) in Kadesh” (Deut. 1:46), “and he dwelt (וַיֵּשֶׁב) in the plain of Mamre” (Gen. 13:18).   תֵּשֵׁב: אֵין תֵּשֵׁב אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן עַכָּבָה, כְּמוֹ וַתֵּשְׁבוּ בְקָדֵשׁ (דברים א'), וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא (בראשית י"ג):
in the blood of purity: [I. e., during this interim period,] although she may see blood [issued from her], she is ritually clean. — [Torath Kohanim 12:15]   בִּדְמֵי טָֽהֳרָה: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁרוֹאָה טְהוֹרָה:
in the blood of purity: Heb. טָהֳרָה. [This could be mistakenly understood as “in the blood of her purity.” However,] this is not an aspirate “hey,” [as is evidenced by the absence of a dot in the final letter ה]. Therefore, it is an [unqualified] noun, like the word טֹהַר [meaning “purity”].   בִּדְמֵי טָֽהֳרָה: לֹא מַפִּיק הֵ"א, וְהוּא שֵׁם דָּבָר כְּמוֹ טֹהַר:
the days of her purification: Heb. טָהֳרָהּ. [Here,] this is an aspirate “hey,” meaning “the days of her purification.”   יְמֵי טָֽהֳרָה: מַפִּיק הֵ"א — יְמֵי טֹהַר שֶׁלָּהּ:
she shall not touch [anything holy]: [Although the verse says “shall not touch,” this is] a warning against one eating [anything holy] as is taught in Tractate Yev. (75a).   לֹֽא־תִגָּע: אַזְהָרָה לָאוֹכֵל וְכוֹ' כְּמוֹ שֶׁשְּׁנוּיָה בִיבָמוֹת (דף ע"ה):
[she shall not touch] anything holy: This comes to include terumah [being prohibited to this woman, before she is ritually clean (Torath Kohanim 12:16). This woman is considered a טְבוּל יוֹם, i.e., someone who has immersed in a mikvah, but must still wait for that day to elapse in order to become completely clean. Now, how is she considered a טְבוּל יוֹם? We are talking here about a thirty-three day period. However, she does fall under this category] because she is considered a טְבוּלַת יוֹם אָרֹךְ [i.e., she must wait a “prolonged day,” insofar as] she immerses after seven [days], but the sunset that she must wait for [in order to become pure is not the sunset of the day of her immersion, but rather, it] is the sunset of the fortieth day [from birth], since it is [only] on the following day that she may bring the atonement [sacrifice] of her purification. [Thus, the whole period is to be considered one prolonged day, in the context of the law regarding her eating anything holy.]   בְּכָל־קֹדֶשׁ: לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַתְּרוּמָה, לְפִי שֶׁזּוֹ טְבוּלַת יוֹם אָרֹךְ, שֶׁטָּבְלָה לְסוֹף שִׁבְעָה וְאֵין שִׁמְשָׁהּ מַעֲרִיב לְטַהֲרָהּ עַד שְׁקִיעַת הַחַמָּה שֶׁל יוֹם אַרְבָּעִים שֶׁלְּמָחָר תָּבִיא אֶת כַּפָּרַת טָהֳרָתָהּ:
5And if she gives birth to a female, she shall be unclean for two weeks, like her menstruation [period]. And for sixty six days, she shall remain in the blood of purity.   הוְאִם־נְקֵבָ֣ה תֵלֵ֔ד וְטָֽמְאָ֥ה שְׁבֻעַ֖יִם כְּנִדָּתָ֑הּ וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים יוֹם֙ וְשֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים תֵּשֵׁ֖ב עַל־דְּמֵ֥י טָֽהֳרָֽה:
6And when the days of her purification have been completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring a sheep in its first year as a burnt offering, and a young dove or a turtle dove as a sin offering, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, to the kohen.   ווּבִמְלֹ֣את | יְמֵ֣י טָֽהֳרָ֗הּ לְבֵן֘ א֣וֹ לְבַת֒ תָּבִ֞יא כֶּ֤בֶשׂ בֶּן־שְׁנָתוֹ֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה וּבֶן־יוֹנָ֥ה אוֹ־תֹ֖ר לְחַטָּ֑את אֶל־פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן:
7And he shall offer it up before the Lord and effect atonement for her, and thus, she will be purified from the source of her blood. This is the law of a woman who gives birth to a male or to a female.   זוְהִקְרִיב֞וֹ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ וְכִפֶּ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ וְטָֽהֲרָ֖ה מִמְּקֹ֣ר דָּמֶ֑יהָ זֹ֤את תּוֹרַת֙ הַיֹּלֶ֔דֶת לַזָּכָ֖ר א֥וֹ לַנְּקֵבָֽה:
And he shall offer it up: Heb. וְהִקְרִיבוֹ. This [singular object comes] to teach you that only one [of these sacrifices, if it has not yet been brought], holds her back from eating anything holy. And which one is it? It is the sin-offering, for it says, “a sin-offering. And [the kohen] shall effect atonement for her, and thus, she will be purified” (verse 8). The one through which her atonement is effected [namely, the sin-offering], is the same one upon which her purification is dependent. — [Torath Kohanim 12:27]   וְהִקְרִיבוֹ: לִמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵין מְעַכְּבָהּ לֶאֱכֹל בְּקָדָשִׁים אֶלָּא אֶחָד מֵהֶם, וְאֵי זֶה הוּא? זֶה חַטָּאת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְכִפֶּר עָלֶיהָ הַכֹּהֵן וְטָהֵרָה, מִי שֶׁהוּא בָא לְכַפֵּר, בּוֹ הַטָּהֳרָה תְלוּיָה:
and she will thus become clean: From here, [we can conclude] that until here [namely, the offering up of her sacrifices, she is called unclean [and may not eat sacrificial flesh or enter the Sanctuary]. - [Yeb. 74b]   וְטָֽהֲרָה: מִכְּלָל שֶׁעַד כָּאן קְרוּיָה טְמֵאָה:
8And if she cannot afford a sheep, she shall take two turtle doves or two young doves: one as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering. And the kohen shall effect atonement for her, and she shall become clean.   חוְאִם־לֹ֨א תִמְצָ֣א יָדָהּ֘ דֵּ֣י שֶׂה֒ וְלָֽקְחָ֣ה שְׁתֵּֽי־תֹרִ֗ים א֤וֹ שְׁנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יוֹנָ֔ה אֶחָ֥ד לְעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶחָ֣ד לְחַטָּ֑את וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֛יהָ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְטָהֵֽרָה:
One as a burnt-offering and one as a sin-offering: Scripture places [the burnt-offering] before [the sin-offering] only insofar as how they must be read [in the Torah. This is due to the higher esteem of the burnt-offering, because it is burned in its entirety (Maskil LeDavid).] But the sacrificing of the sin-offering precedes [that of]the burnt-offering. Thus we learned in Zevachim, in the chapter entitled כָּל-הַתָּדִיר (90a).   אֶחָד לְעֹלָה וְאֶחָד לְחַטָּאת: לֹא הִקְדִּימָהּ הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא לְמִקְרָאָהּ, אֲבָל לְהַקְרָבָה חַטָּאת קוֹדֵם לָעוֹלָה, כָּךְ שָׁנִינוּ בִּזְבָחִים בְּפֶרֶק כָּל הַתָּדִיר (זבחים צ ע"א):

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 13

1And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
2If a man has a se'eith, a sappachath, or a bahereth on the skin of his flesh, and it forms a lesion of tzara'ath on the skin of his flesh, he shall be brought to Aaron the kohen, or to one of his sons, the kohanim.   באָדָ֗ם כִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה בְעֽוֹר־בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ שְׂאֵ֤ת אֽוֹ־סַפַּ֨חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַהֶ֔רֶת וְהָיָ֥ה בְעֽוֹר־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ לְנֶ֣גַע צָרָ֑עַת וְהוּבָא֙ אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן א֛וֹ אֶל־אַחַ֥ד מִבָּנָ֖יו הַכֹּֽהֲנִֽים:
se’eith, a sappachath, [or a bahereth]: Heb. The [terms se’eith and bahereth] are the names of two [major] lesions [and the term sappachath refers to categories related to these two major lesions], and one [major lesion, namely, bahereth] is whiter than the other [se’eith].-[Shev. 6b].   שְׂאֵת אֽוֹ־סַפַּחַת וגו': שְׁמוֹת נְגָעִים הֵם וּלְבָנוֹת זוֹ מִזּוֹ:
bahereth: Heb. בַּהֶרֶת, spot, taye in Old French. This is similar to the verse, “it is [like] bright [clouds] (בָּהִיר) in the skies” (Job 37:21) [i.e., like the spots created by bright clouds in the blue sky].   בַהֶרֶת: חֲבַרְבּוּרוֹת, טיי"א בְּלַעַז, וְכֵן בָּהִיר הוּא בַּשְּׁחָקִים (איוב ל"ז):
[he shall be brought] to Aaron [the kohen, or to one of his sons]: It is a Scriptural decree that the uncleanness of lesions and their cleanness do not come about except by the pronouncement of a kohen. — [Torath Kohanim 13:43]   אֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן וגו': גְּזֵרַת הַכָּתוּב הִיא שֶׁאֵין טֻמְאַת נְגָעִים וְטָהֳרָתָן אֶלָּא עַל פִּי כֹהֵן (ספרא):
3The kohen shall look at the lesion on the skin of his flesh, and [if] hair in the lesion has turned white and the appearance of the lesion is deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a lesion of tzara'ath. When the kohen sees this, he shall pronounce him unclean.   גוְרָאָ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֣ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֣גַע בְּעֽוֹר־הַ֠בָּשָׂ֠ר וְשֵׂעָ֨ר בַּנֶּ֜גַע הָפַ֣ךְ | לָבָ֗ן וּמַרְאֵ֤ה הַנֶּ֨גַע֙ עָמֹק֙ מֵע֣וֹר בְּשָׂר֔וֹ נֶ֥גַע צָרַ֖עַת ה֑וּא וְרָאָ֥הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְטִמֵּ֥א אֹתֽוֹ:
[if] hair in the lesion has turned white: Heb. וְשֵׂעָר. At first [the hair] was black, and then it turned white in the lesion. The minimum [quantity referred to by the term] שֵׂעָר, hair, is two, [as opposed to שַׂעֲרָה, a hair, as in Jud. 20:16. Thus, there shall be a minimum of two hairs that turn white in the lesion for this law to apply]. — [Torath Kohanim 13:45-47]   הָפַךְ לָבָן: מִתְּחִלָּה שָׁחֹר וְהָפַךְ לְלָבָן בְּתוֹךְ הַנֶּגַע; וּמִעוּט שֵׂעָר שְׁנַיִם:
[and the appearance of the lesion] is deeper than the skin of his flesh: Anything with a white appearance seems deeper [in contrast to a darker object next to it], just as sunlight appears deeper than a shadow. — [Shev. 6b]   עָמֹק מֵעוֹר בְּשָׂרוֹ: כָּל מַרְאֵה לָבָן עָמֹק הוּא, כְּמַרְאֵה חַמָּה עֲמֻקָּה מִן הַצֵּל:
he shall pronounce him unclean: He shall say to him: “You are unclean,” for white hair is a sign of uncleanness by Scriptural decree.   וְטִמֵּא אֹתֽוֹ: יֹאמַר לוֹ טָמֵא אַתָּה, שֶׁשֵּׂעָר לָבָן סִימָן טֻמְאָה הוּא גְּזֵרַת הַכָּתוּב:
4But if it is a white bahereth on the skin of his flesh, and its appearance is not deeper than the skin, and its hair has not turned white, the kohen shall quarantine the [person with the] lesion for seven days.   דוְאִם־בַּהֶ֩רֶת֩ לְבָנָ֨ה הִ֜וא בְּע֣וֹר בְּשָׂר֗וֹ וְעָמֹק֙ אֵֽין־מַרְאֶ֣הָ מִן־הָע֔וֹר וּשְׂעָרָ֖ה לֹֽא־הָפַ֣ךְ לָבָ֑ן וְהִסְגִּ֧יר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֖גַע שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
[But if it is a white bahereth…] and its appearance is not deeper: I do not know its meaning [since a white bahereth should always appear deeper than the skin, as above, yet here the verse describes a case where it does not].   וְעָמֹק אֵֽין־מַרְאֶהָ: לֹא יָדַעְתִּי פֵרוּשׁוֹ:
quarantine: He shall have him confined to one house, and the person shall not be seen [by the kohen] until the end of the week. [Only] then will his signs indicate about him [whether he is clean or unclean].   וְהִסְגִּיר: יַסְגִּירֶנּוּ בְּבַיִת אֶחָד וְלֹא יִרְאֶה עַד סוֹף הַשָּׁבוּעַ וְיוֹכִיחוּ סִימָנִים עָלָיו:
5And on the seventh day, the kohen shall see him. And, behold! the lesion has remained the same in its appearance; the lesion has not spread on the skin. So the kohen shall quarantine him for seven days a second time.   הוְרָאָ֣הוּ הַכֹּהֵן֘ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי֒ וְהִנֵּ֤ה הַנֶּ֨גַע֙ עָמַ֣ד בְּעֵינָ֔יו לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֥ה הַנֶּ֖גַע בָּע֑וֹר וְהִסְגִּיר֧וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים שֵׁנִֽית:
in its appearance: In its original appearance and size.   בעניו: בְּמַרְאֵהוּ וּבְשִׁעוּרוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹן:
[The kohen] shall quarantine him… a second time: But if it [the lesion] spread in the first week, he is definitely unclean. - [See Nega’im 3:3]   וְהִסְגִּירוֹ … שֵׁנִֽית: הָא אִם פָּשָׂה בְּשָׁבוּעַ רִאשׁוֹן, טָמֵא מֻחְלָט:

Second Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 13

6And the kohen shall see him on the seventh day a second time. And, behold! the lesion has become dimmer, and the lesion has not spread on the skin, the kohen shall pronounce him clean. It is a mispachath. He shall immerse his garments and become clean.   ווְרָאָה֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן אֹת֜וֹ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי֘ שֵׁנִית֒ וְהִנֵּה֙ כֵּהָ֣ה הַנֶּ֔גַע וְלֹֽא־פָשָׂ֥ה הַנֶּ֖גַע בָּע֑וֹר וְטִֽהֲר֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ מִסְפַּ֣חַת הִ֔וא וְכִבֶּ֥ס בְּגָדָ֖יו וְטָהֵֽר:
has become dimmer: [I.e.,] it became dimmer in its appearance. Hence, if it remained the same in its appearance or spread, he is unclean.   כֵּהָה: הָכְהָה מִמַּרְאִיתוֹ, הָא אִם עָמַד בְּמַרְאִיתוֹ אוֹ פָשָׂה טָמֵא:
mispachath: The name of a clean lesion.   מִסְפַּחַת: שֵׁם נֶגַע טָהוֹר:
He shall immerse his garments and become clean: Since he was required to be quarantined, he is considered unclean and requires immersion.   וְכִבֶּס בְּגָדָיו וְטָהֵֽר: הוֹאִיל וְנִזְקַק לְהִסָּגֵר נִקְרָא טָמֵא וְצָרִיךְ טְבִילָה:
7However, if the mispachath spreads on the skin after it has been shown to the kohen for its purification, it shall be shown to the kohen a second time.   זוְאִם־פָּשׂ֨ה תִפְשֶׂ֤ה הַמִּסְפַּ֨חַת֙ בָּע֔וֹר אַֽחֲרֵ֧י הֵרָֽאֹת֛וֹ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לְטָֽהֳרָת֑וֹ וְנִרְאָ֥ה שֵׁנִ֖ית אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן:
8The kohen shall look [at it]. And, behold! the mispachath has spread on the skin. The kohen shall pronounce him unclean. It is tzara'ath.   חוְרָאָה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִנֵּ֛ה פָּֽשְׂתָ֥ה הַמִּסְפַּ֖חַת בָּע֑וֹר וְטִמְּא֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן צָרַ֥עַת הִֽוא:
The kohen shall pronounce him unclean: And as soon as [the kohen] has pronounced him unclean, he is then “definitely” [unclean, and when he is healed, he] requires the bird offerings, shaving, and the sacrifice, specified in the section commencing: “This shall be the law of the metzora ” (תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע זֹאת תִּהֶיה. — [see Lev., Chapter 14; Meg. 8b]   וְטִמְּאוֹ הַכֹּהֵן: וּמִשֶּׁטִּמְּאוֹ הֲרֵי הוּא מֻחְלָט, וְזָקוּק לְצִפֳּרִים וּלְתִגְלַחַת וּלְקָרְבָּן הָאָמוּר בְּפָרָשַׁת זֹאת תִּהְיֶה:
It is tzara’ath: I.e., this mispachath [is tzara’ath].   צָרַעַת הִֽוא: הַמִּסְפַּחַת הַזֹּאת:
tzara’ath: Heb. צָרַעַת. [The term] צָרַעַת is feminine [which is why the verse says צָרַעַת הִוא, using the feminine word for “it”]. [The term] נֶגַע, lesion, however, is masculine [thus in verse 3, for instance, it says צָרַעַת הוּא, using the masculine word for “it,” referring to the נֶגַע rather than to the tzara’ath].   צָרַעַת: לְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה. נגע. לְשׁוֹן זָכָר:
9If a man has a lesion of tzara'ath, he shall be brought to the kohen.   טנֶ֣גַע צָרַ֔עַת כִּ֥י תִֽהְיֶ֖ה בְּאָדָ֑ם וְהוּבָ֖א אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן:
10The kohen shall look [at it]. And, behold! there is a white se'eith on the skin, and either it has turned the hair white, or there is healthy, live flesh in the se'eith,   יוְרָאָ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֤ה שְׂאֵֽת־לְבָנָה֙ בָּע֔וֹר וְהִ֕יא הָֽפְכָ֖ה שֵׂעָ֣ר לָבָ֑ן וּמִחְיַ֛ת בָּשָׂ֥ר חַ֖י בַּשְׂאֵֽת:
healthy flesh: Heb. מִחְיַת, sa(y)nement in Old French, a healing. [It means that] part of the white in the se’eith lesion reverts to appear like [healthy] flesh. This is also a sign of uncleanness. [Hence, a sign of uncleanness is] either white hair without a מִחְיַָה, or a מִחְיַָה, an area of normal flesh, even without white hair. And even though מִחְיַָה is mentioned only in connection with the se’eith, nevertheless, in all [major] manifestations [of the lesion of tzara’ath] and their related categories, it is a sign of uncleanness. — [Torath Kohanim 13:69]   וּמִחְיַת: שינמי"נט בְּלַעַז, שֶׁנֶּהְפַּךְ מִקְצַת הַלֹּבֶן שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַשְּׂאֵת לְמַרְאֵה בָשָׂר, אַף הִיא סִימָן טֻמְאָה — שֵׂעָר לָבָן בְּלֹא מִחְיָה וּמִחְיָה בְּלֹא שֵׂעָר לָבָן — וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֶמְרָה מִחְיָה אֶלָּא בַּשְּׂאֵת, אַף בְּכָל הַמַּרְאוֹת וְתוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶן הוּא סִימָן טֻמְאָה:
11it is old tzara'ath on the skin of his flesh, and the kohen shall pronounce him unclean; he need not quarantine him because he is unclean.   יאצָרַ֨עַת נוֹשֶׁ֤נֶת הִוא֙ בְּע֣וֹר בְּשָׂר֔וֹ וְטִמְּא֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן לֹ֣א יַסְגִּרֶ֔נּוּ כִּ֥י טָמֵ֖א הֽוּא:
it is an old tzara’ath: It is an old lesion which is under the area of normal skin. This wound appears healthy on the surface, but it is full of fluid underneath, so that one should not say, “Since healthy skin has appeared over [the lesion], I shall pronounce it clean!”   צָרַעַת נוֹשֶׁנֶת הִוא: מַכָּה יְשָׁנָה הִיא תַּחַת הַמִּחְיָה, וְחַבּוּרָה זוֹ נִרְאֵית בְּרִיאָה לְמַעְלָה וְתַחְתֶּיהָ מְלֵאָה לֵחָה — שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר הוֹאִיל וְעָלְתָה מִחְיָה אֲטַהֲרֶנָּה:
12And if the tzara'ath has spread over the skin, whereby the tzara'ath covers all the skin of the [person with the] lesion, from his head to his feet, wherever the eyes of the kohen can see it,   יבוְאִם־פָּר֨וֹחַ תִּפְרַ֤ח הַצָּרַ֨עַת֙ בָּע֔וֹר וְכִסְּתָ֣ה הַצָּרַ֗עַת אֵ֚ת כָּל־ע֣וֹר הַנֶּ֔גַע מֵֽרֹאשׁ֖וֹ וְעַד־רַגְלָ֑יו לְכָל־מַרְאֵ֖ה עֵינֵ֥י הַכֹּהֵֽן:
from his head: [I.e., from the head] of the person [down] to his feet.   מֵֽרֹאשׁוֹ: שֶׁל אָדָם ועד רגליו:
wherever the eyes of the kohen can see it: [This phrase] comes to exclude a kohen whose eyesight has dimmed. [I.e., a kohen with one blind eye or with impaired vision in both eyes may not pronounce the status of lesions.]- [Torath Kohanim 13:83]   לְכָל־מַרְאֵה עֵינֵי הַכֹּהֵֽן: פְּרָט לְכֹהֵן שֶׁחָשַׁךְ מְאוֹרוֹ (ספרא):
13then the kohen shall look [at it]. And, behold! the tzara'ath has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce [the person with] the lesion clean. He has turned completely white; he is clean.   יגוְרָאָ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֨ה כִסְּתָ֤ה הַצָּרַ֨עַת֙ אֶת־כָּל־בְּשָׂר֔וֹ וְטִהַ֖ר אֶת־הַנָּ֑גַע כֻּלּ֛וֹ הָפַ֥ךְ לָבָ֖ן טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא:
14But on the day that live flesh appears in it, he shall become unclean.   ידוּבְי֨וֹם הֵֽרָא֥וֹת בּ֛וֹ בָּשָׂ֥ר חַ֖י יִטְמָֽא:
But on the day that live flesh appears in it: If healthy flesh grows on it, [Scripture] has already explained that healthy flesh is a sign of uncleanness. [Therefore, what is this verse telling us here?] However, a case where the lesion was located on one of twenty-four tips of the limbs is not deemed unclean on account of healthy flesh because the lesion cannot be seen all at one glance [once an area of healthy flesh appears within the lesion], since these [limb tips] slope down on either side. [Therefore it is not deemed unclean.] If, however, such a tip of a limb altered [in its form], allowing its slanted facet to appear through fat-for example, when the tip of a limb became fat and broadened, and the healthy flesh (מִחְיַָה) became visible within [the lesion, thereby allowing the lesion to become visible all at one glance], Scripture teaches us [here] that it becomes unclean. — [Torath Kohanim 13:86]   וּבְיוֹם הֵֽרָאוֹת בּוֹ בָּשָׂר חַי: אִם צָמְחָה בוֹ מִחְיָה הֲרֵי כְבָר פֵּרֵשׁ שֶׁהַמִּחְיָה סִימָן טֻמְאָה? אֶלָּא הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה הַנֶּגַע בְּאֶחָד מֵעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה רָאשֵׁי אֵבָרִים שֶׁאֵין מִטַּמְּאִין מִשּׁוּם מִחְיָה — לְפִי שֶׁאֵין נִרְאֶה הַנֶּגַע כֻּלּוֹ כְאֶחָד, שֶׁשּׁוֹפְעִין אֵילָךְ וָאֵילָךְ (נגעים פ"ו; קידושין כ"ה) — וְחָזַר רֹאשׁ הָאֵבֶר וְנִתְגַּלָּה שִׁפּוּעוֹ עַל יְדֵי שֻׁמָּן, כְּגוֹן שֶׁהִבְרִיא וְנַעֲשָֹה רָחָב וְנִרְאֵית בּוֹ הַמִּחְיָה, לִמְּדָנוּ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁתְּטַמֵּא (ספרא):
But on the day [that live flesh] appears: [The verse could have simply said, “But when live flesh appears.”] What does Scripture teach us [by saying,] “on the day”]? It [comes] to teach that there is a day on which you [the kohen] look [i.e., examine the suspected lesion], and there is a day on which you do not look [i.e., when he may not examine it]. From here [our Rabbis] say that a bridegroom is exempt [from having a lesion examined] throughout all the seven days of the wedding feast, for himself, his garments, and his house. Similarly, during a Festival [people] are exempt [from having a lesion examined] throughout all the days of the Festival. - [Torath Kohanim 13:87]   וּבְיוֹם: מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר? לְלַמֵּד יֵשׁ יוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹאֶה בוֹ וְיֵשׁ יוֹם שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה רוֹאֶה בוֹ, מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: חָתָן נוֹתְנִין לוֹ כָּל שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה, לוֹ וְלִכְסוּתוֹ וּלְבֵיתוֹ, וְכֵן בָּרֶגֶל נוֹתְנִין לוֹ כָּל יְמֵי הָרֶגֶל (נגעים פ"ג, מועד קטן ז'):
15When the kohen sees the healthy, live flesh, he shall pronounce him unclean. The live flesh is unclean; it is tzara'ath.   טווְרָאָ֧ה הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־הַבָּשָׂ֥ר הַחַ֖י וְטִמְּא֑וֹ הַבָּשָׂ֥ר הַחַ֛י טָמֵ֥א ה֖וּא צָרַ֥עַת הֽוּא:
it is tzara’ath: meaning, that flesh. Flesh (בָּשָׂר) is grammatically masculine. [Hence, the wording: צָרַעַת הוּא, rather than צָרַעַת הִיא, as in verse 8.]   צָרַעַת הוּא: הַבָּשָׂר הַהוּא: בָּשָׂר לְשׁוֹן זָכָר:
16But, if the healthy, live flesh once again turns white, he shall come to the kohen.   טזא֣וֹ כִ֥י יָשׁ֛וּב הַבָּשָׂ֥ר הַחַ֖י וְנֶהְפַּ֣ךְ לְלָבָ֑ן וּבָ֖א אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן:
17And the kohen shall look at it. And, behold! the lesion has turned white; the kohen shall pronounce the lesion clean. He is clean.   יזוְרָאָ֨הוּ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִנֵּ֛ה נֶהְפַּ֥ךְ הַנֶּ֖גַע לְלָבָ֑ן וְטִהַ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֖גַע טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא:

Third Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 13

18If [a person's] flesh has an inflammation on its skin, and it heals,   יחוּבָשָׂ֕ר כִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה בֽוֹ־בְעֹר֖וֹ שְׁחִ֑ין וְנִרְפָּֽא:
an inflammation: Heb. שְׁחִין. [This term] denotes heat, that the flesh became heated by the injury caused it by a blow, not by fire. — [Chul. 8a]   שְׁחִין: לְשׁוֹן חִמּוּם, שֶׁנִּתְחַמֵּם הַבָּשָֹר בְּלִקּוּי הַבָּא לוֹ מֵחֲמַת מַכָּה שֶׁלֹּא מֵחֲמַת הָאוּר (חולין ח'):
and it heals: The inflammation healed, and in its place, another lesion appeared. [Not that the flesh healed, because, were that the case, there would be no lesion.]   וְנִרְפָּֽא: הַשְּׁחִין הֶעֱלָה אֲרוּכָה וּבִמְקוֹמוֹ הֶעֱלָה נֶגַע אַחֵר:
19and on the place of the inflammation there is a white se'eith, or a reddish white bahereth, it shall be shown to the kohen.   יטוְהָיָ֞ה בִּמְק֤וֹם הַשְּׁחִין֙ שְׂאֵ֣ת לְבָנָ֔ה א֥וֹ בַהֶ֖רֶת לְבָנָ֣ה אֲדַמְדָּ֑מֶת וְנִרְאָ֖ה אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן:
A reddish-white bahereth: [meaning] that the lesion is not solid white, but streaked and blended of two colors, white and red.   אוֹ בַהֶרֶת לְבָנָה אֲדַמְדָּמֶת: שֶׁאֵין הַנֶּגַע לָבָן חָלָק, אֶלָּא פָּתוּךְ וּמְעֹרָב בִּשְׁתֵּי מַרְאוֹת — לֹבֶן וְאֹדֶם:
20The kohen shall look [at it]. And, behold! its appearance is lower than the skin, and its hair has turned white; so the kohen shall pronounce him unclean. It is a lesion of tzara'ath that has erupted on the inflammation.   כוְרָאָ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֤ה מַרְאֶ֨הָ֙ שָׁפָ֣ל מִן־הָע֔וֹר וּשְׂעָרָ֖הּ הָפַ֣ךְ לָבָ֑ן וְטִמְּא֧וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן נֶֽגַע־צָרַ֥עַת הִ֖וא בַּשְּׁחִ֥ין פָּרָֽחָה:
it appearance is lower than the skin: But its substance is not lower. Rather, because of its whiteness, the lesion [only] appears lower and deeper [than the skin], just as sunlight appears deeper than a shadow. - [Torath Kohanim 13:50]   מַרְאֶהָ שָׁפָל: וְאֵין מַמָּשָׁהּ שָׁפָל, אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ לַבְנוּנִיתוֹ הוּא נִרְאֶה שָׁפָל וְעָמֹק, כְּמַרְאֵה חַמָּה עֲמֻקָּה מִן הַצֵּל:
21But if the kohen looks at it, and behold! it does not contain white hair, nor does it appear to be lower than the skin, and it is dim, the kohen shall quarantine him for seven days.   כאוְאִ֣ם | יִרְאֶ֣נָּה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵֽין־בָּהּ֙ שֵׂעָ֣ר לָבָ֔ן וּשְׁפָלָ֥ה אֵינֶ֛נָּה מִן־הָע֖וֹר וְהִ֣יא כֵהָ֑ה וְהִסְגִּיר֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
22And if it spreads on the skin, the kohen shall pronounce him unclean. It is a lesion.   כבוְאִם־פָּשׂ֥ה תִפְשֶׂ֖ה בָּע֑וֹר וְטִמֵּ֧א הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֹת֖וֹ נֶ֥גַע הִֽוא:
It is a lesion: Heb. נֶגַע הִוא. [Here, the pronoun is feminine. Since נֶגַע is masculine, however, it requires the masculine pronoun הוּא. But our verse here uses the feminine הִיא because the word “it” is referring to] this se’eith or this bahereth [both of which are feminine].   נֶגַע הִֽוא: הַשְּׂאֵת הַזֹּאת אוֹ הַבַּהֶרֶת:
23But if the bahereth remains in its place, not spreading, it is the scar tissue of the inflammation, and the kohen shall pronounce him clean.   כגוְאִם־תַּחְתֶּ֜יהָ תַּֽעֲמֹ֤ד הַבַּהֶ֨רֶת֙ לֹ֣א פָשָׂ֔תָה צָרֶ֥בֶת הַשְּׁחִ֖ין הִ֑וא וְטִֽהֲר֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵֽן:
in its place: Heb. תַּחְתֶּיה, [lit., “under it,” here meaning:] In its place.   תַּחְתֶּיהָ: בִּמְקוֹמָהּ:
it is the scar tissue of the inflamation: Heb. צָרֶבֶת הַשְּׁחִין, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders it: רוֹשַׁם שִׁיחִנָא, a residual impression of the inflammation, identifiable on the flesh [i.e., a scar]. Every expression of צָרֶבֶת [in Scripture] denotes the contraction of skin that has become shriveled because of heat. Similarly, the verse, “And all faces [from the south to the north] will be shriveled by it” (Ezek. 21:3), retrire in Old French, to contract.   צָרֶבֶת הַשְּׁחִין: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ רֹשֶׁם שִׁחֲנָא; — אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא רֹשֶׁם הַחִמּוּם הַנִּכָּר בַּבָּשָֹר; כָּל צָרֶבֶת לְשׁוֹן רְגִיעַת עוֹר הַנִּרְגָּע מֵחֲמַת חִמּוּם, כְּמוֹ וְנִצְרְבוּ בָהּ כָּל פָּנִים (יחזקאל כ"א), רייטרו"ר בְּלַעַז:
it is scar tissue: Heb. צָרֶבֶת, retriyemant in Old French, shriveling.   צָרֶבֶת: רייטרי"שמנט בְּלַעַז:

Fourth Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 13

24If [a person's] flesh has a fire burn on its skin, and on the healed area of the burn, there is a reddish white or white bahereth,   כדא֣וֹ בָשָׂ֔ר כִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה בְעֹר֖וֹ מִכְוַת־אֵ֑שׁ וְהָֽיְתָ֞ה מִחְיַ֣ת הַמִּכְוָ֗ה בַּהֶ֛רֶת לְבָנָ֥ה אֲדַמְדֶּ֖מֶת א֥וֹ לְבָנָֽה:
the healed area of the burn: Saynement [in Old French]. When the burn healed, the area changed to become a blended bahereth [of white and red], or pure white one. The signs of a burn (מִכְוָה) and the signs of an inflammation (שְׁחִין) are the same. [If so,] why does Scripture separate them [into two sections]? To teach us that they do not become combined with each other, [i.e., while a griss, the area of a bean, is the minimum surface area of a lesion for it to be deemed unclean,] if a lesion the size of half a griss emerges in an inflammation, and [another] the size of half a griss in a burn, they are not judged as [though] a full griss [of lesion has emerged]. — [Chul. 8a]   מִחְיַת הַמִּכְוָה: שנימני"ט; כְּשֶׁחָיְתָה הַמִּכְוָה הָפְכָה לְבַהֶרֶת פְּתוּכָה אוֹ לְבָנָה חֲלָקָה; וְסִימָנֵי מִכְוָה וְסִימָנֵי שְׁחִין שָׁוִים הֵם, וְלָמָּה חִלְּקָן הַכָּתוּב? לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין מִצְטָרְפִין זֶה עִם זֶה — נוֹלַד חֲצִי גְרִיס בַּשְּׁחִין וַחֲצִי גְרִיס בַּמִּכְוָה, לֹא יִדּוֹנוּ כִגְרִיס (חולין ח'):
25the kohen shall look at it. And, behold! the hair has turned white in the bahereth, and its appearance is deeper than the skin, it is tzara'ath which has spread in the burn. So, the kohen shall pronounce him unclean. It is a lesion of tzara'ath.   כהוְרָאָ֣ה אֹתָ֣הּ הַכֹּהֵ֡ן וְהִנֵּ֣ה נֶהְפַּךְ֩ שֵׂעָ֨ר לָבָ֜ן בַּבַּהֶ֗רֶת וּמַרְאֶ֨הָ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־הָע֔וֹר צָרַ֣עַת הִ֔וא בַּמִּכְוָ֖ה פָּרָ֑חָה וְטִמֵּ֤א אֹתוֹ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן נֶ֥גַע צָרַ֖עַת הִֽוא:
26But, if the kohen looks at it, and, behold! there is no white hair in the bahereth, and it is not lower than the skin and it is dim, the kohen shall quarantine him for seven days.   כווְאִ֣ם | יִרְאֶ֣נָּה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵֽין־בַּבַּהֶ֨רֶת֙ שֵׂעָ֣ר לָבָ֔ן וּשְׁפָלָ֥ה אֵינֶ֛נָּה מִן־הָע֖וֹר וְהִ֣וא כֵהָ֑ה וְהִסְגִּיר֥וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
27And the kohen shall look at it on the seventh day. If it has spread on the skin, the kohen shall pronounce him unclean. It is a lesion of tzara'ath.   כזוְרָאָ֥הוּ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י אִם־פָּשׂ֤ה תִפְשֶׂה֙ בָּע֔וֹר וְטִמֵּ֤א הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֹת֔וֹ נֶ֥גַע צָרַ֖עַת הִֽוא:
28But if the bahereth remains in its place, not increasing on the skin, and it is dim, it is a se'eith of the burn, and the kohen shall pronounce him clean, because it is the scar tissue of the burn.   כחוְאִם־תַּחְתֶּ֩יהָ֩ תַֽעֲמֹ֨ד הַבַּהֶ֜רֶת לֹא־פָֽשְׂתָ֤ה בָעוֹר֙ וְהִ֣וא כֵהָ֔ה שְׂאֵ֥ת הַמִּכְוָ֖ה הִ֑וא וְטִֽהֲרוֹ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן כִּֽי־צָרֶ֥בֶת הַמִּכְוָ֖ה הִֽוא:

Fifth Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 13

29If a man or a woman has a lesion on the head or on the beard [area],   כטוְאִישׁ֙ א֣וֹ אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה ב֖וֹ נָ֑גַע בְּרֹ֖אשׁ א֥וֹ בְזָקָֽן:
on the head or on the beard [area]: Scripture comes to distinguish between a lesion in a place where hair grows and a lesion in a place of flesh, namely, that in one [case, i.e., on flesh], the sign [of uncleanness] is white hair, while in the other [case, i.e., on the area of hair], the sign [of uncleanness] is golden-yellow hair. — [Torath Kohanim 5:5]   בְּרֹאשׁ אוֹ בְזָקָֽן: בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְחַלֵּק בֵּין נֶגַע שֶׁבִּמְקוֹם שֵׂעָר לְנֶגַע שֶׁבִּמְקוֹם בָּשָׂר, שֶׁזֶּה סִימָנוֹ בְּשֵׂעָר לָבָן וְזֶה סִימָנוֹ בְּשֵׂעָר צָהֹב:
30the kohen shall look at the lesion, and, behold! its appearance is deeper than the skin, and in it is a thin golden yellow hair, the kohen shall pronounce him unclean. It is a nethek, which is tzara'ath of the head or the beard.   לוְרָאָ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֗גַע וְהִנֵּ֤ה מַרְאֵ֨הוּ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־הָע֔וֹר וּב֛וֹ שֵׂעָ֥ר צָהֹ֖ב דָּ֑ק וְטִמֵּ֨א אֹת֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ נֶ֣תֶק ה֔וּא צָרַ֧עַת הָרֹ֛אשׁ א֥וֹ הַזָּקָ֖ן הֽוּא:
and in it is a… golden-yellow hair: [meaning] that the black hair in it has turned golden-yellow.   וּבוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב: שֶׁנֶּהְפַּךְ שֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר שֶׁבּוֹ לְצָהֹב:
It is a nethek: This is the name of the lesion [of tzara’ath when it occurs] on an area of [skin where] hair [grows].   נֶתֶק הוּא: כָּךְ שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל נֶגַע שֶׁבִּמְקוֹם שֵׂעָר:
31But when the kohen looks at the nethek lesion, and, behold! its appearance is not deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, the kohen shall quarantine [the person with] the nethek lesion for seven days.   לאוְכִֽי־יִרְאֶ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־נֶ֣גַע הַנֶּ֗תֶק וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵֽין־מַרְאֵ֨הוּ֙ עָמֹ֣ק מִן־הָע֔וֹר וְשֵׂעָ֥ר שָׁחֹ֖ר אֵ֣ין בּ֑וֹ וְהִסְגִּ֧יר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־נֶ֥גַע הַנֶּ֖תֶק שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
and there is no black hair in it: Thus, if there was black hair inside it, he is clean and does not require quarantine, for black hair in a nethek is a sign of cleanness, as the verse (37) says, “or if black hair has grown in it, [the nethek has healed; it is clean].”[Torath Kohanim 13:125]   וְשֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר אֵֽין־בּוֹ: הָא אִם הָיָה בוֹ שֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר טָהוֹר וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לְהֶסְגֵּר, שֶׁהַשֵּׂעָר שָׁחֹר סִימָן טָהֳרָה הוּא בִנְתָקִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (פסוק ל"ז), וְשֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר צָמַח בּוֹ וְגוֹ':
32And the kohen shall look at the lesion on the seventh day. And, behold! the nethek has not spread, and no golden yellow hair was in it, and the appearance of the nethek is not deeper than the skin,   לבוְרָאָ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֣ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֘גַע֘ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי֒ וְהִנֵּה֙ לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֣ה הַנֶּ֔תֶק וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה ב֖וֹ שֵׂעָ֣ר צָהֹ֑ב וּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַנֶּ֔תֶק אֵ֥ין עָמֹ֖ק מִן־הָעֽוֹר:
And, behold! the nethek did not spread: Thus, if [the nethek] did spread, or if it had golden-yellow hair in it, he is unclean.   וְהִנֵּה לֹֽא־פָשָׂה וגו': הָא אִם פָּשָׂה אוֹ הָיָה בוֹ שֵׂעָר צָהֹב טָמֵא:
33he shall shave himself, but adjacent to the nethek he shall not shave, and the kohen shall quarantine [the person with] the nethek again for seven days.   לגוְהִ֨תְגַּלָּ֔ח וְאֶת־הַנֶּ֖תֶק לֹ֣א יְגַלֵּ֑חַ וְהִסְגִּ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֧ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֛תֶק שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים שֵׁנִֽית:
he shall shave himself: around the nethek. [but adjacent to the nethek]   וְהִתְגַּלָּח: סְבִיבוֹת הַנֶּתֶק,
he shall not shave: [I.e.,] he shall leave two hairs close to it all around, in order that any spread of the nethek will be discernible, so that, if it spreads, it will pass the hairs and go out to the shaven area. — [Torath Kohanim 13:133]   וְאֶת־הַנֶּתֶק לֹא יְגַלֵּחַ: מַנִּיחַ שְׁתֵּי שְׂעָרוֹת סָמוּךְ לוֹ סָבִיב, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא נִכָּר אִם פָּשָׂה, שֶׁאִם יִפְשֶׂה יַעֲבֹר הַשְּׂעָרוֹת וְיֵצֵא לִמְקוֹם הַגִּלּוּחַ (נגעים פ"י, ספרא):
34Then the kohen shall look at the nethek on the seventh day. And, behold! the nethek did not spread on the skin, and its appearance is not deeper than the skin, the kohen shall pronounce him clean, and he shall immerse his garments and become clean.   לדוְרָאָה֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן אֶת־הַנֶּ֜תֶק בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֤ה הַנֶּ֨תֶק֙ בָּע֔וֹר וּמַרְאֵ֕הוּ אֵינֶ֥נּוּ עָמֹ֖ק מִן־הָע֑וֹר וְטִהַ֤ר אֹתוֹ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְכִבֶּ֥ס בְּגָדָ֖יו וְטָהֵֽר:
35But if the nethek spreads on the skin, after he has been declared clean,   להוְאִם־פָּשׂ֥ה יִפְשֶׂ֛ה הַנֶּ֖תֶק בָּע֑וֹר אַֽחֲרֵ֖י טָֽהֳרָתֽוֹ:
after he has been declared clean: From here, we know only that [the lesion is pronounced unclean] if it spreads after dismissal. How do we know [that it is unclean if it spreads] at the end of the first week [of quarantine] or at the end of the second week [of quarantine]? Because Scripture [uses a double expression and] says, פָּשׂה יִפְשֶׂה, “it spreads,” [denoting that he is unclean if it spreads] in any case. — [Torath Kohanim 13:134]   אַֽחֲרֵי טָֽהֳרָתֽוֹ: אֵין לִי אֶלָּא פוֹשֶׂה לְאַחַר הַפְּטוֹר, מִנַּיִן אַף בְּסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ רִאשׁוֹן וּבְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר פָּשֹׂה יִפְשֶׂה (ספרא):
36the kohen shall look at it, and, behold! the nethek has spread on the skin, the kohen need not examine for golden yellow hair; it is unclean!   לווְרָאָ֨הוּ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִנֵּ֛ה פָּשָׂ֥ה הַנֶּ֖תֶק בָּע֑וֹר לֹֽא־יְבַקֵּ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן לַשֵּׂעָ֥ר הַצָּהֹ֖ב טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא:
37But if the appearance of the nethek has remained the same, or if black hair has grown in it, the nethek has healed; he is clean. So the kohen shall pronounce him clean.   לזוְאִם־בְּעֵינָיו֩ עָמַ֨ד הַנֶּ֜תֶק וְשֵׂעָ֨ר שָׁחֹ֧ר צָֽמַח־בּ֛וֹ נִרְפָּ֥א הַנֶּ֖תֶק טָה֣וֹר ה֑וּא וְטִֽהֲר֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵֽן:
black hair: How do we know that even yellow or red [hair], which are not golden-yellow? Because Scripture says, [שָׁחֹר] וְשֵׂעָר [lit., “ and black hair,” but here meaning, “ or if black hair.” Instead of using the expected אוֹ, “or,” the Torah used וְ, an inclusive term, which comes to include yellow and red hair in the nethek as signs of cleanness, just like black hair. See Be’er Basadeh] (Torath Kohanim 13:137). The term צָהֹב means: resembling the appearance of gold (Torath Kohanim 13:122). צָהֹב is the same as זָהֹב, golden [because צ and ז are interchangeable], orable in Old French, gold-colored, or orpale, pale gold.   וְשֵׂעָר שָׁחֹר: מִנַּיִן אַף הַיָּרֹק וְהָאָדֹם, שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָהֹב? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר "וְשֵׂעָר"; וּלְשׁוֹן צָהֹב דּוֹמֶה לְתַבְנִית הַזָּהָב — צָהֹב כְּמוֹ זָהֹב, אור"פלא בְּלַעַז:
he is clean. So the kohen shall pronounce him clean: But, an unclean person whom the kohen pronounces clean, is not clean. - [Torath Kohanim 13:140]   טָהוֹר הוּא וְטִֽהֲרוֹ הַכֹּהֵֽן: הָא טָמֵא שֶׁטִּהֲרוֹ הַכֹּהֵן לֹא טָהוֹר:
38If a man or a woman has spots on the skin of their flesh, white spots,   לחוְאִישׁ֙ אֽוֹ־אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה בְעֽוֹר־בְּשָׂרָ֖ם בֶּֽהָרֹ֑ת בֶּֽהָרֹ֖ת לְבָנֹֽת:
spots: Spots   בֶּֽהָרֹת: חֲבַרְבּוּרוֹת:
39the kohen shall look, and, behold! there are dim white spots on the skin of their flesh, it is a bohak [pigmentation] which has spread on the skin. He is clean.   לטוְרָאָ֣ה הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֧ה בְעֽוֹר־בְּשָׂרָ֛ם בֶּֽהָרֹ֖ת כֵּה֣וֹת לְבָנֹ֑ת בֹּ֥הַק ה֛וּא פָּרַ֥ח בָּע֖וֹר טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא:
dim white: I.e., their whiteness is not bright, but dim.   כֵּהוֹת לְבָנֹת: שֶׁאֵין לֹבֶן שֶׁלָּהֶן עַז אֶלָּא כּוֹהֶה:
it is a bohak: Like the whiteness that appears on the flesh of a red man, called ros [in Old French, rosso in Italian], between the areas of his redness [i.e., flesh color]. This [white pigmentation] is called בֹּהַק, just like a freckled man, whose skin between one freckle and another shines brightly (מַבְהִיק) with pure whiteness.   בֹּהַק: כְּמוֹ לֹבֶן הַנִּרְאֶה בִּבְשַׂר אָדָם אָדֹם, שֶׁקּוֹרִין רוש"ו, בֵּין חֲבַרְבּוּרוֹת אַדְמִימוּתוֹ, קָרוּי בֹּהַק, כְּאִישׁ עַדְשָׁן שֶׁבֵּין עֲדָשָׁה לַעֲדָשָׁה מַבְהִיק הַבָּשָֹר בְּלֹבֶן צַח:

Sixth Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 13

40If a man loses the hair on [the back of] his head, he is bald. He is clean.   מוְאִ֕ישׁ כִּ֥י יִמָּרֵ֖ט רֹאשׁ֑וֹ קֵרֵ֥חַ ה֖וּא טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא:
he is bald. He is clean: Clean of the uncleanness of nethek lesions (Torath Kohanim; Baraitha of Rabbi Ishmael 1:5). I.e., this case is not judged by the signs of the head and beard, which are places of hair (see verses 29, 37). Rather, [it is judged] by the signs of a lesion on the skin of the flesh, namely: 1) white hair, 2) healthy flesh, and 3) spread.   קֵרֵחַ הוּא טָהוֹר הוּא: טָהוֹר מִטֻּמְאַת נְתָקִין, שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִדּוֹן בְּסִימָנֵי רֹאשׁ וְזָקָן שֶׁהֵם מְקוֹם שֵׂעָר, אֶלָּא בְסִימָנֵי נֶגַע עוֹר בָּשָׂר — (בְּשֵֹעָר לָבָן) וּמִחְיָה וּפִשְׂיוֹן (נגעים פ"י):
41And if he loses his hair on the side toward his face, he is bald at the front. He is clean.   מאוְאִם֙ מִפְּאַ֣ת פָּנָ֔יו יִמָּרֵ֖ט רֹאשׁ֑וֹ גִּבֵּ֥חַ ה֖וּא טָה֥וֹר הֽוּא:
at the front of his head: [The area] from the slope of the crown toward one’s face is called גַּבַּחַת “forehead,” and included in this are the temples on either side as well. [The area] from the slope of the crown toward one’s back is called קָרַחַת, the “back of the head.” - [Torath Kohanim 13:144]   וְאִם מִפְּאַת פָּנָיו: מִשִּׁפּוּעַ קָדְקֹד כְּלַפֵּי פָנָיו קָרוּי גַּבַּחַת — וְאַף הַצְּדָעִין שֶׁמִּכָּאן וּמִכָּאן בִּכְלָל — וּמִשִּׁפּוּעַ קָדְקֹד כְּלַפֵּי אֲחוֹרָיו קָרוּי קָרַחַת:
42If there is a reddish white lesion on the back or front bald area, it is a spreading tzara'ath in his back or front bald area.   מבוְכִי־יִֽהְיֶ֤ה בַקָּרַ֨חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַגַּבַּ֔חַת נֶ֖גַע לָבָ֣ן אֲדַמְדָּ֑ם צָרַ֤עַת פֹּרַ֨חַת֙ הִ֔וא בְּקָֽרַחְתּ֖וֹ א֥וֹ בְגַבַּחְתּֽוֹ:
a reddish-white lesion: blended [of red and white]. How do we know [that the lesion is also unclean if it has] other colors? Because Scripture says, “lesion.”   נֶגַע לָבָן אֲדַמְדָּם: פָּתוּךְ; מִנַּיִן שְׁאָר הַמַּרְאוֹת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר נֶגַע:
43So the kohen shall look at it. And, behold! there is a reddish white se'eith lesion on his back or front bald area, like the appearance of tzara'ath on the skin of the flesh,   מגוְרָאָ֨ה אֹת֜וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְהִנֵּ֤ה שְׂאֵֽת־הַנֶּ֨גַע֨ לְבָנָ֣ה אֲדַמְדֶּ֔מֶת בְּקָֽרַחְתּ֖וֹ א֣וֹ בְגַבַּחְתּ֑וֹ כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה צָרַ֖עַת ע֥וֹר בָּשָֽׂר:
like the appearance of tzara’ath on the skin of the flesh: i.e., appearing like the tzara’ath dealt with in the passage of [lesions of the] skin of the flesh, [which begins with] “If a man has [se’eith, sapachat or bahereth] on the skin of his flesh” (verse 13:2). And what is stated regarding it [i.e., regarding a lesion on the skin]? That one becomes unclean through [it, if it appears as one of] four shades [namely: 1) the snow-white of bahereth ; 2) the white as “lime of the Holy Temple” of the secondary form (sapachat) of bahereth ; 3) the white as white wool of se’eith; and 4) the white as a “membrane that covers an egg” of the secondary (sapachat) form of se’eith (Nega’im 1:1), and that it is judged with [a possible] two weeks [of quarantine], and not like the appearance of tzara’ath stated concerning inflamed areas and burns, which is judged with [only] one [possible] week [of quarantine], and is also unlike the appearance of nethek lesions, [which are tzara’ath found] in hairy places, which do not become unclean through the four shades [as above].   כְּמַרְאֵה צָרַעַת עוֹר בָּשָֽׂר: כְּמַרְאֵה הַצָּרַעַת הָאָמוּר בְּפָרָשַׁת "עוֹר בָּשָׂר" — אָדָם כִּי יִהְיֶה בְעוֹר בְּשָׂרוֹ, וּמָה אָמוּר בּוֹ? שֶׁמְּטַמֵּא בְאַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת, וְנִדּוֹן בִּשְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת; וְלֹא כְמַרְאֵה צָרַעַת הָאָמוּר בִּשְׁחִין וּמִכְוָה שֶׁהוּא נִדּוֹן בְּשָׁבוּעַ אֶחָד, וְלֹא כְמַרְאֵה נְתָקִין שֶׁל מְקוֹם שֵׂעָר, שֶׁאֵין מְטַמְּאִין בְּאַרְבַּע מַרְאוֹת — שְׂאֵת וְתוֹלַדְתָּהּ, בַּהֶרֶת וְתוֹלַדְתָּהּ:
44He is a man afflicted with tzara'ath; he is unclean. The kohen shall surely pronounce him unclean; his lesion is on his head.   מדאִֽישׁ־צָר֥וּעַ ה֖וּא טָמֵ֥א ה֑וּא טַמֵּ֧א יְטַמְּאֶ֛נּוּ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן בְּרֹאשׁ֥וֹ נִגְעֽוֹ:
His lesion is on his head: I know only that [these laws apply to those stricken with] nethek lesions [the tzara’ath of the head]. From where [do I know] to include other afflicted people? Therefore, Scripture says: טַמֵּא יְטַמְּאֶנּוּ, shall surely pronounce him unclean. [The double expression comes] to include them all. Concerning them all, Scripture says: “ his garments shall be torn…” (verses 45-46). - [Torath Kohanim 13:154]   בְּרֹאשׁוֹ נִגְעֽוֹ: אֵין לִי אֶלָּא נְתָקִין, מִנַּיִן לְרַבּוֹת שְׁאָר הַמְנֻגָּעִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "טַמֵּא יְטַמְּאֶנּוּ", לְרַבּוֹת אֶת כֻּלָּן — עַל כֻּלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר בְּגָדָיו יִהְיוּ פְרֻמִים וְגוֹ':
45And the person with tzara'ath, in whom there is the lesion, his garments shall be torn, his head shall be unshorn, he shall cover himself down to his mustache and call out, "Unclean! Unclean!"   מהוְהַצָּר֜וּעַ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֣וֹ הַנֶּ֗גַע בְּגָדָ֞יו יִֽהְי֤וּ פְרֻמִים֙ וְרֹאשׁוֹ֙ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה פָר֔וּעַ וְעַל־שָׂפָ֖ם יַעְטֶ֑ה וְטָמֵ֥א | טָמֵ֖א יִקְרָֽא:
torn: Heb. פְרֻמִים, torn. — [Mo’ed Katan 15a]   פְרֻמִים: קְרוּעִים:
unshorn: Heb. פָּרוּעַ, with hair grown long. — [Mo’ed Katan 15a]   פָרוּעַ: מְגֻדַּל שֵׂעָר:
He shall cover himself down to his mustache: like a mourner. — [Torath Kohanim 13:154]   וְעַל־שָׂפָם יַעְטֶה: כְּאָבֵל:
mustache: Heb. שָׂפָם, the hair on the lips (שְׂפָתַיִם) [i.e., the mustache], grenon in Old French.   שָׂפָם: שְׂעַר הַשְּׂפָתַיִם, גרנו"ן בְּלַעַז:
and he shall call out,“ Unclean! Unclean!”: He announces that he is unclean, so that everyone should stay away from him. — [Torath Kohanim 13:155]   וְטָמֵא טָמֵא יִקְרָֽא: מַשְׁמִיעַ שֶׁהוּא טָמֵא וְיִפְרְשׁוּ מִמֶּנּוּ (ספרא, מועד קטן ה'):
46All the days the lesion is upon him, he shall remain unclean. He is unclean; he shall dwell isolated; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.   מוכָּל־יְמֵ֞י אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַנֶּ֥גַע בּ֛וֹ יִטְמָ֖א טָמֵ֣א ה֑וּא בָּדָ֣ד יֵשֵׁ֔ב מִח֥וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֖ה מֽוֹשָׁבֽוֹ:
He shall dwell isolated: [meaning] that other unclean people [not stricken with tzara’ath] shall not abide with him. Our Sages said: “Why is he different from other unclean people, that he must remain isolated? Since, with his slander, he caused a separation [i.e., a rift] between man and wife or between man and his fellow, he too, shall be separated [from society].”- [Arachin 16b] [This rationale is based on the premise that a person is stricken with tzara’ath as a result of his talking לְשׁוֹן הָרַע, i.e., speaking derogatorily of others, although he may be telling the truth.]   בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב: שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ טְמֵאִים יוֹשְׁבִין עִמּוֹ; וְאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה מִשְּׁאָר טְמֵאִים לֵישֵׁב בָּדָד? הוֹאִיל וְהוּא הִבְדִּיל בְּלָשׁוֹן הָרָע בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ וּבֵין אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ, אַף הוּא יִבָּדֵל (ערכין ט"ז):
outside the camp: Outside the three camps [of Israel, namely: 1) the camp of the Shechinah, in which the Mishkan was located; 2) the Levite camp, and 3) the camp of the Israelites]. — [Torath Kohanim 13:157, Pes. 67a]   מִחוּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶה: חוּץ לְשָׁלוֹשׁ מַחֲנוֹת:
47[And as for] the garment that has the lesion of tzara'ath upon it, on a woolen garment, or on a linen garment,   מזוְהַבֶּ֕גֶד כִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה ב֖וֹ נֶ֣גַע צָרָ֑עַת בְּבֶ֣גֶד צֶ֔מֶר א֖וֹ בְּבֶ֥גֶד פִּשְׁתִּֽים:
48or on [threads prepared for the] warp or the woof of linen or of wool, or on leather or on anything made from leather.   מחא֤וֹ בִשְׁתִי֙ א֣וֹ בְעֵ֔רֶב לַפִּשְׁתִּ֖ים וְלַצָּ֑מֶר א֣וֹ בְע֔וֹר א֖וֹ בְּכָל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֽוֹר:
of linen or of wool: Heb. וְלַצָּמֶר לַפִּשְׁתִּים, of linen or of wool. [Here the ל, usually meaning “to,” means “of.”]   לַפִּשְׁתִּים וְלַצָּמֶר: שֶׁל פִּשְׁתִּים אוֹ שֶׁל צֶמֶר:
or the leather: This [refers to] leather upon which no work has been performed.   אוֹ בְעוֹר: זֶה עוֹר שֶׁלֹא נַעֲשָׂה בוֹ מְלָאכָה:
or anything made from leather: This [refers] to leather upon which work has been performed.   אוֹ בְּכָל־מְלֶאכֶת עֽוֹר: זֶה עוֹר שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בוֹ מְלָאכָה:
49If the lesion on the garment, the leather, the warp or woof [threads] or on any leather article, is deep green or deep red, it is a lesion of tzara'ath, and it shall be shown to the kohen.   מטוְהָיָ֨ה הַנֶּ֜גַע יְרַקְרַ֣ק | א֣וֹ אֲדַמְדָּ֗ם בַּבֶּ֩גֶד֩ א֨וֹ בָע֜וֹר אֽוֹ־בַשְּׁתִ֤י אֽוֹ־בָעֵ֨רֶב֙ א֣וֹ בְכָל־כְּלִי־ע֔וֹר נֶ֥גַע צָרַ֖עַת ה֑וּא וְהָרְאָ֖ה אֶת־הַכֹּהֵֽן:
deep green: Heb. יְרַקְרַק, the greenest of greens. — [Torath Kohanim 13:161]   יְרַקְרַק: יָרֹק שֶׁבַּיְרֻקִּין:
deep red: אֲדַמְדָָּם, the reddest of reds. — [Torath Kohanim 13:161]   אֲדַמְדָּם: אָדֹם שֶׁבָּאֲדֻמִּים:
50The kohen shall look at the lesion, and he shall quarantine [the article with] the lesion for seven days.   נוְרָאָ֥ה הַכֹּהֵ֖ן אֶת־הַנָּ֑גַע וְהִסְגִּ֥יר אֶת־הַנֶּ֖גַע שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
51And he shall look at the lesion on the seventh day. [If] the lesion has spread on the garment, or on the warp or woof [threads], or on the leather or on any article made from leather, the lesion is a malignant tzara'ath; it is unclean.   נאוְרָאָ֨ה אֶת־הַנֶּ֜גַע בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י כִּֽי־פָשָׂ֤ה הַנֶּ֨גַע֙ בַּ֠בֶּ֠גֶד אֽוֹ־בַשְּׁתִ֤י אֽוֹ־בָעֵ֨רֶב֙ א֣וֹ בָע֔וֹר לְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵֽעָשֶׂ֥ה הָע֖וֹר לִמְלָאכָ֑ה צָרַ֧עַת מַמְאֶ֛רֶת הַנֶּ֖גַע טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא:
a malignant tzara’th: Heb. צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת, an expression similar to “a pricking briar (סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר), (Ezek. 28: 24),” point in Old French, stinging, pricking. The midrashic explanation is: Place a curse (מְאֵרָה) upon it [the item afflicted with tzara’ath], that you shall not derive benefit from it. — [Torath Kohanim 13:166]   צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת: לְשׁוֹן סִלּוֹן מַמְאִיר (יחזקאל כ"ח), פויי"נט בְּלַעַז; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ: תֵּן בּוֹ מְאֵרָה שֶׁלֹא תֵהָנֶה הֵימֶנּוּ (ספרא):
52And he shall burn the garment, the warp or woof [threads] of wool or of linen, or any leather article which has the lesion upon it, for it is a malignant tzara'ath ; it shall be burned in fire.   נבוְשָׂרַ֨ף אֶת־הַבֶּגֶ֜ד א֥וֹ אֶת־הַשְּׁתִ֣י | א֣וֹ אֶת־הָעֵ֗רֶב בַּצֶּ֨מֶר֙ א֣וֹ בַפִּשְׁתִּ֔ים א֚וֹ אֶת־כָּל־כְּלִ֣י הָע֔וֹר אֲשֶׁר־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה ב֖וֹ הַנָּ֑גַע כִּֽי־צָרַ֤עַת מַמְאֶ֨רֶת֙ הִ֔וא בָּאֵ֖שׁ תִּשָּׂרֵֽף:
of wool or of linen: Heb. בַּצֶּמֶר אוֹ בַפִּשְׁתִּים, of wool or of linen. [The ב, which usually means “in,” here means “of.”] This is its simple meaning. Its midrashic explanation is, however: [The words, בַּצֶּמֶר אוֹ בַפִּשְׁתִּים וְשָׂרַף אֶת בֶּגֶד, can be understood literally, as: “And he shall burn the garment…in the wool or in the linen.” Thus,] one might think that [when burning the unclean garment,] one is required to bring wool shearings and stalks of flax and burn them along with it. Scripture, therefore, says [at the end of this verse], “for it…; it shall be burned in fire. ” [I.e., it alone] it does not require anything else [to be burned] along with it. If so, why does Scripture say, “in the wool or the linen”? To exclude [from the requirement of burning] the edges (אִימְרִיּוֹת) if they are of another material (Torath Kohanim 13:167). אִימְרִיּוֹת means “edges,” like אִימְרָא, border.   בַּצֶּמֶר אוֹ בַפִּשְׁתִּים: שֶׁל צֶמֶר אוֹ שֶׁל פִּשְׁתִּים, זֶהוּ פְשׁוּטוֹ; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ: יָכוֹל יָבִיא גִּזֵּי צֶמֶר וַאֲנִיצֵי פִשְׁתָּן וְיִשְׂרְפֵם עִמּוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "הוּא" באש תשרף — אֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה דָבָר אַחֵר עִמָּהּ, אִם כֵּן מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "בַּצֶּמֶר אוֹ בַפִּשְׁתִּים"? לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הָאֻמְרִיּוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ שֶׁהֵן מִמִּין אַחֵר; אֻמְרִיּוֹת לְשׁוֹן שָׂפָה, כְּמוֹ אִימְרָא (ספרא):
53But if the kohen looks, and, behold! the lesion has not spread on the garment, the warp or woof [threads], or any leather article,   נגוְאִם֘ יִרְאֶ֣ה הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְהִנֵּה֙ לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֣ה הַנֶּ֔גַע בַּבֶּ֕גֶד א֥וֹ בַשְּׁתִ֖י א֣וֹ בָעֵ֑רֶב א֖וֹ בְּכָל־כְּלִי־עֽוֹר:
54the kohen shall order, and they shall wash what the lesion is upon, and he shall quarantine it again for seven days.   נדוְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְכִ֨בְּס֔וּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ הַנָּ֑גַע וְהִסְגִּיר֥וֹ שִׁבְעַת־יָמִ֖ים שֵׁנִֽית:
what the lesion is upon: One might think that [one need wash] the area of the lesion alone. Scripture, therefore, says, “what the lesion is upon,” [meaning, the garment upon which the lesion is found. But if so,] one might think that the entire garment requires washing. Scripture, therefore, says, “[after] the lesion [has been washed],” (verse 55) [teaching us that only the lesion must be washed, not the entire garment]. So how [do we reconcile this apparent discrepancy]? He must wash part of the garment with it. — [see Torath Kohanim 13:169]   אֵת אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ הַנָּגַע: יָכוֹל מְקוֹם הַנֶּגַע בִּלְבַד, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "אֵת אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ הַנָּגַע", יָכוֹל כָּל הַבֶּגֶד כֻּלּוֹ טָעוּן כִּבּוּס, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "הַנָּגַע", הָא כֵיצַד? יְכַבֵּס מִן הַבֶּגֶד עִמּוֹ:

Seventh Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 13

55Then the kohen shall look [at it] after the lesion has been washed. And, behold! the lesion has not changed in appearance, and the lesion has not spread; it is unclean. You shall burn it in fire. It is a penetrating lesion on the worn or new [article].   נהוְרָאָ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אַֽחֲרֵ֣י | הֻכַּבֵּ֣ס אֶת־הַנֶּ֗גַע וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה לֹֽא־הָפַ֨ךְ הַנֶּ֤גַע אֶת־עֵינוֹ֙ וְהַנֶּ֣גַע לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֔ה טָמֵ֣א ה֔וּא בָּאֵ֖שׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶ֑נּוּ פְּחֶ֣תֶת הִ֔וא בְּקָֽרַחְתּ֖וֹ א֥וֹ בְגַבַּחְתּֽוֹ:
after [the lesion] has been washed: Heb. הֻכַּבֵּס. This is an expression of “having been done,” [i.e., the passive voice].   אַֽחֲרֵי הֻכַּבֵּס: לְשׁוֹן הֵעָשׂוֹת:
the lesion has not changed in appearance: i.e., it has not become dimmer in color.   לֹֽא־הָפַךְ הַנֶּגַע אֶת־עֵינוֹ: לֹא הָכְהָה מִמַּרְאִיתוֹ:
and the lesion has not spread: We understand that if the lesion neither changed [in color] nor spread, it is unclean, and it goes without saying that if it did not change in color but did spread, [it is unclean]. If it changed in color [but still was a shade that makes it unclean] yet did not spread, we do not know what one should do with it. Therefore, Scripture says, “he shall quarantine [the article with] the lesion” (verse 50), in any case. That is what Rabbi Judah says. [However,] the Sages say [that since the change in color was still within the unclean shades, the lesion is not considered to be changed at all; it is the same lesion that has already had two weeks of quarantine, and is now deemed definitely unclean], as is stated in Torath Kohanim (13:171). I have alluded to [only a portion of] this [Midrash] here in order to explain all the different aspects of this verse.   וְהַנֶּגַע לֹֽא־פָשָׂה: שָׁמַעְנוּ שֶׁאִם לֹא הָפַךְ וְלֹא פָשָׂה טָמֵא — וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר לֹא הָפַךְ וּפָשָׂה — הָפַךְ וְלֹא פָשָׂה אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה יֵּעָשֶׂה לוֹ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וְהִסְגִּיר אֶת הַנֶּגַע" — מִכָּל מָקוֹם, דִּבְרֵי רַ' יְהוּדָה, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְּתּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים, וּרְמַזְתִּיהָ כָּאן לְיַשֵּׁב הַמִּקְרָא עַל אָפְנָיו:
it is a penetrating lesion: Heb. פְּחֶתֶת הִוא. [This expression] denotes holes [i.e., penetrations], as the verse says, “in one of the pits (פְּחָתִים)” (II Sam. 17:9). That is to say, [in this context it means that the lesion] is deep, [i.e.,] it appears as if it is sunken. — [Torath Kohanim 13:172]   פְּחֶתֶת הוּא: לְשׁוֹן גֻּמָּא, כְּמוֹ בְּאַחַת הַפְּחָתִים (שמואל ב י"ז), כְּלוֹמַר שְׁפֵלָה הִיא — נֶגַע שֶׁמַּרְאָיו שׁוֹקְעִין (ספרא):
on the worn or new [article]: בְּקָרַחְתּוֹ אוֹ בְגַבַּחְתּוֹ, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: בִּשְׁחִיקוּתֵיהּ אוֹ בְּחַדְתּוּתֵהּ, “in its worn state or in its new state.”   בְּקָֽרַחְתּוֹ אוֹ בְגַבַּחְתּֽוֹ: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ בִּשְׁחִיקוּתֵהּ אוֹ בְחַדָּתוּתֵהּ:
the worn: Heb. בְּקָרַחְתּוֹ. Old, worn out garments, and because of the midrashic explanation, that this language is necessary for a גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה here [i.e., a link between two seemingly unrelated passages through common terms, thereby inferring the laws of one passage from the laws of the other, as follows]: How do we know that if a lesion on a garment spreads [throughout the entire garment], it is clean? Because [Scripture] states קָרַחַת and גַּבַּחַת in the context of [lesions that appear on] man (verse 42), and here, in the context of [lesion on] garments, [Scripture] also states קָרַחַת and גַּבַּחַת; just as there [in the case of lesions on man], if it spread over the entire body, he is clean (verses 12-13), so too, here, [in the case of lesion on garments,] if it spread over the entire garment, it is clean (San. 88a), Scripture adopts the [unusual] expressions קָרַחַת and גַּבַּחַת. However, concerning the explanation and translation [of these terms], the simple meaning is that קָרַחַת means “old” and גַּבַּחַת means “new.” It is as though it were written, “[It is a lesion on] its end or its beginning,” for קָרַחַת means “back” [i.e., at the end of the garment’s life, when it is old,] and גַּבַּחַת means “front” [i.e., the beginning of its life, when it is new]. This is just as is written, “And if [he loses hair] at the front of his head, [he is bald at the front (גַּבַּח)]” (verse 41). And קָרַחַת refers from the crown toward his back. Thus it is explained in Torath Kohanim (13:144).   קרחתו: שְׁחָקִים, יְשָׁנִים; וּמִפְּנֵי הַמִּדְרָשׁ שֶׁהֻצְרַךְ לִגְזֵרָה שָׁוָה — מִנַּיִן לִפְרִיחָה בַבְּגָדִים שֶׁהִיא טְהוֹרָה? נֶאֶמְרָה קָרַחַת וְגַבַּחַת בָּאָדָם, וְנֶאֶמְרָה קָרַחַת וְגַבַּחַת בַּבְּגָדִים, מַה לְּהַלָּן פָּרַח בְּכֻלּוֹ טָהוֹר אַף כָּאן פָּרַח בְּכֻלּוֹ טָהוֹר — לְכָךְ אָחַז הַכָּתוּב לְשׁוֹן קָרַחַת וְגַבַּחַת; וּלְעִנְיַן פֵּרוּשׁוֹ וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ זֶהוּ מַשְׁמָעוֹ: קָרַחַת לְשׁוֹן יְשָׁנִים וְגַבַּחַת לְשׁוֹן חֲדָשִׁים — כְּאִלּוּ נִכְתַּב בְּאַחֲרִיתוֹ אוֹ בְקַדְמוּתוֹ — שֶׁהַקָּרַחַת לְשׁוֹן אֲחוֹרַיִם וְגַּבַּחַת לְשׁוֹן פָּנִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב וְאִם מִפְּאַת פָּנָיו וְגוֹ', וְהַקָּרַחַת כָּל שֶׁשּׁוֹפֵעַ וְיוֹרֵד מִן הַקָּדְקֹד וּלְאַחֲרָיו, כָּךְ מְפֹרָשׁ בְּתּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים:
56But if the kohen looks [at it] after it has been washed, and behold! the lesion has become dimmer, he shall tear it out of the garment, out of the leather, or out of the warp or woof [threads].   נווְאִם֘ רָאָ֣ה הַכֹּהֵן֒ וְהִנֵּה֙ כֵּהָ֣ה הַנֶּ֔גַע אַֽחֲרֵ֖י הֻכַּבֵּ֣ס אֹת֑וֹ וְקָרַ֣ע אֹת֗וֹ מִן־הַבֶּ֨גֶד֙ א֣וֹ מִן־הָע֔וֹר א֥וֹ מִן־הַשְּׁתִ֖י א֥וֹ מִן־הָעֵֽרֶב:
he shall tear it: He shall tear the afflicted area from the garment and burn that area [of garment]. — [Torath Kohanim 13:174]   וְקָרַע אֹתוֹ: יִקְרַע מְקוֹם הַנֶּגַע מִן הַבֶּגֶד וְיִשְׂרְפֶנּוּ:
57And if it appears again on the garment, the warp or woof [threads] or any leather article, it is a recurrent growth [of the lesion]. You shall burn it in fire [the article] upon which the lesion is [found].   נזוְאִם־תֵּֽרָאֶ֨ה ע֜וֹד בַּ֠בֶּ֠גֶד אֽוֹ־בַשְּׁתִ֤י אֽוֹ־בָעֵ֨רֶב֙ א֣וֹ בְכָל־כְּלִי־ע֔וֹר פֹּרַ֖חַת הִ֑וא בָּאֵ֣שׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶ֔נּוּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ הַנָּֽגַע:
it is a recurrent growth: פֹּרַחַת, something that grows recurrently.   פֹּרַחַת הִוא: דָּבָר הַחוֹזֵר וְצוֹמֵחַ:
You shall burn it in fire: the entire garment.   בָּאֵשׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶנּוּ: אֶת כָּל הַבֶּגֶד:
58But the garment, the warp or woof [threads] or any leather article which is washed, and the lesion disappears from them, shall be immersed a second time, and it shall be clean.   נחוְהַבֶּ֡גֶד אֽוֹ־הַשְּׁתִ֨י אֽוֹ־הָעֵ֜רֶב אֽוֹ־כָל־כְּלִ֤י הָעוֹר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תְּכַבֵּ֔ס וְסָ֥ר מֵהֶ֖ם הַנָּ֑גַע וְכֻבַּ֥ס שֵׁנִ֖ית וְטָהֵֽר:
and the lesion disappears from them: If, after they first washed [the article] by order of the kohen, the lesion disappeared completely from it… [then]   וְסָר מֵהֶם הַנָּגַע: אִם כְּשֶׁכִּבְּסוּהוּ בַתְּחִלָּה עַל פִּי כֹהֵן סָר מִמֶּנּוּ הַנֶּגַע לְגַמְרֵי.
shall be immersed a second time: [The word וְכֻבַּס in this verse] means immersion [in a mikvah. See Torath Kohanim 13:179]. In Targum [Onkelos], the translation of all the instances of כִּבּוּס in this whole section is “to cleanse, clean” (וְיִתְחַוֵּר), with this one exception [in our verse]. Here the meaning is not “cleansing” but rather “immersion [in a mikvah].” Thus Targum [Onkelos] here [in translating the word וְכֻבַּס] says וְיִצְטַבַּע, “and it shall be immersed.” Likewise, wherever the כִבּוּס of garments refers to immersion [in a mikvah], it is translated in the Targum as וְיִצְטַבַּע.   וְכֻבַּס שֵׁנִית: לְשׁוֹן טְבִילָה; תַּרְגּוּם שֶׁל כִּבּוּסִין שֶׁבְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ לְשׁוֹן לִבּוּן, "וְיִתְחַוַּר", חוּץ מִזֶּה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ לְלִבּוּן אֶלָּא לִטְבֹּל, לְכָךְ תַּרְגּוּמוֹ "וְיִצְטַבַּע", וְכֵן כָּל כִּבּוּסֵי בְגָדִים שֶׁהֵן לִטְבִילָה מְתֻרְגָּמִין וְיִצְטַבַּע:
59This is the law of a lesion of tzara'ath on a woolen or linen garment, warp or woof threads, or any leather article, to render it clean or unclean.   נטזֹ֠את תּוֹרַ֨ת נֶֽגַע־צָרַ֜עַת בֶּ֥גֶד הַצֶּ֣מֶר | א֣וֹ הַפִּשְׁתִּ֗ים א֤וֹ הַשְּׁתִי֙ א֣וֹ הָעֵ֔רֶב א֖וֹ כָּל־כְּלִי־ע֑וֹר לְטַֽהֲר֖וֹ א֥וֹ לְטַמְּאֽוֹ:

Maftir Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 13

57And if it appears again on the garment, the warp or woof [threads] or any leather article, it is a recurrent growth [of the lesion]. You shall burn it in fire [the article] upon which the lesion is [found].   נזוְאִם־תֵּֽרָאֶ֨ה ע֜וֹד בַּ֠בֶּ֠גֶד אֽוֹ־בַשְּׁתִ֤י אֽוֹ־בָעֵ֨רֶב֙ א֣וֹ בְכָל־כְּלִי־ע֔וֹר פֹּרַ֖חַת הִ֑וא בָּאֵ֣שׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶ֔נּוּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ הַנָּֽגַע:
it is a recurrent growth: פֹּרַחַת, something that grows recurrently.   פֹּרַחַת הִוא: דָּבָר הַחוֹזֵר וְצוֹמֵחַ:
You shall burn it in fire: the entire garment.   בָּאֵשׁ תִּשְׂרְפֶנּוּ: אֶת כָּל הַבֶּגֶד:
58But the garment, the warp or woof [threads] or any leather article which is washed, and the lesion disappears from them, shall be immersed a second time, and it shall be clean.   נחוְהַבֶּ֡גֶד אֽוֹ־הַשְּׁתִ֨י אֽוֹ־הָעֵ֜רֶב אֽוֹ־כָל־כְּלִ֤י הָעוֹר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תְּכַבֵּ֔ס וְסָ֥ר מֵהֶ֖ם הַנָּ֑גַע וְכֻבַּ֥ס שֵׁנִ֖ית וְטָהֵֽר:
and the lesion disappears from them: If, after they first washed [the article] by order of the kohen, the lesion disappeared completely from it… [then]   וְסָר מֵהֶם הַנָּגַע: אִם כְּשֶׁכִּבְּסוּהוּ בַתְּחִלָּה עַל פִּי כֹהֵן סָר מִמֶּנּוּ הַנֶּגַע לְגַמְרֵי.
shall be immersed a second time: [The word וְכֻבַּס in this verse] means immersion [in a mikvah. See Torath Kohanim 13:179]. In Targum [Onkelos], the translation of all the instances of כִּבּוּס in this whole section is “to cleanse, clean” (וְיִתְחַוֵּר), with this one exception [in our verse]. Here the meaning is not “cleansing” but rather “immersion [in a mikvah].” Thus Targum [Onkelos] here [in translating the word וְכֻבַּס] says וְיִצְטַבַּע, “and it shall be immersed.” Likewise, wherever the כִבּוּס of garments refers to immersion [in a mikvah], it is translated in the Targum as וְיִצְטַבַּע.   וְכֻבַּס שֵׁנִית: לְשׁוֹן טְבִילָה; תַּרְגּוּם שֶׁל כִּבּוּסִין שֶׁבְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ לְשׁוֹן לִבּוּן, "וְיִתְחַוַּר", חוּץ מִזֶּה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ לְלִבּוּן אֶלָּא לִטְבֹּל, לְכָךְ תַּרְגּוּמוֹ "וְיִצְטַבַּע", וְכֵן כָּל כִּבּוּסֵי בְגָדִים שֶׁהֵן לִטְבִילָה מְתֻרְגָּמִין וְיִצְטַבַּע:
59This is the law of a lesion of tzara'ath on a woolen or linen garment, warp or woof threads, or any leather article, to render it clean or unclean.   נטזֹ֠את תּוֹרַ֨ת נֶֽגַע־צָרַ֜עַת בֶּ֥גֶד הַצֶּ֣מֶר | א֣וֹ הַפִּשְׁתִּ֗ים א֤וֹ הַשְּׁתִי֙ א֣וֹ הָעֵ֔רֶב א֖וֹ כָּל־כְּלִי־ע֑וֹר לְטַֽהֲר֖וֹ א֥וֹ לְטַמְּאֽוֹ:

Haftarah

Melachim II (II Kings) Chapter 4

42And a man came from Baal-Shalishah, and he brought to the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley bread and sheaves of fresh grain in their shells; and he said, "Give to the people and let them eat.   מבוְאִ֨ישׁ בָּ֜א מִבַּ֣עַל שָׁלִ֗שָׁה וַיָּבֵא֩ לְאִ֨ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים לֶ֚חֶם בִּכּוּרִים֙ עֶשְׂרִֽים־לֶ֣חֶם שְׂעֹרִ֔ים וְכַרְמֶ֖ל בְּצִקְלֹנ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר תֵּ֥ן לָעָ֖ם וְיֹאכֵֽלוּ:
from Baal Shalishah: the name of a province. And Jonathan rendered: from the southland. “Baal” is an expression meaning a plain. There are many such expressions in the Bible.   מִבַּעַל שָׁלִשָׁה: שֵׁם מְדִינָה. וְיוֹנָתָן תִּרְגֵּם: מֵאַרְעָא דָּרוֹמָא. 'בַּעַל' לְשׁוֹן 'מִישׁוֹר', וְהַרְבֵּה בַּמִּקְרָא.
bread of the first fruits: It was during Passover, when the grain becomes ripe.   לֶחֶם בִּכּוּרִים: בְּפֶסַח, שֶׁהַתְּבוּאָה מְבַכֶּרֶת.
in their shells: Jonathan [renders]: in their garments. [The shell is compared to a garment of the grain].   בְּצִקְלֹנוֹ: בִּלְבוּשֵׁיהּ.
to the people: to the students whom he sustained.   לָעָם: לַתַּלְמִידִים שֶׁהָיָה זָן.
43And his servant said, "How will I give this before one hundred men? And he said, "Give the people and let them eat, for so has the Lord said, 'They shall eat and leave over.' "   מגוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ מָה אֶתֵּ֣ן זֶ֔ה לִפְנֵ֖י מֵ֣אָה אִ֑ישׁ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר תֵּ֚ן לָעָם֙ וְיֹאכֵ֔לוּ כִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אָכ֥וֹל וְהוֹתֵֽר:
How will I give this: [i.e.,] each bread.   מַה אֶתֵּן זֶה: כָּל לֶחֶם וְלֶחֶם.
44And he placed it before them, and they ate and left over, according to the word of the Lord.   מדוַיִּתֵּ֧ן לִפְנֵיהֶ֛ם וַיֹּאכְל֥וּ וַיּוֹתִ֖רוּ כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה:

Melachim II (II Kings) Chapter 5

1Now Naaman, the general of the king of Aram, was a prominent man before his lord and respected, for through him had the Lord given victory to Aram; and the man was a great warrior, and he was a mezora.   אוְ֠נַעֲמָן שַׂר־צְבָ֨א מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָ֜ם הָיָ֣ה אִישׁ֩ גָּד֨וֹל לִפְנֵ֚י אֲדֹנָיו֙ וּנְשֹֻ֣א פָנִ֔ים כִּֽי־ב֛וֹ נָֽתַן־יְהֹוָ֥ה תְּשׁוּעָ֖ה לַאֲרָ֑ם וְהָאִ֗ישׁ הָיָ֛ה גִּבּ֥וֹר חַ֖יִל מְצֹרָֽע:
Now, Naaman the general: He goes on to recount the miracles that were performed through Elisha.   וְנַעֲמָן שַׂר צְבָא: נִסִּים שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ עַל יְדֵי אֱלִישָׁע, מְסַדֵּר וְהוֹלֵךְ.
the victory to Aram: He drew back his bow innocently and killed Ahab.   תְּשׁוּעָה לַאֲרָם: הוּא מָשַׁךְ בַּקֶּשֶׁת לְתֻמּוֹ, וְהָרַג אֶת אַחְאָב.
2Now the Arameans went out in bands and captured from the land of Israel a young girl, who ministered to Naaman's wife.   בוַאֲרָם֙ יָצְא֣וּ גְדוּדִ֔ים וַיִּשְׁבּ֛וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נַעֲרָ֣ה קְטַנָּ֑ה וַתְּהִ֕י לִפְנֵ֖י אֵ֥שֶׁת נַעֲמָֽן:
went out in bands: When they go in groups of one hundred or two hundred by themselves, to plunder whatever they find, that is called a band.   יָצְאוּ גְדוּדִים: כְּשֶׁהוֹלְכִין מֵאָה אוֹ מָאתַיִם מֵעַצְמָן לִשְׁלֹל כַּאֲשֶׁר יִמְצְאוּן, הוּא קָרוּי גְּדוּד.
a young girl: Heb. naarah ketannah, a young girl from the town of Naaran.   נַעֲרָה קְטַנָּה: רִיבָה קְטַנָּה, מֵעִיר נַעֲרוֹן.
who ministered to: [lit. and she was before Naaman’s wife.] Jonathan [renders]: and she was serving before Naaman’s wife.   וַתְּהִי לִפְנֵי: וַהֲוַת מְשַׁמְּשָׁא קֳדָם אִתַּת נַעֲמָן.
3And she said to her mistress, "The supplications for my master should be that he go before the prophet who is in Samaria; then he would cure him of his zaraath.   גוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־גְּבִרְתָּ֔הּ אַחֲלֵ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י לִפְנֵ֥י הַנָּבִ֖יא אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן אָ֛ז יֶאֱסֹ֥ף אֹת֖וֹ מִצָּרַעְתּֽוֹ:
My master’s supplications: before the prophet Heb. אֲחֲלֵי, an expression similar to וַיְחַל מֹשֶה, “and Moses prayed” (Ex. 32:11). The supplications of all those who pray for him, shall be that the miracle shall come before the prophet.   אַחֲלֵי אֲדֹנִי: לִפְנֵי הַנָּבִיא. לְשׁוֹן וַיְחַל משֶׁה, בַּקָּשׁוֹת כָּל הַמִּתְפַּלְּלִים עָלָיו יִהְיוּ, שֶׁיָּבוֹא הַנֵּס לִפְנֵי הַנָּבִיא.
the supplications: אַחֲלֵי I.e., to say that this is the supplication that he requires.   אַחֲלֵי: שוהיידמנ"ס בְּלַעַ"ז, כְּלוֹמַר זוֹ הִיא בַּקָּשָׁה שֶׁהוּא צָרִיךְ לָהּ.
4And he came and told his master, saying, "In the following manner has the girl from the land of Israel spoken."   דוַיָּבֹ֕א וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לַאדֹנָ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר כָּזֹ֚את וְכָזֹאת֙ דִּבְּרָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵאֶ֥רֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
And he came: [i.e.,] Naaman [came]   וַיָּבֹא: נַעֲמָן.
and told his master: the king of Aram.   וַיַּגֵּד לַאדֹנָיו: מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם.
5And the king of Aram said, "Come, go and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." He went and took in his possession ten talents of silver and six thousand gold pieces, and ten suits of clothes.   הוַיֹּ֚אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָם֙ לֶךְ־בֹּ֔א וְאֶשְׁלְחָ֥ה סֵ֖פֶר אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּלֶךְ֩ וַיִּקַּ֨ח בְּיָד֜וֹ עֶ֣שֶׂר כִּכְּרֵי־כֶ֗סֶף וְשֵׁ֚שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ זָהָ֔ב וְעֶ֖שֶׂר חֲלִיפ֥וֹת בְּגָדִֽים:
and he took in his possession: as a gift to the prophet.   וַיִּקַּח בְּיָדוֹ: מִנְחָה לַנָּבִיא.
and six thousand gold pieces: [lit.] and six thousand gold.   וְשֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים זָהָב: זְהוּבִים.
6And the letter came to the king of Israel, saying, "And now, when this letter comes to you, behold I have sent Naaman my servant to you, and you shall cure him of his zaraath.   ווַיָּבֵ֣א הַסֵּ֔פֶר אֶל־מֶ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר וְעַתָּ֗ה כְּב֨וֹא הַסֵּ֚פֶר הַזֶּה֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ הִנֵּ֨ה שָׁלַ֚חְתִּי אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ אֶת־נַעֲמָ֣ן עַבְדִּ֔י וַאֲסַפְתּ֖וֹ מִצָּרַעְתּֽוֹ:
saying: [“And now when this letter comes…5”]-The letter said to him, “And now, when this letter…”   לֵאמֹר וְעַתָּה כְּבוֹא הַסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה וְגוֹ': הַסֵּפֶר אָמַר לוֹ, וְעַתָּה כְּבוֹא הַסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה וְגוֹ'.
and you shall cure him of his zaraath: [lit. and you shall gather him in from his zaraath.] Gathering, as applied to the mezora, is the expression of his cure, for when he is cured, he is gathered in among people, whereas during his illness, everyone stays away from him.   וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ מִצָּרַעְתּוֹ: 'אֲסֵפָה' בִּמְצֹרָע הִיא לְשׁוֹן רְפוּאָתוֹ, כִּי בְּהִתְרַפּאוֹתוֹ הוּא נֶאֱסָף אֶל תּוֹךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם, וּבְחָלְיוֹ הַכֹּל בְּדֵלִין הֵימֶנּוּ.
7And it was when the king of Israel read the letter, that he rent his garments, and said, "Do I have power from God to put to death and to bring to life, that this one sends to me to cure a man of his zaraath? Just know now and see that he is looking for a pretext against me."   זוַיְהִ֡י כִּקְרֹא֩ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־הַסֵּ֜פֶר וַיִּקְרַ֣ע בְּגָדָ֗יו וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַאֱלֹהִ֥ים אָ֙נִי֙ לְהָמִ֣ית וּֽלְהַחֲי֔וֹת כִּֽי־זֶה֙ שֹׁלֵ֣חַ אֵלַ֔י לֶאֱסֹ֥ף אִ֖ישׁ מִצָּֽרַעְתּ֑וֹ כִּ֚י אַךְ־דְּעֽוּ־נָא֙ וּרְא֔וּ כִּֽי־מִתְאַנֶּ֥ה ה֖וּא לִֽי:
Do I have power from God: [after] Jonathan. [Lit. Am I God?] The ‘heh’ at the beginning of the word הַאֱלֹהִים, is voweled with a ‘pathah’ to indicate that it is a question.   הַאֱלֹהִים אָנִי: הֵ"א נָקוּד פַּתָּ"ח, לְלַמֵּד שֶׁהוּא בִּלְשׁוֹן תְּמִיהָה.
he is looking for a pretext: He is looking for a pretext to engage in strife with me.   מִתְאַנֶּה: מְבַקֵּשׁ תּוֹאֲנָה לְהִתְגָּרוֹת בִּי.
he is looking for a pretext: [Heb. מִתְאַנֶה] an expression of pretext.   מִתְאַנֶּה: לְשׁוֹן עֲלִילוֹת דְּבָרִים.
8And it was when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had rent his garments, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you rent your garments? Let him come to me now, and let him know that there is a prophet in Israel."   חוַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ | אֱלִישָׁ֣ע אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים כִּֽי־קָרַ֚ע מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֔ר לָ֥מָּה קָרַ֖עְתָּ בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ יָבֹֽא־נָ֣א אֵלַ֔י וְיֵדַ֕ע כִּ֛י יֵ֥שׁ נָבִ֖יא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
9And Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and he stood at the doorway of Elisha's house.   טוַיָּבֹ֥א נַעֲמָ֖ן בְּסוּסָ֣יו (כתיב בְּסוּסָ֣ו) וּבְרִכְבּ֑וֹ וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד פֶּֽתַח־הַבַּ֖יִת לֶאֱלִישָֽׁע:
10And Elisha dispatched a messenger to him, saying, "Go and immerse yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored to you, and you will become clean."   יוַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח אֵלָ֛יו אֱלִישָׁ֖ע מַלְאָ֣ךְ לֵאמֹ֑ר הָל֗וֹךְ וְרָחַצְתָּ֚ שֶֽׁבַע־פְּעָמִים֙ בַּיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וְיָשֹׁ֧ב בְּשָׂרְךָ֛ לְךָ֖ וּטְהָֽר:
11Now Naaman became incensed, and he went away, and he said, "Here I thought that he would come out to see me, and he would stand and call in the name of YHVH his God, and he would raise his hand toward the spot and cure the mezora."   יאוַיִּקְצֹ֥ף נַעֲמָ֖ן וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וַיֹּאמֶר֩ הִנֵּ֨ה אָמַ֜רְתִּי אֵלַ֣י | יֵצֵ֣א יָצ֗וֹא וְעָמַד֙ וְקָרָא֙ בְּשֵׁם־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֔יו וְהֵנִ֥יף יָד֛וֹ אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם וְאָסַ֥ף הַמְּצֹרָֽע:
Here I thought: [I thought that] the prophet would come out and speak with me, and see the ailment.   הִנֵּה אָמַרְתִּי: סָבוּר הָיִיתִי, אֵלַי יֵצֵא הַנָּבִיא וִידַבֵּר עִמִּי וְיִרְאֶה אֶת הַחֹלִי.
and he would raise his hand toward the spot: of the] zaraath.   וְהֵנִיף יָדוֹ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם: הַצָּרַעַת.
12Are not Amanah and Parpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Will I not immerse myself in them and become clean?" And he turned and went away in anger.   יבהֲלֹ֡א טוֹב֩ אֲמָנָ֨ה (כתיב אֲבָנָ֨ה) וּפַרְפַּ֜ר נַהֲר֣וֹת דַּמֶּ֗שֶׂק מִכֹּל֙ מֵימֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲלֹֽא־אֶרְחַ֥ץ בָּהֶ֖ם וְטָהָ֑רְתִּי וַיִּ֖פֶן וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ בְּחֵמָֽה:
13And his servants approached and spoke to him and said, "Master, if the prophet spoke to you to do a difficult thing, would you not do it? And surely since he said to you, 'Immerse yourself and become clean.' "   יגוַיִּגְּשׁ֣וּ עֲבָדָיו֘ וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָיו֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אָבִי֙ דָּבָ֣ר גָּד֗וֹל הַנָּבִ֛יא דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ הֲל֣וֹא תַעֲשֶֹ֑ה וְאַ֛ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רְחַ֥ץ וּטְהָֽר:
Master: [lit. father].   אָבִי: כְּמוֹ אֲדוֹנִי.
would you not do it?: Would you not do it even if he ordered you to do something requiring exertion?   הֲלוֹא תַעֲשֶׂה: וְכִי לֹא תַעֲשֵׂהוּ, אֲפִלּוּ אָמַר לְךָ דְּבַר טֹרַח.
and surely: by a fortiori conclusion, since he said to you to do an easy thing, [viz.] immerse yourself and become clean.   וְאַף כִּי: קַל וָחֹמֶר שֶׁאָמַר לְךָ דָּבָר קַל, רְחַץ וּטְהָר.
14And he went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times according to the word of the man of God: and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young lad, and he became clean.   ידוַיֵּ֗רֶד וַיִּטְבֹּ֚ל בַּיַּרְדֵּן֙ שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֔ים כִּדְבַ֖ר אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיָּ֣שָׁב בְּשָׂר֗וֹ כִּבְשַֹ֛ר נַ֥עַר קָטֹ֖ן וַיִּטְהָֽר:
15And he returned to the man of God, he and his entire camp; and he came and stood before him: and he said, "Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. And now, accept a gift from your servant."   טווַיָּשָׁב֩ אֶל־אִ֨ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים ה֣וּא וְכָֽל־מַחֲנֵ֗הוּ וַיָּבֹא֘ וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד לְפָנָיו֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּה־נָ֚א יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ כִּ֣י אֵ֚ין אֱלֹהִים֙ בְּכָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֖י אִם־בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְעַתָּ֛ה קַח־נָ֥א בְרָכָ֖ה מֵאֵ֥ת עַבְדֶּֽךָ:
a gift: [lit. a blessing], a gift of peace, of greeting, when a disciple or a slave greets his master (sallud in O.F., a greeting).   בְרָכָה: מִנְחַת שָׁלוֹם שֶל הַקְבָּלַת פָּנִים, שֶׁשּׁוֹאֵל תַּלְמִיד אוֹ עֶבֶד בִּשְׁלוֹם הָרַב, שולד"ו בְּלַעַ"ז.
16And he said, "As the Lord before Whom I have stood, lives, I will not accept." And he urged him to accept, but he refused.   טזוַיֹּ֕אמֶר חַי־יְהֹוָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־עָמַ֥דְתִּי לְפָנָ֖יו אִם־אֶקָּ֑ח וַיִּפְצַר־בּ֥וֹ לָקַ֖חַת וַיְמָאֵֽן:
I will not accept: for the price of idols was included in it.   אִם אֶקָּח: שֶׁדְּמֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְעֹרָבִין בּוֹ.
17And Naaman said, "Now, if only your servant be given a load of earth as carried by a team of mules, for your servant will no longer offer up a burnt-offering or a sacrifice to other deities, but to the Lord.   יזוַיֹּאמֶר֘ נַעֲמָן֒ וָלֹ֕א יֻתַּן־נָ֣א לְעַבְדְּךָ֔ מַשָּׂ֥א צֶֽמֶד־פְּרָדִ֖ים אֲדָמָ֑ה כִּ֡י לֽוֹא־יַעֲשֶׂה֩ ע֨וֹד עַבְדְּךָ֜ עֹלָ֚ה וָזֶ֙בַח֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים כִּ֖י אִם־לַיהֹוָֽה:
Now, if only: וָלֹא, an expression of a request, an expression of הַלְוַאי.   וָלֹא: לְשׁוֹן בַּקָּשָׁה, לְשׁוֹן הַלְוַאי.
Now… be given: from this soil of the land of Israel, which is holy, a load of earth as carried by a team of mules, and I will carry it off to my city, and I will make it into an altar.   יֻתַּן נָא: מֵאֲדָמָה זוֹ מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהִיא קְדוֹשָׁה, מַשָּׂא שְׁנֵי פְּרָדִים, וְאֶשָּׂאֶנָּה לְעִירִי וְאֶעֱשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ מִזְבֵּחַ.
18For this thing may the Lord forgive your servant; when my master comes to Beth-Rimmon to prostrate himself there, and he leans on my hand, and I will prostrate myself in Beth-Rimmon; when I bow in Beth-Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this thing."   יחלַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה יִסְלַ֥ח יְהֹוָ֖ה לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּב֣וֹא אֲדֹנִ֣י בֵית־רִמּוֹן֩ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֨ת שָׁ֜מָּה וְה֣וּא | נִשְׁעָ֣ן עַל־יָדִ֗י וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֙יתִי֙ בֵּ֣ית רִמֹּ֔ן בְּהִשְׁתַּחֲוָיָ֙תִי֙ בֵּ֣ית רִמֹּ֔ן יִסְלַח (כתיב ־נא) יְהֹוָ֥ה לְעַבְדְּךָ֖ בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה:
Beth-Rimmon: the name of a pagan deity.   בֵית רִמּוֹן: שֵׁם עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.
and I will prostrate myself: against my will when my master bows, since he leans on my hand.   וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֵיתִי: עַל כָּרְחִי, כְּשֶׁשּׁוֹחֶה אֲדוֹנִי וְהוּא נִשְׁעָן עַל יָדִי.
19And he said to him, "Go in peace"; and he went some distance away from him.   יטוַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ לֵ֣ךְ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ מֵאִתּ֖וֹ כִּבְרַת־אָֽרֶץ:
some distance: [Heb.] kivrath eretz, the name of a land measure, like (Is. 5:10) “ten acres of vineyard.” (arpent in French), an old French measure of land, equivalent to about an acre.   כִּבְרַת אָרֶץ: שֵׁם מִדָּה שֶל קַרְקַע, כְּמוֹ: צִמְדֵי כֶרֶם, ארפינ"ט בְּלַעַ"ז.
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