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ב"ה

Torah Reading for Metzora

Parshat Metzora
Shabbat, 12 Nissan, 5784
20 April, 2024
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Complete: (Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33; Kings II 7:3-20)
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First Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 14

1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,   אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2This shall be the law of the person afflicted with tzara'ath, on the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the kohen.   בזֹ֤את תִּֽהְיֶה֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת הַמְּצֹרָ֔ע בְּי֖וֹם טָֽהֳרָת֑וֹ וְהוּבָ֖א אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן:
This shall be the law of the person afflicted with tzara’ath…: This teaches [us] that [one afflicted with tzara’ath] is not [pronounced] clean at night. — [Torath Kohanim 14:3, Meg. 21a]   זֹאת תִּֽהְיֶה תּוֹרַת וגו': מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵין מְטַהֲרִין אוֹתוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה (ספרא):
3The kohen shall go outside the camp, and the kohen shall look, and behold, the lesion of tzara'ath has healed in the afflicted person.   גוְיָצָא֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶל־מִח֖וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה וְרָאָה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִנֵּ֛ה נִרְפָּ֥א נֶֽגַע־הַצָּרַ֖עַת מִן־הַצָּרֽוּעַ:
outside the camp: [I.e.,] outside the three camps, [namely, a) the camp of the Shechinah , in which the sanctuary is situated, b) the Levite camp, and c) the camp of Israel, where the ordinary Israelites encamped], where he was sent during the time of his “definite” uncleanness. (See 13:46.)   אֶל־מִחוּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶה: חוּץ לִשְׁלוֹשָׁה מַחֲנוֹת שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּלַח שָׁם בִּימֵי חֲלוּטוֹ:
4Then the kohen shall order, and the person to be cleansed shall take two live, clean birds, a cedar stick, a strip of crimson [wool], and hyssop.   דוְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלָקַ֧ח לַמִּטַּהֵ֛ר שְׁתֵּֽי־צִפֳּרִ֥ים חַיּ֖וֹת טְהֹר֑וֹת וְעֵ֣ץ אֶ֔רֶז וּשְׁנִ֥י תוֹלַ֖עַת וְאֵזֹֽב:
live [birds]: Heb., חַיּוֹת, excluding [birds] that have a fatal disease or injury. — [See Chul. 140a]   חַיּוֹת: פְּרָט לִטְרֵפוֹת:
clean [birds]: Excluding an unclean bird, [i.e., forbidden to be eaten] (see Chul. 140a). [Why are birds required for this cleansing rite?] Because lesions of tzara’ath come as a result of derogatory speech, which is done by chattering. Therefore, for his cleansing, this person is required to bring birds, which twitter constantly with chirping sounds. — [Arachin 16b]   טְהֹרוֹת: פְּרָט לְעוֹף טָמֵא, לְפִי שֶׁהַנְּגָעִים בָּאִין עַל לָשׁוֹן הָרַע שֶׁהוּא מַעֲשֵׂה פִטְפּוּטֵי דְבָרִים, לְפִיכָךְ הֻזְקְקוּ לְטָהֳרָתוֹ צִפֳּרִים שֶׁמְּפַטְפְּטִין תָּמִיד בְּצִפְצוּף קוֹל (ערכין ט"ז):
a cedar stick: Because lesions of tzara’ath come because of haughtiness [symbolized by the tall cedar]. — [Arachin 16a]   וְעֵץ אֶרֶז: לְפִי שֶׁהַנְּגָעִים בָּאִין עַל גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ (שם):
a strip of crimson [wool], and hyssop: What is the remedy that he may be healed [of his tzara’ath]? He must humble himself from his haughtiness, just as [symbolized by] the תּוֹלַעַת [lit., “a worm,” which infested the berries from which the crimson dye was extracted to color wool], and the [lowly] hyssop. — [Tanchuma 3]   וּשְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת וְאֵזֹֽב: מַה תַּקָּנָתוֹ וְיִתְרַפֵּא? יַשְׁפִּיל עַצְמוֹ מִגַּאֲוָתוֹ כְּתוֹלַעַת וּכְאֵזוֹב:
cedar stick: Heb. וְעֵץ אֶרֶז, a stick of cedar wood. — [Torath Kohanim 13:12]   עץ אֶרֶז: מַקֵּל שֶׁל אֶרֶז:
a strip of crimson [wool]: Heb. וּשְׁנִי תוֹלַעַת, a tongue-like strip of wool dyed crimson. — [Torath Kohanim 14:13]   שני תוֹלַעַת: לָשׁוֹן שֶׁל צֶמֶר צָבוּעַ זְהוֹרִית:
5The kohen shall order, and one shall slaughter the one bird into an earthenware vessel, over spring water.   הוְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְשָׁחַ֖ט אֶת־הַצִּפּ֣וֹר הָֽאֶחָ֑ת אֶל־כְּלִי־חֶ֖רֶשׂ עַל־מַ֥יִם חַיִּֽים:
over spring water: He places [i.e., pours] it into the vessel first, in order that the blood of the bird should be recognizable in it. And how much [water is necessary]? A revi’ith [a quarter of a log]. — [Torath Kohanim 14:21; Sotah 16b]   עַל־מַיִם חַיִּֽים: נוֹתֵן אוֹתָם תְּחִלָּה בִּכְלִי, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא דַם צִפּוֹר נִכָּר בָּהֶם, וְכַמָּה הֵם? רְבִיעִית (סוטה ט"ז):
6[As for] the live bird, he shall take it, and then the cedar stick, the strip of crimson [wool], and the hyssop, and, along with the live bird, he shall dip them into the blood of the slaughtered bird, over the spring water.   ואֶת־הַצִּפֹּ֤ר הַֽחַיָּה֙ יִקַּ֣ח אֹתָ֔הּ וְאֶת־עֵ֥ץ הָאֶ֛רֶז וְאֶת־שְׁנִ֥י הַתּוֹלַ֖עַת וְאֶת־הָֽאֵזֹ֑ב וְטָבַ֨ל אוֹתָ֜ם וְאֵ֣ת | הַצִּפֹּ֣ר הַֽחַיָּ֗ה בְּדַם֙ הַצִּפֹּ֣ר הַשְּׁחֻטָ֔ה עַ֖ל הַמַּ֥יִם הַחַיִּֽים:
[As for] the live bird, he shall take it: [Scripture separates the taking of the bird from that of the other items.] This teaches [us] that he does not bind it with them, but separates it, by itself. The cedar stick and the hyssop, however, are bound together with the tongue-like strip of crimson wool, as the matter is stated, “and then the cedar stick, the strip of crimson [wool], and the hyssop,” i.e., one [act of] taking for the three of them. [I.e., the cedar stick and the hyssop are bound together with one end of the tongue of crimson wool, and the loose end is dipped into the blood together with them (Torath Kohanim 14:21). Now, one might think that since it [the bird] is not included in the binding, it is not to be included in the dipping [in the blood]. Therefore, Scripture says here, “and, along with the live bird, he shall dip them,” thereby, re-including the bird for the dipping. — [Torath Kohanim 14:24]   אֶת־הַצִּפֹּר הַֽחַיָּה יִקַּח אֹתָהּ: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵינוֹ אוֹגְדָהּ עִמָּהֶם, אֶלָּא מַפְרִישָׁהּ לְעַצְמָהּ, אֲבָל הָעֵץ וְהָאֵזוֹב כְּרוּכִין יַחַד בִּלְשׁוֹן הַזְּהוֹרִית, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאֶת עֵץ הָאֶרֶז וְאֶת שְׁנִי הַתּוֹלַעַת וְאֶת הָאֵזֹב — קִיחָה אַחַת לִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן; יָכוֹל כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵינָהּ בִּכְלַל אֲגֻדָּה, כָּךְ לֹא תְהֵא בִכְלַל טְבִילָה, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְטָבַל אוֹתָם וְאֵת הַצִּפֹּר הַחַיָּה — הֶחֱזִיר אֶת הַצִּפּוֹר לִכְלַל טְבִילָה (ספרא):
7He shall then sprinkle seven times upon the person being cleansed from tzara'ath, and he shall cleanse him. He shall then send away the live bird into the [open] field.   זוְהִזָּ֗ה עַ֧ל הַמִּטַּהֵ֛ר מִן־הַצָּרַ֖עַת שֶׁ֣בַע פְּעָמִ֑ים וְטִ֣הֲר֔וֹ וְשִׁלַּ֛ח אֶת־הַצִּפֹּ֥ר הַֽחַיָּ֖ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶֽה:
8The person being cleansed shall then immerse his garments, shave off all his hair, and immerse [himself] in water, and become clean. After this, he may enter the camp, but he shall remain outside his tent for seven days.   חוְכִבֶּס֩ הַמִּטַּהֵ֨ר אֶת־בְּגָדָ֜יו וְגִלַּ֣ח אֶת־כָּל־שְׂעָר֗וֹ וְרָחַ֤ץ בַּמַּ֨יִם֙ וְטָהֵ֔ר וְאַחַ֖ר יָב֣וֹא אֶל־הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה וְיָשַׁ֛ב מִח֥וּץ לְאָֽהֳל֖וֹ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
but he shall remain outside his tent [for seven days]: This teaches [us] that [during this period,] he is prohibited to have marital relations. — [Torath Kohanim 14:34; Mo’ed Katan 15b]   וְיָשַׁב מִחוּץ לְאָֽהֳלוֹ: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאָסוּר בְּתַשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה (שם):
9And it shall be, on the seventh day, that he shall shave off all his hair: [that of] his head, his beard, his eyebrows; indeed, all his hair, he shall shave off. He shall then immerse his garments and immerse his flesh in water, thus becoming clean.   טוְהָיָה֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י יְגַלַּ֣ח אֶת־כָּל־שְׂעָר֗וֹ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֤וֹ וְאֶת־זְקָנוֹ֙ וְאֵת֙ גַּבֹּ֣ת עֵינָ֔יו וְאֶת־כָּל־שְׂעָר֖וֹ יְגַלֵּ֑חַ וְכִבֶּ֣ס אֶת־בְּגָדָ֗יו וְרָחַ֧ץ אֶת־בְּשָׂר֛וֹ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָהֵֽר:
all his hair…: [This is] a general statement, followed by a specific statement [namely, “that of his head, his beard, his eyebrows,”] followed, in turn, by another general statement [namely, “all his hair,]” to include [the shaving of] every place where hair grows in a bunch and is visible, [bearing a similarity to the hair of the head, the beard, and the eyebrows]. — [Sotah 16a]   אֶת־כָּל־שְׂעָרוֹ וגו': כְּלָל וּפְרָט וּכְלָל, לְהָבִיא כָּל מְקוֹם כִּנּוּס שֵׂעָר וְנִרְאֶה (סוטה ט"ז):
10And on the eighth day, he shall take two unblemished [male] lambs, one unblemished ewe lamb in its [first] year, three tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with [olive] oil as a meal offering, and one log of [olive] oil.   יוּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֗י יִקַּ֤ח שְׁנֵֽי־כְבָשִׂים֙ תְּמִימִ֔ם וְכַבְשָׂ֥ה אַחַ֛ת בַּת־שְׁנָתָ֖הּ תְּמִימָ֑ה וּשְׁלשָׁ֣ה עֶשְׂרֹנִ֗ים סֹ֤לֶת מִנְחָה֙ בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשֶּׁ֔מֶן וְלֹ֥ג אֶחָ֖ד שָֽׁמֶן:
one… ewe lamb: [One male lamb and one ewe lamb were to be sacrificed, one as a burnt offering and one as a sin-offering (see verse 19), although Scripture does not specify which animal was for which sacrifice. However, since a female animal is never brought as a burnt offering (see Lev. 1:3), it is obvious that this ewe lamb was to be sacrificed] as the sin-offering.   וְכַבְשָׂה אַחַת: לְחַטָּאת:
three tenths [of an ephah of… flour]: for the libations [i.e., to accompany the libations] of these three lambs, for [unlike other sin-offerings and guilt-offerings,] the sin-offering and the guilt-offering of one stricken with tzara’ath require libations. — [Men. 91a]   וּשְׁלשָׁה עֶשְׂרֹנִים: לְנִסְכֵּי שְׁלוֹשָׁה כְבָשִֹים הַלָּלוּ, שֶׁחַטָּאתוֹ וַאֲשָׁמוֹ שֶׁל מְצֹרָע טְעוּנִין נְסָכִים (מנחות צ"א):
and one log of [olive] oil: to sprinkle on his behalf [Heb. עָלָיו, lit. on him, absent in all incunabula editions (Yosef Hallel)] seven times (see verse 16), and to place some of it on the cartilage of his ear, and for the applications on the thumb and big toe (see verses 16, 17).   וְלֹג אֶחָד שָֽׁמֶן: לְהַזּוֹת עָלָיו שֶׁבַע, וְלִתֵּן מִמֶּנּוּ עַל תְּנוּךְ אָזְנוֹ וּמַתַּן בְּהוֹנוֹת:
11And the kohen who is performing the cleansing shall place the person being cleansed [together] with these [things], before the Lord, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.   יאוְהֶֽעֱמִ֞יד הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַֽמְטַהֵ֗ר אֵ֛ת הָאִ֥ישׁ הַמִּטַּהֵ֖ר וְאֹתָ֑ם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
before the Lord: [This expression usually means within the Temple courtyard. In this case, however, it means that he is to be placed] at The Nicanor gate, but not within the courtyard itself, since he is lacking atonement. [The Nicanor gate was at the eastern end of the courtyard, directly facing the Holy; thus, when standing inside the gateway, the person was placed “before the Lord” without entering the courtyard. For this purpose, the space under The Nicanor gate was left unsanctified.]- [Torath Kohanim 14:44; Sotah 7a]   לִפְנֵי ה': בְּשַׁעַר נִקָּנוֹר, וְלֹא בָעֲזָרָה עַצְמָהּ, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא מְחֻסָּר כִּפּוּרִים (כלים פ"א):
12And the kohen shall take one [male] lamb and bring it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and wave them as a waving before the Lord.   יבוְלָקַ֨ח הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־הַכֶּ֣בֶשׂ הָֽאֶחָ֗ד וְהִקְרִ֥יב אֹת֛וֹ לְאָשָׁ֖ם וְאֶת־לֹ֣ג הַשָּׁ֑מֶן וְהֵנִ֥יף אֹתָ֛ם תְּנוּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
and bring it as a guilt-offering: He shall bring it inside the courtyard for the purpose of a guilt-offering, in order to wave it, for it requires waving [while it was still] alive. — [Men. 61a]   וְהִקְרִיב אֹתוֹ לְאָשָׁם: יַקְרִיבֶנּוּ לְתוֹךְ הָעֲזָרָה לְשֵׁם אָשָׁם לְהָנִיף, שֶׁהוּא טָעוּן תְּנוּפָה חָי (מנחות ס"ב):
in order to wave it: for it requires waving [while it was still] alive. — [Men. 61a]   והניף: שהוא טעון תנופה חי:
and he shall wave them: i.e., the guilt-offering and the log. — [Men. 61a]   וְהֵנִיף אֹתָם: אֶת הָאָשָׁם וְאֶת הַלֹּג (שם ס"א):

Second Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 14

13He shall slaughter the lamb in the place where one slaughters the sin offering and the burnt offering, in a holy place. For regarding the kohen['s service], the guilt offering is like the sin offering. It is a holy of holies.   יגוְשָׁחַ֣ט אֶת־הַכֶּ֗בֶשׂ בִּ֠מְק֠וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁחַ֧ט אֶת־הַֽחַטָּ֛את וְאֶת־הָֽעֹלָ֖ה בִּמְק֣וֹם הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ כִּ֡י כַּֽ֠חַטָּ֠את הָֽאָשָׁ֥ם הוּא֙ לַכֹּהֵ֔ן קֹ֥דֶשׁ קָֽדָשִׁ֖ים הֽוּא:
In the place where one slaughters the sin-offering and the burnt offering: Namely, on the side of the [copper] altar, at the north [of the sanctuary courtyard]. But what is this verse coming to teach us? Was it not already stated regarding the law of the guilt-offering in the parashah of אֶת אַהֲרֹן ַצַו (Lev. 7:2) that the guilt-offering was required to be slaughtered in the north? But since this guilt-offering differs from other guilt-offerings insofar as it requires placing [together with the one bringing it], one might think that the animal should be slaughtered where it is placed [i.e., at The Nicanor gate and not at the northern side of the altar]. Scripture, therefore, says, “He shall slaughter the lamb in the place where one slaughters the sin-offering and the burnt offering.” - [Torath Kohanim 14:46]   בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁחַט וגו': עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בַּצָּפוֹן, וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר? וַהֲלֹא כְבָר נֶאֱמַר בְּתוֹרַת אָשָׁם בְפָרָשַׁת צַו אֶת אַהֲרֹן שֶׁהָאָשָׁם טָעוּן שְׁחִיטָה בַצָּפוֹן? לְפִי שֶׁיָּצָא זֶה מִכְּלַל אֲשָׁמוֹת לִדּוֹן בְּהַעֲמָדָה, יָכוֹל תְּהֵא שְׁחִיטָתוֹ בִּמְקוֹם הַעֲמָדָתוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "וְשָׁחַט … בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁחַט וְגוֹ'" (ספרא):
For…it is like the sin-offering: [I.e.,] For it is like all sin-offerings.   כִּי כַּֽחַטָּאת: כִּי כְּכָל הַחַטָּאוֹת:
the guilt-offering: [I.e.,] this guilt- offering [is like a sin-offering, insofar as:]   הָאָשָׁם: הַזֶּה:
it is to the kohen: In all the procedures of holy service [performed] by the kohen, this guilt-offering is likened to a sin-offering. [This is specified] so that one should not say that, since the blood of this guilt-offering is unlike that of other guilt-offerings, insofar as it is placed on the cartilage of the ear and on the thumb and big toe (see verse 14), it should also [be an exception in that it] should not require applications of blood and the prescribed fats upon the altar. Therefore, it is said, “regarding the [service of the] kohen, the guilt-offering is just like the sin-offering.” [However, if this is so,] one might think that its blood is applied above [the red line demarcating the upper and lower parts of the altar (see Rashi Lev. 1:5)], like [the blood of] a sin-offering. Scripture, therefore, says [(Lev. 7:1): “And this is the law of a guilt-offering,” where the term תּוֹרָה, “law,” is an inclusive term, coming here to include this special guilt-offering, that its blood should be applied below the red line as with other guilt-offerings, [even though in all other respects this sacrifice is similar to a sin-offering]. — [Torath Kohanim 14:47; Zev. 49a]   הוּא לַכֹּהֵן: בְּכָל עֲבוֹדוֹת הַתְּלוּיוֹת בַּכֹּהֵן הֻשְׁוָה אָשָׁם זֶה לְחַטָּאת. שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר הוֹאִיל וְיָצָא דָמוֹ מִכְּלַל שְׁאָר אֲשָׁמוֹת לִנָּתֵן עַל תְּנוּךְ וּבְהוֹנוֹת, לֹא יְהֵא טָעוּן מַתַּן דָּמִים וְאֵמוּרִים לְגַבֵּי מִזְבֵּחַ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר כִּי כַּחַטָּאת הָאָשָׁם הוּא לַכֹּהֵן יָכוֹל יְהֵא דָמוֹ נִתָּן לְמַעְלָה כַּחַטָּאת, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְכוּ' בְּתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים:
14The kohen shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the kohen shall place it above the cartilage of the right ear of the person being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.   ידוְלָקַ֣ח הַכֹּהֵן֘ מִדַּ֣ם הָֽאָשָׁם֒ וְנָתַן֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן עַל־תְּנ֛וּךְ אֹ֥זֶן הַמִּטַּהֵ֖ר הַיְמָנִ֑ית וְעַל־בֹּ֤הֶן יָדוֹ֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֥הֶן רַגְל֖וֹ הַיְמָנִֽית:
cartilage: Heb. תְּנוּךְ. The middle wall of the ear (Torath Kohanim 14:50). The actual etymology of the term תְּנוּךְ is unknown to me [i.e., whether it is Hebrew or Aramaic], but the interpreters call it tendron [or tandrum].   תְּנוּךְ: גָּדֵר אֶמְצָעִי שֶׁבָּאֹזֶן, וּלְשׁוֹן תְּנוּךְ לֹא נוֹדַע לִי, וְהַפּוֹתְרִים קוֹרִים לוֹ טנד"רום:
thumb: Heb. בֹּהֶן. The thumb [or the big toe]   בֹּהֶן: גּוּדָל:
15And the kohen shall take some of the log of oil, and pour [it] onto the kohen's left palm.   טווְלָקַ֥ח הַכֹּהֵ֖ן מִלֹּ֣ג הַשָּׁ֑מֶן וְיָצַ֛ק עַל־כַּ֥ף הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַשְּׂמָאלִֽית:
16The kohen shall then dip his right index finger into some of the oil that is on his left palm, and sprinkle some of the oil with his index finger seven times, before the Lord.   טזוְטָבַ֤ל הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶת־אֶצְבָּע֣וֹ הַיְמָנִ֔ית מִן־הַשֶּׁ֕מֶן אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־כַּפּ֖וֹ הַשְּׂמָאלִ֑ית וְהִזָּ֨ה מִן־הַשֶּׁ֧מֶן בְּאֶצְבָּע֛וֹ שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
[And sprinkle…] before the Lord: opposite, [i.e., in the direction of] the Holy of Holies. — [Torath Kohanim 14:53]   לִפְנֵי ה': כְּנֶגֶד בֵּית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים (ספרא):
17And some of the remainder of the oil that is in his palm, the kohen shall place on the cartilage of the right ear of the person being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on [top of] the blood of the guilt offering.   יזוּמִיֶּ֨תֶר הַשֶּׁ֜מֶן אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־כַּפּ֗וֹ יִתֵּ֤ן הַכֹּהֵן֙ עַל־תְּנ֞וּךְ אֹ֤זֶן הַמִּטַּהֵר֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֤הֶן יָדוֹ֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֥הֶן רַגְל֖וֹ הַיְמָנִ֑ית עַ֖ל דַּ֥ם הָֽאָשָֽׁם:
18And what is left over from the oil that is in the kohen's palm, he shall place upon the head of the person being cleansed, and the kohen shall effect atonement for him before the Lord.   יחוְהַנּוֹתָ֗ר בַּשֶּׁ֨מֶן֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־כַּ֣ף הַכֹּהֵ֔ן יִתֵּ֖ן עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַמִּטַּהֵ֑ר וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
19The kohen shall then perform [the service of] the sin offering and effect atonement for the person being cleansed of his uncleanness. After this, he shall slaughter the burnt offering.   יטוְעָשָׂ֤ה הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶת־הַ֣חַטָּ֔את וְכִפֶּ֕ר עַל־הַמִּטַּהֵ֖ר מִטֻּמְאָת֑וֹ וְאַחַ֖ר יִשְׁחַ֥ט אֶת־הָֽעֹלָֽה:
20And the kohen shall bring up the burnt offering and the meal offering to the altar. The kohen shall thus effect atonement for him, and he shall be [completely] clean.   כוְהֶֽעֱלָ֧ה הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־הָֽעֹלָ֥ה וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֖ה הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָה וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלָ֛יו הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְטָהֵֽר:
and the meal offering: [A collective term, referring to all three] libation meal offerings of [these] animals. [See Rashi on verse 10.]   וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָה: מִנְחַת נְסָכִים שֶׁל בְּהֵמָה:

Third Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 14

21But if he is poor and cannot afford [these sacrifices], he shall take one [male] lamb as a guilt offering for a waving to effect atonement for him, and one tenth [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and a log of oil.   כאוְאִם־דַּ֣ל ה֗וּא וְאֵ֣ין יָדוֹ֘ מַשֶּׂ֒גֶת֒ וְ֠לָקַ֠ח כֶּ֣בֶשׂ אֶחָ֥ד אָשָׁ֛ם לִתְנוּפָ֖ה לְכַפֵּ֣ר עָלָ֑יו וְעִשָּׂר֨וֹן סֹ֜לֶת אֶחָ֨ד בָּל֥וּל בַּשֶּׁ֛מֶן לְמִנְחָ֖ה וְלֹ֥ג שָֽׁמֶן:
and one tenth [of an ephah] of fine flour: for [the libation meal offering to accompany] this lamb, which is one, he shall bring one “tenth” [of an ephah of flour] for his libation offering [to accompany his one lamb].   וְעִשָּׂרוֹן סֹלֶת אֶחָד: לְכֶבֶשׂ זֶה שֶׁהוּא אֶחָד, יָבִיא עִשָּׂרוֹן אֶחָד לִנְסָכָיו:
and a log of oil: to place some of it [upon the cartilage of the ear and] on the thumb and big toe. However, as far as the [amount of] oil required for the libation meal offerings, Scripture did not need to specify [for we know it from another passage (see Num. 15)].   וְלֹג שָֽׁמֶן: לָתֵת מִמֶּנּוּ עַל הַבְּהוֹנוֹת; וְשֶׁמֶן שֶׁל נִסְכֵּי הַמִּנְחָה לֹא הֻזְקַק הַכָּתוּב לְפָרֵשׁ:
22And two turtle doves or two young doves, according to what he can afford; one shall be a sin offering, and one a burnt offering.   כבוּשְׁתֵּ֣י תֹרִ֗ים א֤וֹ שְׁנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יוֹנָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּשִּׂ֖יג יָד֑וֹ וְהָיָ֤ה אֶחָד֙ חַטָּ֔את וְהָֽאֶחָ֖ד עֹלָֽה:
23And he shall bring them on the eighth day of his cleansing, to the kohen, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, before the Lord.   כגוְהֵבִ֨יא אֹתָ֜ם בַּיּ֧וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֛י לְטָֽהֳרָת֖וֹ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֑ן אֶל־פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
on the eighth day of his cleansing: [I.e.,] on the eighth day after [he had brought] the birds and been sprinkled with the cedar stick, the hyssop, and the strip of crimson wool [for that procedure is also called a “cleansing,” albeit interim].   בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי לְטָֽהֳרָתוֹ: שְׁמִינִי לְצִפֳּרִים וּלְהַזָּאַת עֵץ אֶרֶז וְאֵזוֹב וּשְׁנִי תּוֹלַעַת:
24And the kohen shall take the guilt offering lamb and the log of oil, and the kohen shall wave them as a waving, before the Lord.   כדוְלָקַ֧ח הַכֹּהֵ֛ן אֶת־כֶּ֥בֶשׂ הָֽאָשָׁ֖ם וְאֶת־לֹ֣ג הַשָּׁ֑מֶן וְהֵנִ֨יף אֹתָ֧ם הַכֹּהֵ֛ן תְּנוּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
25And he shall slaughter the guilt offering lamb, and the kohen shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering's and place it on the cartilage of the right ear of the person being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.   כהוְשָׁחַט֘ אֶת־כֶּ֣בֶשׂ הָֽאָשָׁם֒ וְלָקַ֤ח הַכֹּהֵן֙ מִדַּ֣ם הָֽאָשָׁ֔ם וְנָתַ֛ן עַל־תְּנ֥וּךְ אֹֽזֶן־הַמִּטַּהֵ֖ר הַיְמָנִ֑ית וְעַל־בֹּ֤הֶן יָדוֹ֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֥הֶן רַגְל֖וֹ הַיְמָנִֽית:
26And the kohen shall then pour some of the oil into the left palm of the kohen.   כווּמִן־הַשֶּׁ֖מֶן יִצֹ֣ק הַכֹּהֵ֑ן עַל־כַּ֥ף הַכֹּהֵ֖ן הַשְּׂמָאלִֽית:
27And the kohen shall sprinkle with his right index finger some of the oil that is in his left palm, seven times before the Lord.   כזוְהִזָּ֤ה הַכֹּהֵן֙ בְּאֶצְבָּע֣וֹ הַיְמָנִ֔ית מִן־הַשֶּׁ֕מֶן אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־כַּפּ֖וֹ הַשְּׂמָאלִ֑ית שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
28And the kohen shall place some of the oil that is in his palm, on the cartilage of the right ear of the person being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the guilt offering.   כחוְנָתַ֨ן הַכֹּהֵ֜ן מִן־הַשֶּׁ֣מֶן | אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־כַּפּ֗וֹ עַל־תְּנ֞וּךְ אֹ֤זֶן הַמִּטַּהֵר֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֤הֶן יָדוֹ֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֥הֶן רַגְל֖וֹ הַיְמָנִ֑ית עַל־מְק֖וֹם דַּ֥ם הָֽאָשָֽׁם:
on the place of the blood of the guilt-offering: Even if the blood had been wiped off. This teaches us that the blood is not the determining factor, but the place is the determining factor. — [Torath Kohanim 14:54; Men. 10a]   עַל־מְקוֹם דַּם הָֽאָשָֽׁם: אֲפִלּוּ נִתְקַנַּח הַדָּם; לִמֵּד, שֶׁאֵין הַדָּם גּוֹרֵם אֶלָּא הַמָּקוֹם גּוֹרֵם (ספרא):
29And what is left over from the oil that is in the kohen's palm, he shall place upon the head of the person being cleansed, to effect atonement for him, before the Lord.   כטוְהַנּוֹתָ֗ר מִן־הַשֶּׁ֨מֶן֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־כַּ֣ף הַכֹּהֵ֔ן יִתֵּ֖ן עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ הַמִּטַּהֵ֑ר לְכַפֵּ֥ר עָלָ֖יו לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
30He shall then perform [the service of] one of the turtle doves or of the young doves, from whatever he can afford,   לוְעָשָׂ֤ה אֶת־הָֽאֶחָד֙ מִן־הַתֹּרִ֔ים א֖וֹ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י הַיּוֹנָ֑ה מֵֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּשִּׂ֖יג יָדֽוֹ:
31[from] what he can afford, one as a sin offering, and one as a burnt offering, besides the meal offering, and the kohen shall effect atonement for the person being cleansed, before the Lord.   לאאֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר־תַּשִּׂ֞יג יָד֗וֹ אֶת־הָֽאֶחָ֥ד חַטָּ֛את וְאֶת־הָֽאֶחָ֥ד עֹלָ֖ה עַל־הַמִּנְחָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֧ר הַכֹּהֵ֛ן עַ֥ל הַמִּטַּהֵ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
32This is the law of one in whom there is a lesion of tzara'ath, who cannot afford [the full array of sacrifices], when he is to be cleansed.   לבזֹ֣את תּוֹרַ֔ת אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ נֶ֣גַע צָרָ֑עַת אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־תַשִּׂ֥יג יָד֖וֹ בְּטָֽהֳרָתֽוֹ:

Fourth Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 14

33And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,   לגוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
34When you come to the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as a possession, and I place a lesion of tzara'ath upon a house in the land of your possession,   לדכִּ֤י תָבֹ֨אוּ֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם לַֽאֲחֻזָּ֑ה וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ נֶ֣גַע צָרַ֔עַת בְּבֵ֖ית אֶ֥רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶֽם:
and I place a lesion of tzara’ath: Heb. וְנָתַתִּי, lit. and I will give. This is [good] news for them that lesions of tzara’ath will come upon them, (Torath Kohanim 14:75), because the Amorites had hidden away treasures of gold inside the walls of their houses during the entire forty years that the Israelites were in the desert, and through the lesion, he will demolish the house (see verses 43-45) and find them. — [Vayikra Rabbah 17:6]   וְנָֽתַתִּי נֶגַע צָרַעַת: בְּשׂוֹרָה הִיא לָהֶם שֶׁהַנְּגָעִים בָּאִים עֲלֵיהֶם; לְפִי שֶׁהִטְמִינוּ אֱמוֹרִיִּים מַטְמוֹנִיּוֹת שֶׁל זָהָב בְּקִירוֹת בָּתֵּיהֶם כָּל אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְֹרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְעַל יְדֵי הַנֶּגַע נוֹתֵץ הַבַּיִת וּמוֹצְאָן (ויקרא רבה י"ז):
35and the one to whom the house belongs comes and tells the kohen, saying, "Something like a lesion has appeared to me in the house,"   להוּבָא֙ אֲשֶׁר־ל֣וֹ הַבַּ֔יִת וְהִגִּ֥יד לַכֹּהֵ֖ן לֵאמֹ֑ר כְּנֶ֕גַע נִרְאָ֥ה לִ֖י בַּבָּֽיִת:
Something like a lesion has appeared to me in the house: Even a Torah scholar, who knows that it is definitely a lesion [of tzara’ath], shall not make his statement using a decisive expression, saying, “A lesion has appeared to me,” but, “Something like an lesion has appeared to me” [out of respect for the kohen, who is to make the decision]. — [Nega’im 12:5]   כְּנֶגַע נִרְאָה לִי בַּבָּֽיִת: שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ הוּא חָכָם וְיוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא נֶגַע וַדַּאי, לֹא יִפְסֹק דָּבָר בָּרוּר לוֹמַר "נֶגַע נִרְאָה לִי", אֶלָּא "כְּנֶגַע נִרְאָה לִי":
36the kohen shall order that they clear out the house, before the kohen comes to look at the lesion, so that everything in the house should not become unclean. After this, the kohen shall come to look at the house.   לווְצִוָּ֨ה הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וּפִנּ֣וּ אֶת־הַבַּ֗יִת בְּטֶ֨רֶם יָבֹ֤א הַכֹּהֵן֙ לִרְא֣וֹת אֶת־הַנֶּ֔גַע וְלֹ֥א יִטְמָ֖א כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּבָּ֑יִת וְאַ֥חַר כֵּ֛ן יָבֹ֥א הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־הַבָּֽיִת:
before the kohen comes…: since as long as the kohen has not yet become involved with the house [in question], the law of uncleanness does not yet apply to it.   בְּטֶרֶם יָבֹא הַכֹּהֵן וגו': שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁאֵין כֹּהֵן נִזְקָק לוֹ, אֵין שָׁם תּוֹרַת טֻמְאָה:
so that everything in the house should not become unclean: For if they do not clear it out, and the kohen comes and sees the lesion, the house will have to be quarantined and everything inside it will become unclean. Now, for what objects did the Torah have consideration? If it was upon vessels that require immersion [in a mikvah to cleanse them], then [instead of having them removed,] let him immerse them, and they will become clean. And if it was upon food and drink, then [instead of removing them, let them become unclean] and he can eat and drink them during his period of uncleanness. Hence, the Torah has consideration only for earthenware vessels, which cannot be cleansed by [immersion in] a mikvah [and would thus undergo permanent damage if they became unclean]. — [Nega’im 12:5]   וְלֹא יִטְמָא כָּל־אֲשֶׁר בַּבָּיִת: שֶׁאִם לֹא יְפַנֵּהוּ, וְיָבֹא הַכֹּהֵן וְיִרְאֶה הַנֶּגַע נִזְקָק לְהֶסְגֵּר וְכָל מַה שֶּׁבְּתוֹכוֹ יִטְמָא; וְעַל מָה חָסָה תוֹרָה? אִם עַל כְּלֵי שֶׁטֶף, יַטְבִּילֵם וְיִטְהֲרוּ, וְאִם עַל אֳכָלִין וּמַשְׁקִין, יֹאכְלֵם בִּימֵי טֻמְאָתוֹ, הָא לֹא חָסָה תוֹרָה אֶלָּא עַל כְּלֵי חֶרֶס, שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם טָהֳרָה בַּמִּקְוֶה (ספרא):
37And he shall look at the lesion. Now, [if] the lesion in the walls of the house consists of dark green or dark red sunken looking stains, appearing as if deeper than the wall,   לזוְרָאָ֣ה אֶת־הַנֶּ֗גַע וְהִנֵּ֤ה הַנֶּ֨גַע֙ בְּקִירֹ֣ת הַבַּ֔יִת שְׁקַֽעֲרוּרֹת֙ יְרַקְרַקֹּ֔ת א֖וֹ אֲדַמְדַּמֹּ֑ת וּמַרְאֵיהֶ֥ן שָׁפָ֖ל מִן־הַקִּֽיר:
sunken-looking stains: Heb., שְׁקַעֲרוּרֹת, sunken (שׁוֹקְעוֹת) in their appearance (בְּמַרְאֵיהֶן). - [Torath Kohanim 14:89]   שְׁקַֽעֲרוּרֹת: שׁוֹקְעוֹת בְּמַרְאֵיהֶן (שם):
38then the kohen shall go out of the house to the entrance of the house, and he shall quarantine the house for seven days.   לחוְיָצָ֧א הַכֹּהֵ֛ן מִן־הַבַּ֖יִת אֶל־פֶּ֣תַח הַבָּ֑יִת וְהִסְגִּ֥יר אֶת־הַבַּ֖יִת שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים:
39Then the kohen shall return on the seventh day and look [at the house]. Now, [if] the lesion has spread in the walls of the house,   לטוְשָׁ֥ב הַכֹּהֵ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י וְרָאָ֕ה וְהִנֵּ֛ה פָּשָׂ֥ה הַנֶּ֖גַע בְּקִירֹ֥ת הַבָּֽיִת:
40the kohen shall order that they remove the stones upon which the lesion is [found], and they shall cast them away outside the city, to an unclean place.   מוְצִוָּה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְחִלְּצוּ֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֲבָנִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּהֵ֖ן הַנָּ֑גַע וְהִשְׁלִ֤יכוּ אֶתְהֶן֙ אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֔יר אֶל־מָק֖וֹם טָמֵֽא:
they remove the stones: Heb. וְחִלְּצוּ, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: וְיִשְׁלְפוּן, “they shall remove them from there,” similar to, “[Then his brother’s wife shall…] remove (וְחָלְצָה) his shoe” (Deut. 25:9), an expression of removal.   וְחִלְּצוּ אֶת־הָאֲבָנִים: כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ: וִיִשְׁלְפוּן — יִטְּלֵם מִשָּׁם, כְּמוֹ וְחָלְצָה נַעֲלוֹ (דברים כ"ה) — לְשׁוֹן הֲסָרָה:
to an unclean place: [I.e.,] a place where clean things are not used. This verse teaches us that these [unclean] stones contaminate their place as long as they are there. - [Torath Kohanim 4:96]   אֶל־מָקוֹם טָמֵֽא: מָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין טְהָרוֹת מִשְׁתַּמְּשׁוֹת שָׁם, לִמֶּדְךָ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהָאֲבָנִים הַלָּלוּ מְטַמְּאוֹת מְקוֹמָן בְּעוֹדָן בּוֹ (ספרא):
41And he shall scrape out the house from the inside, all around, and they shall pour out the [mortar] dust from what they scraped, outside the city, into an unclean place.   מאוְאֶת־הַבַּ֛יִת יַקְצִ֥עַ מִבַּ֖יִת סָבִ֑יב וְשָֽׁפְכ֗וּ אֶת־הֶֽעָפָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִקְצ֔וּ אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֔יר אֶל־מָק֖וֹם טָמֵֽא:
scraped out: Heb. יַקְצִעַ, rogner in French, or rodoniyer in Old French, to clip, to trim. This term occurs many times in the language of the Mishnah, [for example, Kelim 27:4, 5, B.K. 66b, Chul. 123b]. [Note that the spelling in Mikraoth Gedoloth is different. I have not found such a spelling in any dictionary. Greenberg, however, writes that Tobler and Lommatszch, Altfranzösisches Wörterbuch gives fifteen spellings for this word.]   יַקְצִעַ: רדויי"ר בְּלַעַז, וּבִלְשׁוֹן מִשְׁנָה יֵשׁ הַרְבֶּה:
inside: Heb., מִבַּיִת, inside.   מִבַּיִת: מִבִּפְנִים:
all around: Heb. סָבִיב, around the lesion. In Midrash Torath Kohanim, it is thus expounded, namely, that he shall scrape out the plaster surrounding the afflicted stones.   סָבִיב: סְבִיבוֹת הַנֶּגַע; בְּתּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים נִדְרַשׁ כֵּן — שֶׁיִּקְלֹף הַטִּיחַ שֶׁסְּבִיב אַבְנֵי הַנֶּגַע:
they scraped: Heb. הִקְצוּ, an expression denoting an edge (קָצֶה). [I.e.,] that they scrape off (קִצְּעוּ) around the edges (קְצוֹת) of the lesion.   הִקְצוּ: לְשׁוֹן קָצֶה — אֲשֶׁר קִצְּעוּ בִקְצוֹת הַנֶּגַע סָבִיב:
42And they shall take other stones and bring them instead of those stones. And he shall take other [mortar] dust, and plaster the house.   מבוְלָֽקְחוּ֙ אֲבָנִ֣ים אֲחֵר֔וֹת וְהֵבִ֖יאוּ אֶל־תַּ֣חַת הָֽאֲבָנִ֑ים וְעָפָ֥ר אַחֵ֛ר יִקַּ֖ח וְטָ֥ח אֶת־הַבָּֽיִת:
43And if the lesion returns and erupts in the house, after he had removed the stones, and after the house had been scraped around and after it had been plastered,   מגוְאִם־יָשׁ֤וּב הַנֶּ֨גַע֙ וּפָרַ֣ח בַּבַּ֔יִת אַחַ֖ר חִלֵּ֣ץ אֶת־הָֽאֲבָנִ֑ים וְאַֽחֲרֵ֛י הִקְצ֥וֹת אֶת־הַבַּ֖יִת וְאַֽחֲרֵ֥י הִטּֽוֹחַ:
had been scraped: an expression of having been done, [i.e., the passive], and so is "it had been plastered". However, [in] “he had removed "the stones,” the expression refers to the person who had removed them, and this is [an example of] the intensive verb form [called pi’el, which has a dagesh in the middle letter of the root form], like [the verbs]כפר and דבר.   הִקְצוֹת: לְשׁוֹן הֵעָשׂוֹת, וְכֵן הִטּוֹחַ, אֲבָל חִלֵּץ אֶת הָאֲבָנִים מוּסָב הַלָּשׁוֹן אֶל הָאָדָם שֶׁחִלְּצָן, וְהוּא מִשְׁקַל לְשׁוֹן כָּבֵד, כְּמוֹ כִּפֵּר, דִּבֵּר:
And if…the lesion returns“: One might think that if it returned on that same day, it would be deemed unclean. Scripture, therefore, states (verse 39), “Then the kohen shall return (וְשָׁב הַכֹּהֵן),” [the same term as in our verse, namely,], “and if… [the lesion] returns (וְאִם יָשׁוּב).” Just as the return (שִׁיבָה) of the kohen mentioned there, is at the end of a week, so is the return [of the lesion] mentioned here, at the end of a week. — [Torath Kohanim 14:105]   וְאִם־יָשׁוּב הַנֶּגַע וגו': יָכוֹל חָזַר בּוֹ בַיּוֹם יְהֵא טָמֵא, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וְשָׁב הַכֹּהֵן" "וְאִם יָשׁוּב", מַה שִּׁיבָה הָאָמוּר לְהַלָּן לְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ, אַף שִׁיבָה הָאֲמוּרָה כָּאן בְּסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ (ספרא):
44then the kohen shall come and look [at it]. Now, [if] the lesion in the house has spread, it is malignant tzara'ath in the house; it is unclean.   מדוּבָא֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְרָאָ֕ה וְהִנֵּ֛ה פָּשָׂ֥ה הַנֶּ֖גַע בַּבָּ֑יִת צָרַ֨עַת מַמְאֶ֥רֶת הִ֛וא בַּבַּ֖יִת טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא:
Then the kohen shall come and look [at it]. Now, [if] the lesion… has spread: [From here,] one might think that a recurrent lesion [in a house] can be deemed unclean only if it spreads. However, the term צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת, “malignant tzara’ath,” is mentioned in reference to houses, and צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת is mentioned in reference to garments (see verse 13:52). [Through the exposition of a גְזֵרָה שָׁוָה we derive that] just as over there [in the case of garments,] a recurrent lesion is deemed unclean even if it had not spread, here too, [in the case of houses,] a recurrent lesion is deemed unclean even if it has not spread. If so, what does Scripture teach us here when it says, “Now, [if] the lesion… has spread…”? [in answer to this question, Rashi explains that the verses here should not be understood in the order in which they are written. Rather, they should be read in a different order, because] this is not the place for this verse. [I.e., the first section of this verse, namely, “Then the kohen shall come and look [at it]. Now [if] the lesion in the house has spread,” is to be understood by inserting it elsewhere within these verses, as follows]: “He shall demolish the house…” (verse 45), should be [understood as if] written after “And if… the lesion returns…” (verse 43), [skipping over the first section of verse 44], and then [reinserting this first section of our verse] “Then the kohen shall come and look… the lesion in the house has spread.” Thus, [when our verse says that the kohen looks at the lesion, the phrase, “[if] the lesion…has spread”] comes to teach [us] only about a lesion which remains the same during the first week [of quarantine], but when he came at the end of the second week [of quarantine], he found that it had spread. For in the earlier verses, Scripture does not explicitly tell us about a case where the lesion had remained with the same appearance after the first week [of quarantine]. Here, though, Scripture teaches you with this mention of spreading, that it is referring only to a lesion that has remained the same for the first week but spread during the second [week]. So what shall he do to it? I may think that he should demolish it, as is written immediately following it, “He shall demolish the house….” (verse 45). Scripture, therefore, says (verse 39), “the kohen shall return,” and [here], “the kohen shall come.” Just as in the case of “returning” [i.e., when the kohen returned after one week and the lesion had spread], he must remove [the unclean stones], scrape, and plaster, and give it another week [of quarantine], likewise, in the case of “coming” [i.e., where the lesion has remained the same for the first week, but spread during the second week], he must remove [the unclean stones], scrape, and plaster and then give it a week [of quarantine]. And, if it recurs again, he must demolish [the house]. If it does not recur, [however,] it is clean. Now, how do we know that if it remained the same during this and this, [i.e., during the first and second weeks], he must [also] remove [the unclean stones], scrape, plaster, and give it a [third] week [of quarantine]? Therefore, Scripture [here] says, “the kohen shall come (וּבָא),” and [in verse 48, it says], “if the kohen comes and comes [again] (בֹּא יָבֹא) ” What is Scripture referring to? If [you suggest that it means a lesion] that spread during the first week [of quarantine], this has already been mentioned [in verse 43]; if [you suggest that verse 48 is referring to a lesion] that spread during the second [week], this has already been mentioned [in our verse]; so [one must conclude that verse 48], “if the kohen comes and comes [again],” [is referring to the case that] he comes (בֹּא) at the end of the first week [of quarantine] and comes [again] (יָבֹא) at the end of the second week [of quarantine], and looks, and [as is continued in verse 48], “behold, the lesion did not spread” [i.e., it has remained the same throughout]. What shall he do to it? One might think that he should dismiss [the case] and depart, as it is written here (48) “the kohen shall pronounce the house clean.” Scripture, however, continues there, “because the lesion has healed.” [God says:] I deemed clean only what was healed. What shall be done with it [if the lesion has remained the same during the first and second weeks, and has not yet healed]? “Coming” is stated above [in verse 44, “the kohen shall come”], and “coming” is stated here [in verse 48, “if the kohen comes…and comes [again]”]; just as in the case above (verse 44), he must remove [the unclean stones], scrape, plaster, and give it a week [of quarantine], a law which we learned through the link made between the terms “returning” and “coming,” likewise, in the case below, [in the question of a lesion that has remained the same through the two weeks, the owner shall remove the unclean stones, scrape, plaster, and observe a week of quarantine]. The above is taught in Torath Kohanim (14:105). The conclusion of this matter is: Demolition [of an afflicted house] is required only when the lesion recurs after the removal [of the unclean stones], scraping, and plastering. The recurring lesion does not require spreading [to necessitate demolition]. Hence, the sequence of the verses is as follows: (Verse 43), “And if [after he had removed the stones, and after the house had been scraped around and after it had been plastered, the lesion] returns” ; then (verse 44, second section),“it is malignant tzara’ath …it is unclean”]; then (verse 45), “He shall demolish the house…,” and (verse 46), “Anyone entering the house […shall become unclean],” and (verse 47), “[And one who lies down…] and one who eats in the house [shall immerse…]” ; [at this juncture, just before verse 48, the second section of our verse (44) is now inserted in the sequence, namely,] “Then the kohen shall come and look…the lesion in the house has spread”- [and, as above, now we know that] Scripture here is referring to a case where the lesion remained the same during the first week [of quarantine], so a second week of quarantine is applied, and at the end of this second week of its quarantine, he comes and sees that it has spread. What should he do with it? The owner must remove [the unclean stones], scrape, plaster, and give it another [i.e., a third] week [of quarantine]. Now, if the lesion recurs, he must demolish, but if it does not recur, [the house is deemed clean, and] birds are required [along with the whole cleansing procedure, because lesions are never quarantined for more than three weeks. [See Rashi on verse 48 below, which is understood in light of this Rashi.]   וּבָא הַכֹּהֵן וְרָאָה וְהִנֵּה פָּשָׂה: יָכוֹל לֹא יְהֵא הַחוֹזֵר טָמֵא אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן פָּשָׂה, נֶאֱמַר צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת בַּבָּתִּים, וְנֶאֱמַר צָרַעַת מַמְאֶרֶת בַּבגדים, מַה לְּהַלָּן טִמֵּא אֶת הַחוֹזֵר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ פוֹשֶׂה, אַף כָּאן טִמֵּא אֶת הַחוֹזֵר אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ פוֹשֶׂה, אִם כֵּן מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְהִנֵּה פָשָׂה? אֵין כָּאן מְקוֹמוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא זֶה, אֶלָּא "וְנָתַץ אֶת הַבַּיִת" הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב אַחַר "וְאִם יָשׁוּב הַנֶּגַע"; "וְרָאָה וְהִנֵּה פָּשָׂה" הָא לֹא בָא לְלַמֵּד אֶלָּא עַל נֶגַע הָעוֹמֵד בְּעֵינָיו בְּשָׁבוּעַ רִאשׁוֹן, וּבָא בְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי וּמְצָאוֹ שֶׁפָּשָׂה — שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרֵשׁ בּוֹ הַכָּתוּב לְמַעְלָה כְלוּם בְּעוֹמֵד בְּעֵינָיו בְּשָׁבוּעַ רִאשׁוֹן — וְלִמֶּדְךָ כָּאן בְּפִשְׂיוֹן זֶה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא בְּעוֹמֵד בָּרִאשׁוֹן וּפָשָׂה בַשֵּׁנִי; וּמַה יַּעֲשֶׂה לּוֹ? יָכוֹל יִתְּצֶנּוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁסָּמַךְ לוֹ "וְנָתַץ אֶת הַבַּיִת", תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְשָׁב הַכֹּהֵן, וּבָא הַכֹּהֵן, נִלְמַד בִּיאָה מִשִּׁיבָה, מַה שִּׁיבָה חוֹלֵץ וְקוֹצֶה וְטָח וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ שָׁבוּעַ, אַף בִּיאָה חוֹלֵץ וְקוֹצֶה וְטָח וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ שָׁבוּעַ, וְאִם חוֹזֵר נוֹתֵץ, לֹא חָזַר טָהוֹר. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם עָמַד בָּזֶה וּבָזֶה חוֹלֵץ וְקוֹצֶה וְטָח וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ שָׁבוּעַ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְאִם בֹּא יָבֹא, בַּמֶּה הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר? אִם בְּפוֹשֶׂה בָּרִאשׁוֹן, הֲרֵי כְבָר אָמוּר, אִם בְּפוֹשֶׂה בַשֵּׁנִי, הֲרֵי כְבָר אָמוּר, הָא אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר וְאִם בֹּא יָבֹא אֶלָּא אֶת שֶׁבָּא בְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ רִאשׁוֹן וּבָא בְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי וְרָאָה וְהִנֵּה לֹא פָשָׂה; זֶה הָעוֹמֵד מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה לוֹ? יָכוֹל יִפָּטֵר וְיֵלֵךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב כָּאן וְטִהַר אֶת הַבַּיִת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר כִּי נִרְפָּא הַנָּגַע — לֹא טִהַרְתִּי אֶלָּא הָרָפוּי, מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה לוֹ? בִּיאָה אֲמוּרָה לְמַעְלָה וּבִיאָה אֲמוּרָה לְמַטָּה, מַה בָּעֶלְיוֹנָה חוֹלֵץ וְקוֹצֶה וְטָח וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ שָׁבוּעַ — דְּגָמַר לָהּ זֶהוּ שִׁיבָה זֶהוּ בִיאָה — אַף בַּתַּחְתּוֹנָה כֵן וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים. גְּמָרוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר אֵין נְתִיצָה אֶלָּא בְּנֶגַע הַחוֹזֵר אַחַר חֲלִיצָה וְקִצּוּעַ וְטִיחָה, וְאֵין הַחוֹזֵר צָרִיךְ פִּשְׂיוֹן. וְסֵדֶר הַמִּקְרָאוֹת כָּךְ הוּא: וְאִם יָשׁוּב, וְנָתַץ, וְהַבָּא אֶל הַבַּיִת, וְהָאוֹכֵל בַּבַּיִת, וּבָא הַכֹּהֵן וְרָאָה וְהִנֵּה פָשָׂה, וְדִבֵּר הַכָּתוּב בָּעוֹמֵד בָּרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁנּוֹתֵן לוֹ שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי לְהֶסְגֵּרוֹ, וּבְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי לְהֶסְגֵּרוֹ בָּא וְרָאָהוּ שֶׁפָּשָׂה, וּמַה יַּעֲשֶֹה לוֹ? חוֹלֵץ וְקוֹצֶה וְטָח וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ שָׁבוּעַ, חָזַר, נוֹתֵץ, לֹא חָזַר, טָעוּן צִפֳּרִים; שֶׁאֵין בַּנְּגָעִים יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת (עי' ספרא).
45He shall demolish the house, its stones, its wood, and all the [mortar] dust of the house, and he shall take [them] outside the city, to an unclean place.   מהוְנָתַ֣ץ אֶת־הַבַּ֗יִת אֶת־אֲבָנָיו֙ וְאֶת־עֵצָ֔יו וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־עֲפַ֣ר הַבָּ֑יִת וְהוֹצִיא֙ אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֔יר אֶל־מָק֖וֹם טָמֵֽא:
46And anyone entering the house during all the days of its quarantine shall become unclean until the evening.   מווְהַבָּא֙ אֶל־הַבַּ֔יִת כָּל־יְמֵ֖י הִסְגִּ֣יר אֹת֑וֹ יִטְמָ֖א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
during all the days of its quarantine: However, not [someone entering the house] during the days that he scrapes off the lesion [during which time the house does not defile those who enter it, until the quarantine period begins]. But [if this is so,] one might think, if a lesion is pronounced definitely unclean [and the house is slated for demolition], that if the owner [disregards the order to demolish the house, but instead, removes the unclean stones and] scrapes off its lesion, that this case is also excluded [i.e., this house shall also not defile those entering it]. Scripture, therefore, says: “during all the days” [in which the seemingly superfluous word “all” comes to include this case, that since this house is unclean and must be demolished, it will always defile those who enter it]. — [Torath Kohanim 14:110].   כָּל־יְמֵי הִסְגִּיר אֹתוֹ: וְלֹא יָמִים שֶׁקָּלַף אֶת נִגְעוֹ; יָכוֹל שֶׁאֲנִי מוֹצִיא הַמֻּחְלָט שֶׁקָּלַף אֶת נִגְעוֹ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר כָּל יְמֵי:
[And anyone entering the house…] shall become unclean until the evening: [Since no mention of immersing garments is made here, Scripture] teaches us that [the one who enters] the house does not defile [his] garments. One might think that even if he remained in the house for the time of פְּרָס כְּדֵּי אִכִילַת -the length of time it takes someone to eat an average meal [i.e., half a loaf-that his garments would also remain undefiled]. Scripture, therefore, says: “(verse 47) ”one who eats in the house shall immerse his garments.“ We know only if one eats [that his garments become unclean]. How do we know that if someone lies down [in the house, his garments become unclean]? Therefore, Scripture says (verse 47),”And whoever lies down in the house, [shall immerse his garments].“ I know only [that this law applies to] someone who either eats or lies down. How do we know that [this law applies also to] someone who did not eat or lie down [in the house]? Therefore, Scripture (verse 47),”shall immerse… shall immerse." [The repetition of this expression] includes [the case where the person merely stayed in the house, that his garments become unclean]. If so, why are eating and lying down mentioned? To give a measurement [of time] that it takes to eat half a loaf for one who lies down [i.e., only if someone lies down in the house for that period do his garments become unclean]. — [Torath Kohanim 14:111]   יִטְמָא עַד־הָעָֽרֶב: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵין מְטַמֵּא בְגָדִים; יָכוֹל אֲפִלוּ שָׁהָה בִכְדֵי אֲכִילַת פְּרָס, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְהָאוֹכֵל בַּבַּיִת יְכַבֵּס אֶת בְּגָדָיו, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אוֹכֵל, שׁוֹכֵב מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְהַשּׁוֹכֵב, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹכֵב, לֹא אוֹכֵל וְלֹא שׁוֹכֵב מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר יכבס יכבס רִבָּה; אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹכֵב? לִתֵּן שִׁעוּר לַשּׁוֹכֵב כְּדֵי אֲכִילַת פְּרָס (שם):
47And whoever lies down in the house, shall immerse his garments, and whoever eats in the house, shall immerse his garments.   מזוְהַשֹּׁכֵ֣ב בַּבַּ֔יִת יְכַבֵּ֖ס אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יו וְהָֽאֹכֵ֣ל בַּבַּ֔יִת יְכַבֵּ֖ס אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו:
48But if the kohen comes and comes again and looks [at the lesion], and behold, the lesion did not spread in the house, after the house has been plastered, the kohen shall pronounce the house clean, because the lesion has healed.   מחוְאִם־בֹּ֨א יָבֹ֜א הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וְרָאָה֙ וְ֠הִנֵּ֠ה לֹֽא־פָשָׂ֤ה הַנֶּ֨גַע֙ בַּבַּ֔יִת אַֽחֲרֵ֖י הִטֹּ֣חַ אֶת־הַבָּ֑יִת וְטִהַ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת כִּ֥י נִרְפָּ֖א הַנָּֽגַע:
But if the kohen comes […] and comes [again]: At the end of the second week [of quarantine],   וְאִם־בֹּא יָבֹא: לְסוֹף שָׁבוּעַ שֵׁנִי:
and looks [at the lesion], and behold, the lesion did not spread: This verse comes to teach [us] about a lesion that has remained the same throughout [both] the first and second weeks [of quarantine]. And what should be done to it]? One might think that it should be pronounced clean, as is apparent from the plain meaning of this verse, which continues: “the kohen shall pronounce the house clean.” Scripture, however, concludes the verse with, “because the lesion has healed.” [God says:] I deem clean only [the lesion] that has healed. And “healed” means only a house which has been scraped and plastered, and the lesion did not recur. But this [house, in which the lesion has neither disappeared nor spread], requires removal [of the unclean stones], scraping, plastering, and a third week [of quarantine]. Thus, the following is how our verse is to be understood: “But if the kohen comes […] and comes [again] at the end of the second [week of quarantine] and beholds, the lesion did not spread, he must plaster it, and there is no plastering without removing [the unclean stones] and scraping. [Then] after the house has been plastered, the kohen shall [pronounce] the house clean if the lesion did not recur at the end of the week [of quarantine], because the lesion has healed.” But if it recurs, Scripture has already explained regarding a [house with a] recurring lesion, that it requires demolition.   וְרָאָה וְהִנֵּה לֹֽא־פָשָׂה: מִקְרָא זֶה בָּא לְלַמֵּד בָּעוֹמֵד בְּעֵינָיו בָּרִאשׁוֹן וּבַשֵּׁנִי וּמַה יַּעֲשֶׂה לוֹ, יָכוֹל יְטַהֲרֶנּוּ, כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא "וְטִהַר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַבַּיִת", תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר כִּי נִרְפָּא הַנָּגַע — לֹא טִהַרְתִּי אֶלָּא אֶת הָרָפוּי; וְאֵין רָפוּי אֶלָּא הַבַּיִת שֶׁהֻקְצָה וְהוּטַח וְלֹא חָזַר הַנֶּגַע — אֲבָל זֶה טָעוּן חֲלִיצָה וְקִצּוּי וְטִיחָה וְשָׁבוּעַ שְׁלִישִׁי; וְכֵן הַמִּקְרָא נִדְרָשׁ: וְאִם בֹּא יָבֹא בַשֵּׁנִי, וְרָאָה וְהִנֵּה לֹא פָשָׂה, יְטִיחֶנּוּ — וְאֵין טִיחָה בְּלֹא חִלּוּץ וְקִצּוּי — וְאַחֲרֵי הִטּוֹחַ אֶת הַבַּיִת וְטִהַר הַכֹּהֵן אֶת הַבַּיִת, אִם לֹא חָזַר לְסוֹף הַשָּׁבוּעַ, כִּי נִרְפָּא הַנָּגַע, וְאִם חָזַר, כְּבָר פֵּרֵשׁ עַל הַחוֹזֵר שֶׁטָּעוּן נְתִיצָה:
49To [ritually] cleanse the house, he shall take two birds, a cedar stick, a strip of crimson [wool], and hyssop.   מטוְלָקַ֛ח לְחַטֵּ֥א אֶת־הַבַּ֖יִת שְׁתֵּ֣י צִפֳּרִ֑ים וְעֵ֣ץ אֶ֔רֶז וּשְׁנִ֥י תוֹלַ֖עַת וְאֵזֹֽב:
50He shall slaughter one bird into an earthenware vessel, over spring water.   נוְשָׁחַ֖ט אֶת־הַצִּפֹּ֣ר הָֽאֶחָ֑ת אֶל־כְּלִי־חֶ֖רֶשׂ עַל־מַ֥יִם חַיִּֽים:
51And he shall take the cedar stick, the hyssop, the strip of crimson [wool], and the live bird, and he shall dip them into the blood of slaughtered bird and into the spring water and sprinkle towards the house seven times.   נאוְלָקַ֣ח אֶת־עֵֽץ־הָ֠אֶ֠רֶז וְאֶת־הָ֨אֵזֹ֜ב וְאֵ֣ת | שְׁנִ֣י הַתּוֹלַ֗עַת וְאֵת֘ הַצִּפֹּ֣ר הַֽחַיָּה֒ וְטָבַ֣ל אֹתָ֗ם בְּדַם֙ הַצִּפֹּ֣ר הַשְּׁחוּטָ֔ה וּבַמַּ֖יִם הַֽחַיִּ֑ים וְהִזָּ֥ה אֶל־הַבַּ֖יִת שֶׁ֥בַע פְּעָמִֽים:
52And he shall [thus] cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, the spring water, the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop and the strip of crimson [wool].   נבוְחִטֵּ֣א אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת בְּדַם֙ הַצִּפּ֔וֹר וּבַמַּ֖יִם הַֽחַיִּ֑ים וּבַצִּפֹּ֣ר הַֽחַיָּ֗ה וּבְעֵ֥ץ הָאֶ֛רֶז וּבָֽאֵזֹ֖ב וּבִשְׁנִ֥י הַתּוֹלָֽעַת:
53He shall then send away the live bird outside the city, onto the [open] field. He shall thus effect atonement for the house, and it will be clean.   נגוְשִׁלַּ֞ח אֶת־הַצִּפֹּ֧ר הַֽחַיָּ֛ה אֶל־מִח֥וּץ לָעִ֖יר אֶל־פְּנֵ֣י הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֥ר עַל־הַבַּ֖יִת וְטָהֵֽר:

Fifth Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 14

54[All] this is the law for every lesion of tzara'ath, and for a nethek,   נדזֹ֖את הַתּוֹרָ֑ה לְכָל־נֶ֥גַע הַצָּרַ֖עַת וְלַנָּֽתֶק:
55And for tzara'ath of garments and houses,   נהוּלְצָרַ֥עַת הַבֶּ֖גֶד וְלַבָּֽיִת:
56And for a se'eith and for a sapachath and for a bahereth;   נווְלַשְׂאֵ֥ת וְלַסַּפַּ֖חַת וְלַבֶּהָֽרֶת:
57To render decisions regarding the day of uncleanness and the day of cleanness. This is the law of tzara'ath.   נזלְהוֹרֹ֕ת בְּי֥וֹם הַטָּמֵ֖א וּבְי֣וֹם הַטָּהֹ֑ר זֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הַצָּרָֽעַת:
To render decisions regarding the day of uncleanness: [I.e., to determine] which day renders it clean and which day renders it unclean.   לְהוֹרֹת בְּיוֹם הַטָּמֵא: אֵיזֶה יוֹם מְטַהֲרוֹ וְאֵיזֶה יוֹם מְטַמְּאוֹ (עי' ספרא):

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 15

1And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,   אוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר:
2Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, If any man has a discharge from his flesh, his discharge is unclean.   בדַּבְּרוּ֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אִ֣ישׁ אִ֗ישׁ כִּ֤י יִֽהְיֶה֙ זָ֣ב מִבְּשָׂר֔וֹ זוֹב֖וֹ טָמֵ֥א הֽוּא:
If [any man] has a discharge: One might think that if he had a discharge from any place [in the body], he becomes unclean. Scripture, therefore, says: “from his flesh,” meaning not all his flesh. Since Scripture made a distinction between flesh and flesh, I am entitled to reason: [Scripture] renders unclean a man who has a discharge, and it renders unclean a woman who has a discharge. Just as with a woman who has a discharge, from the very place [in her body] from which she becomes unclean with a minor degree of uncleanness, namely, נִדָּה, “menstrual uncleanness,” she becomes unclean with a major degree of uncleanness, namely, זִיבָה, a flow outside the menstrual period, likewise, in the case of a man who has a discharge, from the very place [in his body] from which he becomes unclean with a minor degree of uncleanness, namely, קֶרִי, a seminal emission, he becomes unclean with a major degree of uncleanness, namely, זִיבָה, an abnormal discharge. — [Torath Kohanim 15:122] [Menstruation and seminal emission both cause a minor degree of uncleanness, one that does not require seven clean days before purification, as opposed to the uncleanness of a discharge of a zav or zavah (gedolah), which do require this and are thus referred to as a major degree of uncleanness.]   כִּי יִֽהְיֶה זָב: יָכוֹל זָב מִכָּל מָקוֹם יְהֵא טָמֵא, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר מִבְּשָׂרוֹ, — וְלֹא כָל בְּשָׂרוֹ. אַחַר שֶׁחִלֵּק הַכָּתוּב בֵּין בָּשָׂר לְבָשָׂר זָכִיתִי לָדִין, טִמֵּא בְזָב וְטִמֵּא בְזָבָה, מַה זָּבָה מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁהִיא מִטַּמְּאָה טֻמְאָה קַלָּה — "נִדָּה" — מִטַּמְּאָה טֻמְאָה חֲמוּרָה — "זִיבָה" — אַף הַזָּב מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁמִּטַּמֵּא טֻמְאָה קַלָּה — "קֶרִי" — מִטַּמֵּא טֻמְאָה חֲמוּרָה — "זִיבָה" (שם):
his discharge is unclean: [Apart from the discharge rendering the man unclean,] this teaches us that [the discharge itself is also unclean, i.e., that even] one drop defiles [other people, and vessels] (Torath Kohanim 15:123; Niddah 55a). [What is the difference between discharge and semen?] A [male] discharge resembles the moisture [that separates itself from and appears on] barley dough, and is a thin liquid, resembling the white of an unfertilized (מוּזֶרֶת) egg, whereas semen is thick, like the white of an egg which is מוּזֶרֶת [i.e., which has been fertilized by a male.]. — [Niddah 35b]   זוֹבוֹ טָמֵא: לִמֵּד עַל הַטִּפָּה שֶׁהִיא מְטַמְּאָה; זוֹב דּוֹמֶה לְמֵי בָצֵק שֶׁל שְׂעוֹרִין, וְדָחוּי, וְדּוֹמֶה לְלֹבֶן בֵּיצָה הַמּוּזֶרֶת, שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע קָשׁוּר, כְּלֹבֶן בֵּיצָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ מוּזֶרֶת:
3And this shall be [the nature of] his uncleanness due to his discharge: [if] his flesh runs with his discharge, or [if] his flesh is plugged up by his discharge, that is his uncleanness.   גוְזֹ֛את תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה טֻמְאָת֖וֹ בְּזוֹב֑וֹ רָ֣ר בְּשָׂר֞וֹ אֶת־זוֹב֗וֹ אֽוֹ־הֶחְתִּ֤ים בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ מִזּוֹב֔וֹ טֻמְאָת֖וֹ הִֽוא:
runs: Heb. רָר, an expression related to רִיר, saliva, which flows from his flesh.   רָר: לְשׁוֹן רִיר — שֶׁזָּב בְּשָׂרוֹ:
with his discharge: like saliva, which comes out clear.   אֶת זוֹבוֹ: כְּמוֹ רִיר, שֶׁיּוֹצֵא צָלוּל:
or [his flesh is] plugged up: that the discharge comes out thick, and thus seals up (חוֹתָם) the orifice of the member, so that his flesh is plugged up on account of a drop of his discharge. This is its simple meaning. The midrashic explanation, however, [is as follows]: The first verse (verse 2) counts two perceptions [of a discharge] and calls him unclean, as it says, “a discharge from his flesh, his discharge is unclean.” Then, the second verse (verse 3) counts out three perceptions [of a discharge] and calls him unclean, as it says, “And this shall be [the nature of] his uncleanness due to his discharge: [if] his flesh runs with his discharge, or [if] his flesh is plugged up by his discharge, that is his uncleanness.” Now, how is this so? Two are for uncleanness, and the third requires him to [bring] a sacrifice. — [Meg. 8a; Niddah 43b]   אֽוֹ־הֶחְתִּים: שֶׁיּוֹצֵא עָב, וְסוֹתֵם אֶת פִּי הָאַמָּה, וְנִסְתָּם בְּשָׂרוֹ מִטִּפַּת זוֹבוֹ, זֶהוּ פְּשׁוּטוֹ; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ: מָנָה הַכָּתוּב הָרִאשׁוֹן רְאִיּוֹת שְׁתַּיִם וּקְרָאוֹ טָמֵא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר זָב מִבְּשָׂרוֹ זוֹבוֹ טָמֵא הוּא, וּמָנָה הַכָּתוּב הַשֵּׁנִי רְאִיּוֹת שָׁלֹשׁ וּקְרָאוֹ טָמֵא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר טֻמְאָתוֹ בְּזוֹבוֹ רָר בְּשָׂרוֹ אֶת זוֹבוֹ אוֹ הֶחְתִּים בְּשָׂרוֹ מִזּוֹבוֹ טֻמְאָתוֹ הִוא, הָא כֵיצַד? שְׁתַּיִם לְטֻמְאָה, וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁית מַזְקִיקַתּוּ לְקָרְבָּן (נדה מ"ג: מגילה ח.):
4Any bedding upon which the man with the discharge will lie, shall become unclean, and any object upon which he will sit, shall become unclean.   דכָּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכַּ֥ב עָלָ֛יו הַזָּ֖ב יִטְמָ֑א וְכָל־הַכְּלִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־יֵשֵׁ֥ב עָלָ֖יו יִטְמָֽא:
Any bedding: Heb. כָּלהַמִּשְׁכָּב, anything fit for bedding. One might think [that this would include] even if it is designated for another purpose. Scripture, therefore, says, “upon which [the man…] will lie”; it does not say, “upon which [the man…] lay” [in the past tense,] but rather, [in the future tense,] “will lie,” which is always designated for this. It excludes this [object], about which they say to him, “Get up and let us do our work [for which purpose it was designated]!” - [Torath Kohanim 15:128]   כָּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּב: הָרָאוּי לְמִשְׁכָּב; יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ מְיֻחָד לִמְלָאכָה אַחֶרֶת, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁכַּב — אֲשֶׁר שָׁכַב לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁכַּב — הַמְיֻחָד תָּמִיד לְכָךְ, יָצָא זֶה שֶׁאוֹמְרִין לוֹ "עֲמֹד וְנַעֲשֶׂה מְלַאכְתֵּנוּ":
[And any object upon which] he will sit: [Just like the case above of the bedding,] It does not say “[upon which] he sat,” but, “upon which he will sit,” [thus referring to an article] that is always designated for this. — [Torath Kohanim 15:128; Shab. 59a]   אֲשֶׁר יֵשֵׁב: יָשַׁב לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא אֲשֶׁר יֵשֵׁב עָלָיו, בַּמְיֻחָד תָּמִיד לְכָךְ (שבת נ"ט):
5And a man who touches his bedding, shall immerse his garments and immerse himself in water and he shall remain unclean until evening.   הוְאִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִגַּ֖ע בְּמִשְׁכָּב֑וֹ יְכַבֵּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
And a man who touches his bedding: This teaches us that the [uncleanness of] bedding is more stringent than [the uncleanness caused by] touching [an object], insofar as this [a bedding or a seat] becomes an אַב הַטֻּמְאָה [a major source of uncleanness], which can defile a person to render his garments unclean, whereas, touching an object which is not bedding, this [object] becomes only a וְלַד הַטֻּמְאָה [a secondary source of uncleanness, i.e., a degree less than אַב הַטֻּמְאָה], and it can defile only food and drink [but not people or objects].   וְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִגַּע בְּמִשְׁכָּבוֹ: לִמֵּד עַל הַמִּשְׁכָּב שֶׁחָמוּר מִן הַמַּגָּע, שֶׁזֶּה נַעֲשֶׂה אַב הַטֻּמְאָה לְטַמֵּא אָדָם לְטַמֵּא בְגָדִים, וְהַמַּגָּע שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִשְׁכָּב אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא וְלַד הַטֻּמְאָה, וְאֵינוֹ מְטַמֵּא אֶלָּא אֳכָלִין וּמַשְׁקִין (עי' ספרא):
6And anyone who sits on an object, upon which the man with the discharge will sit, shall immerse his garments and immerse himself in water, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   ווְהַיּשֵׁב֙ עַל־הַכְּלִ֔י אֲשֶׁר־יֵשֵׁ֥ב עָלָ֖יו הַזָּ֑ב יְכַבֵּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
And anyone who sits on an object: Even if he did not touch it, even if there were ten objects one on top of the other [and the man with the discharge had sat on the top one]-they all [even the bottom seat] become defiled because of מוֹשָׁב [the law of uncleanness concerning seats. Thus, just as the man with the discharge defiles the bottom seat of the pile without touching it, so too, a clean man can become defiled by that bottom seat without touching it]. And the same [applies] to מִשְׁכָּב [defilement of beds]. — [Torath Kohanim 15:134]   וְהַיּשֵׁב עַל־הַכְּלִי: אֲפִלּוּ לֹא נָגַע — אֲפִלוּ עֲשָֹרָה כֵלִים זֶה עַל זֶה — כֻּלָּן מְטַמְּאִין מִשּׁוּם מוֹשָׁב, וְכֵן בְּמִשְׁכָּב:
7And anyone who touches the flesh of the man with a discharge, shall immerse his garments and immerse himself in water, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   זוְהַנֹּגֵ֖עַ בִּבְשַׂ֣ר הַזָּ֑ב יְכַבֵּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
8And if the man with the discharge spits upon a clean person, [that person] shall immerse his garments and immerse himself in water, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   חוְכִֽי־יָרֹ֥ק הַזָּ֖ב בַּטָּה֑וֹר וְכִבֶּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
And if the man with the discharge spits upon a clean person: And he touches it or lifts it up [without touching it, for saliva defiles if lifted up [even without direct contact]. — [Niddah 55b]   וְכִֽי־יָרֹק הַזָּב בַּטָּהוֹר: וְנָגַע בּוֹ אוֹ נְשָׂאוֹ, שֶׁהָרֹק מְטַמֵּא בְמַשָּׂא (עי' נדה נ"ה):
9Any riding gear upon which the man with the discharge will ride, becomes unclean.   טוְכָל־הַמֶּרְכַּ֗ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִרְכַּ֥ב עָלָ֛יו הַזָּ֖ב יִטְמָֽא:
Any riding gear: Although he did not sit on it, for example, the saddlebow, called arcon [in French. It] becomes unclean because of מֶרְכָּב [riding gear]. [However], the saddle itself, called alves [in Old French], a board connecting the two uprights of a saddle,(according to Gukovitzki, or) saddle-girth, belly-band, (according to Greenberg,) becomes unclean because of מוֹשָׁב [a seat]. — [Eruvin 27a]   וְכָל־הַמֶּרְכַּב: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא יָשַׁב עָלָיו, כְּגוֹן הַתְּפוּס שֶׁל סְרָגָא, שֶׁקּוֹרִין ארצו"ן, טָמֵא מִשּׁוּם מֶרְכָּב, וְהָאֻכָּף שֶׁקּוֹרִין סל"ויש טָמֵא טֻמְאַת מוֹשָׁב (עירובין כ"ז):
10And whoever touches anything what will be under him, becomes unclean until evening. And whoever lifts them up shall immerse his garments and immerse himself in water, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   יוְכָל־הַנֹּגֵ֗עַ בְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִֽהְיֶ֣ה תַחְתָּ֔יו יִטְמָ֖א עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב וְהַנּוֹשֵׂ֣א אוֹתָ֔ם יְכַבֵּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
And whoever touches anything that will be under him: [i.e.,] [under] the man with the discharge (Torath Kohanim 15:139). [This verse] comes to teach us about riding gear, that anyone touching it becomes unclean; he is [however,] not required to immerse his garments. This is a feature of the stringency of מִשְׁכָּב as opposed to מֶרְכָּב.   וְכָל־הַנֹּגֵעַ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִֽהְיֶה תַחְתָּיו: שֶׁל זָב; בָּא וְלִמֵּד עַל הַמֶּרְכָּב שֶׁיְּהֵא הַנּוֹגֵעַ בּוֹ טָמֵא וְאֵין טָעוּן כִּבּוּס בְּגָדִים, וְהוּא חֹמֶר בַּמִּשְׁכָּב מִבַּמֶּרְכָּב:
And whoever lifts them up: [I.e.,] any of the items mentioned above in this passage discussing [the laws of] a man with a discharge, [namely:] his discharge, his saliva, his semen, his urine, the bedding, riding gear, [or seat (Reggio ed.)] [defiled by the man with the discharge]-if any of these items is lifted, it defiles the person [who lifted it, together] with his garments. — [Torath Kohanim 15: 140]   וְהַנּוֹשֵׂא אוֹתָם: אֶת כָּל הָאָמוּר בְּעִנְיַן הַזָּב — זוֹבוֹ וְרֻקּוֹ וְשִׁכְבַת זַרְעוֹ וּמֵימֵי רַגְלָיו וְהַמִּשְׁכָּב וְהַמֶּרְכָּב — מַשָּׂאָן מְטַמֵּא אָדָם לְטַמֵּא בְגָדִים (עי' ספרא):
11And whomever the man with the discharge touches, without [the latter] having rinsed his hands, shall immerse his garments and immerse himself in the waters, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   יאוְכֹ֨ל אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִגַּע־בּוֹ֙ הַזָּ֔ב וְיָדָ֖יו לֹֽא־שָׁטַ֣ף בַּמָּ֑יִם וְכִבֶּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
[And whomever the man with the discharge touches,] without [the latter] having rinsed his hands: While [the man with the discharge] has not yet immersed himself from his uncleanness. And even if the discharge has ceased, and the man counts seven [days], as long as he has not yet immersed himself [in a mikvah,] he defiles with all [the aspects] of his uncleanness. And the reason Scripture expresses the immersion of a man with a discharge as “rinsing hands,” is to teach you that the hidden parts of the body [e. g., the mouth,] are not required to be immersed, only the uncovered parts of the body, like the hands. — [Torath Kohanim 15:142]   וְיָדָיו לֹֽא־שָׁטַף בַּמָּיִם: בְּעוֹד שֶׁלֹּא טָבַל מִטֻּמְאָתוֹ, וַאֲפִלּוּ פָסַק מִזּוֹבוֹ וְסָפַר שִׁבְעָה וּמְחֻסָּר טְבִילָה, מְטַמֵּא בְכָל טֻמְאוֹתָיו, וְזֶה שֶׁהוֹצִיא הַכָּתוּב טְבִילַת גוּפוֹ שֶׁל זָב בִּלְשׁוֹן שְׁטִיפַת יָדַיִם, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵין בֵּית הַסְּתָרִים טָעוּן בִּיאַת מַיִם, אֶלָּא אֵבֶר הַגָּלוּי כְּמוֹ הַיָּדַיִם (ספרא):
12And an earthenware vessel which the man with the discharge will touch, shall be broken. And any wooden vessel shall be rinsed in water.   יבוּכְלִי־חֶ֛רֶשׂ אֲשֶׁר־יִגַּע־בּ֥וֹ הַזָּ֖ב יִשָּׁבֵ֑ר וְכָ֨ל־כְּלִי־עֵ֔ץ יִשָּׁטֵ֖ף בַּמָּֽיִם:
And an earthenware vessel which the man with the discharge will touch: One might think that even if he touches it from the outside [of the vessel, “it will also become unclean….” [However, the conclusion of the Midrash is that an earthenware vessel can become defiled only by the entry of an unclean object into its inner space], as is taught in Torath Kohanim (15:143), [where the passage there continues: “So if the verse indeed is referring to entry into the inner space of an earthenware vessel, why does it use the expression of touching?” And this passage] concludes: “Well, what touching is referred to here? When he touches the whole vessel. [And what does this mean?] When he moves it.” [I.e., in addition to the case of entry into the inner space, if a man with a discharge moves a vessel, it becomes unclean].   וּכְלִי־חֶרֶשׂ אֲשֶׁר־יִגַּע־בּוֹ הַזָּב: יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ נָגַע בּוֹ מֵאֲחוֹרָיו וְכוּ', כִּדְאִיתָא בְתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים עַד "מַגָּעוֹ שֶׁהוּא כְכֻלּוֹ הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר זֶה הֶסֵּטוֹ":
13When the man with the discharge is cleansed of his discharge, he shall count seven days for himself for his purification, and then immerse his garments and immerse his flesh in spring water, and he shall be clean.   יגוְכִֽי־יִטְהַ֤ר הַזָּב֙ מִזּוֹב֔וֹ וְסָ֨פַר ל֜וֹ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֛ים לְטָֽהֳרָת֖וֹ וְכִבֶּ֣ס בְּגָדָ֑יו וְרָחַ֧ץ בְּשָׂר֛וֹ בְּמַ֥יִם חַיִּ֖ים וְטָהֵֽר:
When…is cleansed: [I.e.,] when [the discharge] ceases. — [Torath Kohanim 15:146; Meg. 8a]   וְכִֽי־יִטְהַר: כְּשֶׁיִּפְסֹק (שם):
seven days…for his purification: Seven clean days free of the uncleanness of a discharge, i.e., he must not see any discharge [during these seven days]. And all of them [must be] consecutive [i.e., without any interruption of a discharge during these seven days]. — [Torath Kohanim 15:150; Niddah 33b]   שִׁבְעַת יָמִים לְטָֽהֳרָתוֹ: שִׁבְעַת יָמִים טְהוֹרִים מִטֻּמְאַת זִיבָה, שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאֶה זוֹב, וְכֻלָּן רְצוּפִין (ספרא):
14And on the eighth day, he shall take for himself two turtle doves or two young doves, and come before the Lord, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the kohen.   ידוּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֗י יִקַּח־לוֹ֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י תֹרִ֔ים א֥וֹ שְׁנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יוֹנָ֑ה וּבָ֣א | לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶל־פֶּ֨תַח֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וּנְתָנָ֖ם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן:
15And the kohen shall make them: one into a sin offering and one into a burnt offering, and the kohen shall effect atonement for him from his discharge, before the Lord.   טווְעָשָׂ֤ה אֹתָם֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶחָ֣ד חַטָּ֔את וְהָֽאֶחָ֖ד עֹלָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלָ֧יו הַכֹּהֵ֛ן לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מִזּוֹבֽוֹ:

Sixth Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 15

16A man from whom there is a discharge of semen, shall immerse all his flesh in water, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   טזוְאִ֕ישׁ כִּֽי־תֵצֵ֥א מִמֶּ֖נּוּ שִׁכְבַת־זָ֑רַע וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֛יִם אֶת־כָּל־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
17And any garment or any leather [object] which has semen on it, shall be immersed in water, and shall remain unclean until evening.   יזוְכָל־בֶּ֣גֶד וְכָל־ע֔וֹר אֲשֶׁר־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה עָלָ֖יו שִׁכְבַת־זָ֑רַע וְכֻבַּ֥ס בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
18A woman with whom a man cohabits, whereby there was [a discharge of] semen, they shall immerse in water, and they shall remain unclean until evening.   יחוְאִשָּׁ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכַּ֥ב אִ֛ישׁ אֹתָ֖הּ שִׁכְבַת־זָ֑רַע וְרָֽחֲצ֣וּ בַמַּ֔יִם וְטָֽמְא֖וּ עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
[Both of] these must immerse in water: It is the Divine King’s decree that the woman becomes defiled through cohabitation, and the reason is not that she came into contact with semen, for this constitutes contact with hidden parts of the body [which does not defile]. — [Niddah 41b]   וְרָֽחֲצוּ בַמַּיִם: גְּזֵרַת מֶלֶךְ הִיא שֶׁתִּטְמָא הָאִשָּׁה בְּבִיאָה; וְאֵין הַטַּעַם מִשּׁוּם נוֹגֵעַ בְּשִׁכְבַת זֶרַע, שֶׁהֲרֵי מַגַּע בֵּית הַסְּתָרִים הוּא (נדה מ"א:):
19If a woman has a discharge, her flesh discharging blood, she shall remain in her state of menstrual separation for seven days, and whoever touches her shall become unclean until evening.   יטוְאִשָּׁה֙ כִּי־תִֽהְיֶ֣ה זָבָ֔ה דָּ֛ם יִֽהְיֶ֥ה זֹבָ֖הּ בִּבְשָׂרָ֑הּ שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָמִים֙ תִּֽהְיֶ֣ה בְנִדָּתָ֔הּ וְכָל־הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ בָּ֖הּ יִטְמָ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
[If a woman] has a discharge: One might think that this means from any of her organs. Scripture, therefore, says “and she revealed the fountain of her blood” (Lev. 20:18). [Scripture here teaches us that] the only blood that defiles is what comes from her “fountain” [i.e., her womb]. — [Torath Kohanim 15:169]   כִּי־תִֽהְיֶה זָבָה: יָכוֹל מֵאֶחָד מִכָּל אֵבָרֶיהָ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְהִיא גִּלְּתָה אֶת מְקוֹר דָּמֶיהָ — אֵין דָּם מְטַמֵּא אֶלָּא הַבָּא מִן הַמָּקוֹר:
her flesh discharging blood: A woman’s discharge is not called a defiling discharge unless it is red. — [Niddah 19a]   דָּם יִֽהְיֶה זָבָה בִּבְשָׂרָהּ: אֵין זוֹבָהּ קָרוּי זוֹב לְטַמֵּא אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הוּא אָדֹם (שם י"ט):
in her state of menstrual separation: Heb. נִדָּתָהּ, like, “and chase him (יְנִדֻּהוּ) from the world” (Job 18:18), for she is separated (מְנֻדָּה) from contact with any man.   בְנִדָּתָהּ: כְּמוֹ וּמִתֵּבֵל יְנִדֻּהוּ (איוב י"ח) — שֶׁהִיא מְנֻדָּה מִמַּגַּע כָּל אָדָם:
she shall remain in her state of menstrual separation: Even if she saw only the first sighting. — [Torath Kohanim 15:171]   תִֽהְיֶה בְנִדָּתָהּ: אֲפִלּוּ לֹא רָאֲתָה אֶלָּא רְאִיָּה רִאשׁוֹנָה (ספרא):
20And whatever she lies on during her menstrual separation, shall become unclean, and whatever she sits on, shall become unclean.   כוְכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּשְׁכַּ֥ב עָלָ֛יו בְּנִדָּתָ֖הּ יִטְמָ֑א וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־תֵּשֵׁ֥ב עָלָ֖יו יִטְמָֽא:
21And anyone who touches her bedding, shall immerse his garments and immerse [himself] in water, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   כאוְכָל־הַנֹּגֵ֖עַ בְּמִשְׁכָּבָ֑הּ יְכַבֵּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
22And anyone who touches any object upon which she will sit, shall immerse his garments and immerse himself in water, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   כבוְכָ֨ל־הַנֹּגֵ֔עַ בְּכָל־כְּלִ֖י אֲשֶׁר־תֵּשֵׁ֣ב עָלָ֑יו יְכַבֵּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
23And if he is on the bedding or on the object, upon which she is sitting, when he touches it, he becomes unclean until evening.   כגוְאִ֨ם עַֽל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֜ב ה֗וּא א֧וֹ עַל־הַכְּלִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־הִ֥וא ישֶֽׁבֶת־עָלָ֖יו בְּנָגְעוֹ־ב֑וֹ יִטְמָ֖א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
And if he is on the bedding: [I.e.,] someone who lies or sits upon her bedding or upon her seat, even if he does not touch it [if he sits on a seat that is on that seat - see Rashi on verse 6], this person is nevertheless also included in the law of uncleanness stated in the previous verse, and he requires immersion of his garments [in a mikvah]. — [Torath Kohanim 15:134]   וְאִם עַֽל־הַמִּשְׁכָּב הוּא: הַשּׁוֹכֵב אוֹ הַיּוֹשֵׁב עַל מִשְׁכָּבָהּ אוֹ עַל מוֹשָׁבָהּ אֲפִלּוּ לֹא נָגַע בָּהּ, אַף הוּא בְּדַת טֻמְאָה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּמִקְרָא הָעֶלְיוֹן, שֶׁטָּעוּן כִּבּוּס בְּגָדִים:
or on the object: [This comes] to include riding gear. — [Torath Kohanim 15:176]   עַֽל־הַכְּלִי: לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַמֶּרְכָּב:
when he touches it, he becomes unclean: [This clause] refers exclusively to riding gear, which is included by [the words] “or object.”   בְּנָגְעוֹ־בוֹ: אֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא עַל הַמֶּרְכָּב שֶׁנִּתְרַבָּה מֵ"עַל הַכְּלִי":
when he touches it, he becomes unclean: But he does not require immersion of garments, for touching unclean riding gear does not defile people to defile their garments. — [Keilim 23:3]   בְּנָגְעוֹ־בוֹ יִטְמָא: וְאֵינוֹ טָעוּן כִּבּוּס בְּגָדִים, שֶׁהַמֶּרְכָּב אֵין מַגָּעוֹ מְטַמֵּא אָדָם לְטַמֵּא בְגָדִים (כלים פכ"ג):
24If a man cohabits with her, [the uncleanness of] her menstruation shall be upon him, and he shall be unclean for seven days, and any bedding he lies upon, shall become unclean.   כדוְאִ֡ם שָׁכֹב֩ יִשְׁכַּ֨ב אִ֜ישׁ אֹתָ֗הּ וּתְהִ֤י נִדָּתָהּ֙ עָלָ֔יו וְטָמֵ֖א שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וְכָל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ב אֲשֶׁר־יִשְׁכַּ֥ב עָלָ֖יו יִטְמָֽא:
[the uncleanness of] her menstruation shall be upon him: One might think that he follows in her footsteps, [i.e.,] if he had relations with her on the fifth day of her menstruation, he, too, will be unclean only for three days, like her. Scripture, therefore, continues, “and he shall be unclean for seven days.” So what does this clause here, “then [the uncleanness of] her menstruation shall be upon him,” come to teach us? [It means that the same laws of her uncleanness apply, insofar as] just as she defiles people and earthenware vessels, so does he defile people and earthenware vessels. — [Torath Kohanim 15:180; Niddah 33a]   וּתְהִי נִדָּתָהּ עָלָיו: יָכוֹל יַעֲלֶה לְרַגְלָהּ — שֶׁאִם בָּא עָלֶיהָ בַחֲמִישִׁי לְנִדָּתָהּ לֹא יִטְמָא אֶלָּא שְׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים כְּמוֹתָהּ — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וְטָמֵא שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וּתְהִי נִדָּתָהּ עָלָיו? מַה הִיא מְטַמְּאָה אָדָם וּכְלֵי חֶרֶס, אַף הוּא מְטַמֵּא אָדָם וּכְלֵי חֶרֶס (ספרא; נדה ל"ג):
25And a woman whose flow of blood flows for many days, outside of the time of her menstrual separation, or she has a discharge after her menstrual separation, then all the days she has her unclean discharge, she shall be unclean just like the days of her menstrual separation.   כהוְאִשָּׁ֡ה כִּֽי־יָזוּב֩ ז֨וֹב דָּמָ֜הּ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים בְּלֹא֙ עֶת־נִדָּתָ֔הּ א֥וֹ כִֽי־תָז֖וּב עַל־נִדָּתָ֑הּ כָּל־יְמֵ֞י ז֣וֹב טֻמְאָתָ֗הּ כִּימֵ֧י נִדָּתָ֛הּ תִּֽהְיֶ֖ה טְמֵאָ֥ה הִֽוא:
many days: Three days. — [Torath Kohanim 15:186]   יָמִים רַבִּים: שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים (ספרא):
outside of the time of her menstrual separation: [I.e., after the seven days of her menstrual uncleanness had passed [not within the period of her menstrual uncleanness]. — [Torath Kohanim 8:187, Niddah 73a]   בְּלֹא עֶת־נִדָּתָהּ: אַחַר שֶׁיָּצְאוּ שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי נִדָּתָהּ:
or she has a discharge: [of] these three days.   אוֹ כִּֽי־תָזוּב: אֶת שְׁלֹשֶׁת הַיָּמִים הַלָּלוּ:
after her menstrual separation: i.e., separated from [the period of] her menstruation by one day, this is a zavah, whose law is decreed in this passage, unlike the laws of the menstruant, insofar as this one [the zavah gedolah A woman who discharges for three consecutive days,] requires a counting of seven [days] clean [of blood] and a sacrifice [for her purification], whereas the menstruant is not required [by Torah law] to count clean days. Rather, [the menstruant] need only remain in her state of menstrual separation for seven days (verse 19), whether she sees [an issue of blood] or not. And our Rabbis expounded this passage (Torath Kohanim 15:187; Niddah 73) as follows: Between the end of one period of menstruation to the beginning of the next, there is an eleven-day interval, so that if during these eleven days, she sees an issue of blood for three consecutive [days], she becomes a zavah [gedolah].   עַל־נִדָּתָהּ: מֻפְלָג מִנִּדָּתָהּ יוֹם אֶחָד, זוֹ הִיא זָבָה, וּמִשְׁפָּטָהּ חָרוּץ בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ, וְלֹא כְּדַת הַנִּדָּה, שֶׁזּוֹ טְעוּנָה סְפִירַת שִׁבְעָה נְקִיִּים וְקָרְבָּן, וְהַנִּדָּה אֵינָהּ טְעוּנָה סְפִירַת נְקִיִּים, אֶלָּא שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תִּהְיֶה בְנִדָּתָהּ בֵּין רוֹאָה בֵּין שֶׁאֵינָהּ רוֹאָה. וְדָרְשׁוּ בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ י"א יוֹם בֵּין סוֹף נִדָּה לִתְחִלַּת נִדָּה, שֶׁכָּל שְׁלֹשֶׁת רְצוּפִין שֶׁתִּרְאֶה בְאַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם הַלָּלוּ תְּהֵא זָבָה:
26Any bedding upon which she lies during all the time of her discharge, will have the same [uncleanness] for her, as the bedding of her menstruation. And any object upon which she will sit, shall become unclean. like her menstrual uncleanness.   כוכָּל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֞ב אֲשֶׁר־תִּשְׁכַּ֤ב עָלָיו֙ כָּל־יְמֵ֣י זוֹבָ֔הּ כְּמִשְׁכַּ֥ב נִדָּתָ֖הּ יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑הּ וְכָל־הַכְּלִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּשֵׁ֣ב עָלָ֔יו טָמֵ֣א יִֽהְיֶ֔ה כְּטֻמְאַ֖ת נִדָּתָֽהּ:
27And anyone who touches them shall become unclean; he shall immerse his garments and immerse [himself] in water, and he shall remain unclean until evening.   כזוְכָל־הַנּוֹגֵ֥עַ בָּ֖ם יִטְמָ֑א וְכִבֶּ֧ס בְּגָדָ֛יו וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם וְטָמֵ֥א עַד־הָעָֽרֶב:
28And if she becomes clean of her discharge, she shall count for herself seven days, and after this, she may be cleansed.   כחוְאִם־טָֽהֲרָ֖ה מִזּוֹבָ֑הּ וְסָ֥פְרָה לָּ֛הּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים וְאַחַ֥ר תִּטְהָֽר:

Seventh Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 15

29And on the eighth day, she shall take for herself two turtle doves or two young doves, and bring them to the kohen, to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.   כט וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֗י תִּקַּח־לָהּ֙ שְׁתֵּ֣י תֹרִ֔ים א֥וֹ שְׁנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יוֹנָ֑ה וְהֵֽבִיאָ֤ה אוֹתָם֙ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
30And the kohen shall make one into a sin offering and one into a burnt offering, and the kohen shall effect atonement for her, before the Lord, from the uncleanness of her discharge.   לוְעָשָׂ֤ה הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֶת־הָֽאֶחָ֣ד חַטָּ֔את וְאֶת־הָֽאֶחָ֖ד עֹלָ֑ה וְכִפֶּ֨ר עָלֶ֤יהָ הַכֹּהֵן֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה מִזּ֖וֹב טֻמְאָתָֽהּ:
31And you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so that they will not die on account of their uncleanness, if they defile My Sanctuary which is in their midst.   לאוְהִזַּרְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִטֻּמְאָתָ֑ם וְלֹ֤א יָמֻ֨תוּ֙ בְּטֻמְאָתָ֔ם בְּטַמְּאָ֥ם אֶת־מִשְׁכָּנִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּתוֹכָֽם:
And you shall separate: Heb. וְהִזַּרְתֶּם. The term נְזִירָה always denotes separation (Torath Kohanim 15:196); similarly, “they drew (נָזרוּ) backwards” (Isa. 1:4); and similarly, “the one separated (נְזִיר) from his brothers” (Gen. 49:26).   וְהִזַּרְתֶּם: אֵין נְזִירָה אֶלָּא פְרִישָׁה וְכֵן נָזֹרוּ אָחוֹר (ישעיהו א'), וְכֵן נְזִיר אֶחָיו (בראשית מ"ט):
so that they will not die on account of their uncleanness: [The punishment כָּרֵת the death of the perpetrator and his offspring-is attached to an unclean person who enters the sanctuary, thus defiling it. See Num. 19:13.] We see [from here] that this כָּרֵת incurred by someone [unclean] who defiles the sanctuary is also referred to as מִיתָה [meaning “the death penalty from Heaven,” although in other contexts, מִיתָה refers to the death of the perpetrator but not his offspring.]. — [Sifrei Bamidbar 19:45]   וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ בְּטֻמְאָתָם: הֲרֵי הִכָּרֵת שֶׁל מְטַמֵּא מִקְדָּשׁ קָרוּי מִיתָה:
32This is the law for one who has a discharge, and one from whom semen issues, through which he becomes unclean,   לבזֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הַזָּ֑ב וַֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר תֵּצֵ֥א מִמֶּ֛נּוּ שִׁכְבַת־זֶ֖רַע לְטָמְאָה־בָֽהּ:
This is the law for one who has a discharge: [I.e.,] a person who sees one discharge. And what is the law governing him? [As the Torah continues:]   זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַזָּב: בַּעַל רְאִיָּה אַחַת, וּמַהוּ תוֹרָתוֹ?
and one from whom semen issues: He is like one who has experienced a seminal emission, that he becomes unclean until evening. — [Torath Kohanim 15:194]   וַֽאֲשֶׁר תֵּצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ שִׁכְבַת־זֶרַע: — הֲרֵי הוּא כְּבַעַל קֶרִי, טָמֵא טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב:
33And for a woman who has her menstrual flow, and for one who has a discharge, whether male or female, and a man who cohabits with an unclean woman.   לגוְהַדָּוָה֙ בְּנִדָּתָ֔הּ וְהַזָּב֙ אֶת־זוֹב֔וֹ לַזָּכָ֖ר וְלַנְּקֵבָ֑ה וּלְאִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁכַּ֖ב עִם־טְמֵאָֽה:
and for one who has a discharge: [This expression refers to] someone who has seen two discharges and someone who has seen three discharges, whose law is specified above [in this whole passage, beginning with verse 3]. — [Torath Kohanim 15:194]   וְהַזָּב אֶת־זוֹבוֹ: בַּעַל שְׁתֵּי רְאִיּוֹת, וּבַעַל שָׁלוֹשׁ רְאִיּוֹת, שֶׁתּוֹרָתָן מְפֹרֶשֶׁת לְמַעְלָה:

Maftir Portion

Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 15

31And you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so that they will not die on account of their uncleanness, if they defile My Sanctuary which is in their midst.   לאוְהִזַּרְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִטֻּמְאָתָ֑ם וְלֹ֤א יָמֻ֨תוּ֙ בְּטֻמְאָתָ֔ם בְּטַמְּאָ֥ם אֶת־מִשְׁכָּנִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּתוֹכָֽם:
And you shall separate: Heb. וְהִזַּרְתֶּם. The term נְזִירָה always denotes separation (Torath Kohanim 15:196); similarly, “they drew (נָזרוּ) backwards” (Isa. 1:4); and similarly, “the one separated (נְזִיר) from his brothers” (Gen. 49:26).   וְהִזַּרְתֶּם: אֵין נְזִירָה אֶלָּא פְרִישָׁה וְכֵן נָזֹרוּ אָחוֹר (ישעיהו א'), וְכֵן נְזִיר אֶחָיו (בראשית מ"ט):
so that they will not die on account of their uncleanness: [The punishment כָּרֵת the death of the perpetrator and his offspring-is attached to an unclean person who enters the sanctuary, thus defiling it. See Num. 19:13.] We see [from here] that this כָּרֵת incurred by someone [unclean] who defiles the sanctuary is also referred to as מִיתָה [meaning “the death penalty from Heaven,” although in other contexts, מִיתָה refers to the death of the perpetrator but not his offspring.]. — [Sifrei Bamidbar 19:45]   וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ בְּטֻמְאָתָם: הֲרֵי הִכָּרֵת שֶׁל מְטַמֵּא מִקְדָּשׁ קָרוּי מִיתָה:
32This is the law for one who has a discharge, and one from whom semen issues, through which he becomes unclean,   לבזֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הַזָּ֑ב וַֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר תֵּצֵ֥א מִמֶּ֛נּוּ שִׁכְבַת־זֶ֖רַע לְטָמְאָה־בָֽהּ:
This is the law for one who has a discharge: [I.e.,] a person who sees one discharge. And what is the law governing him? [As the Torah continues:]   זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַזָּב: בַּעַל רְאִיָּה אַחַת, וּמַהוּ תוֹרָתוֹ?
and one from whom semen issues: He is like one who has experienced a seminal emission, that he becomes unclean until evening. — [Torath Kohanim 15:194]   וַֽאֲשֶׁר תֵּצֵא מִמֶּנּוּ שִׁכְבַת־זֶרַע: — הֲרֵי הוּא כְּבַעַל קֶרִי, טָמֵא טֻמְאַת עֶרֶב:
33And for a woman who has her menstrual flow, and for one who has a discharge, whether male or female, and a man who cohabits with an unclean woman.   לגוְהַדָּוָה֙ בְּנִדָּתָ֔הּ וְהַזָּב֙ אֶת־זוֹב֔וֹ לַזָּכָ֖ר וְלַנְּקֵבָ֑ה וּלְאִ֕ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשְׁכַּ֖ב עִם־טְמֵאָֽה:
and for one who has a discharge: [This expression refers to] someone who has seen two discharges and someone who has seen three discharges, whose law is specified above [in this whole passage, beginning with verse 3]. — [Torath Kohanim 15:194]   וְהַזָּב אֶת־זוֹבוֹ: בַּעַל שְׁתֵּי רְאִיּוֹת, וּבַעַל שָׁלוֹשׁ רְאִיּוֹת, שֶׁתּוֹרָתָן מְפֹרֶשֶׁת לְמַעְלָה:

Haftarah

Melachim II (II Kings) Chapter 7

3Now there were four men, stricken with zaraath, [at] the entrance of the gate. And they said to each other, "Why are we sitting here until we die?   גוְאַרְבָּעָ֧ה אֲנָשִׁ֛ים הָי֥וּ מְצֹרָעִ֖ים פֶּ֣תַח הַשָּׁ֑עַר וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֔הוּ מָ֗ה אֲנַ֛חְנוּ ישְׁבִ֥ים פֹּ֖ה עַד־מָֽתְנוּ:
Now there were four men: Gehazi and his sons.   וְאַרְבָּעָה אֲנָשִׁים: גֵּיחֲזִי וּבָנָיו.
at the entrance of the gate: as it is said (Lev. 13:46) “He shall live alone; outside the camp shall be his habitation.”   פֶּתַח הַשָּׁעַר: כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֵה מוֹשָׁבוֹ.
4If we say that we will come into the city, with the famine in the city, we will die there, and if we stay here we will die. So now, let us go and let us defect to the Aramean camp. If they spare us we will live, and if they kill us we will die."   דאִם־אָמַרְנוּ֩ נָב֨וֹא הָעִ֜יר וְהָרָעָ֚ב בָּעִיר֙ וָמַ֣תְנוּ שָׁ֔ם וְאִם־יָשַׁ֥בְנוּ פֹ֖ה וָמָ֑תְנוּ וְעַתָּ֗ה לְכוּ֙ וְנִפְּלָה֙ אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֔ם אִם־יְחַיֻּ֣נוּ נִֽחְיֶ֔ה וְאִם־יְמִיתֻ֖נוּ וָמָֽתְנוּ:
5And they arose in the evening to come to the Aramean camp. And they came to the edge of the Aramean camp, and behold, no one was there.   הוַיָּק֣וּמוּ בַנֶּ֔שֶׁף לָב֖וֹא אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ עַד־קְצֵה֙ מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֔ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵֽין־שָׁ֖ם אִֽישׁ:
6Now the Lord had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, the sound of a great army. And they said to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired for us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us."   ווַאדֹנָ֞י הִשְׁמִ֣יעַ | אֶת־מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֗ם ק֥וֹל רֶ֙כֶב֙ ק֣וֹל ס֔וּס ק֖וֹל חַ֣יִל גָּד֑וֹל וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֗יו הִנֵּ֣ה שָֹֽכַר־עָלֵינוּ֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־מַלְכֵ֧י הַחִתִּ֛ים וְאֶת־מַלְכֵ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם לָב֥וֹא עָלֵֽינוּ:
had caused the Aramean camp to hear: It seemed to them as though they were hearing.   הִשְׁמִיעַ אֶת מַחֲנֵה אֲרָם: נִדְמָה לָהֶם כְּאִלּוּ שׁוֹמְעִין.
7And they picked themselves up and fled at dusk, leaving behind their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, the camp as it was, and they fled for their lives.   זוַיָּקוּמוּ֘ וַיָּנ֣וּסוּ בַנֶּשֶׁף֒ וַיַּעַזְב֣וּ אֶת־אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם וְאֶת־סֽוּסֵיהֶם֙ וְאֶת־חֲמֹ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁר־הִ֑יא וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ אֶל־נַפְשָֽׁם:
8Now these mezoraim came up to the edge of the camp, entered one tent, ate and drank, and carried off from there silver, gold, and clothing, and they went and hid [them]. And they returned and entered another tent, and carried off from there, and they went and hid [them].   חוַיָּבֹאוּ֩ הַֽמְצֹרָעִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה עַד־קְצֵ֣ה הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֗ה וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ אֶל־אֹ֚הֶל אֶחָד֙ וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֔וּ וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֗ם כֶּ֚סֶף וְזָהָב֙ וּבְגָדִ֔ים וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ וַיַּטְמִ֑נוּ וַיָּשֻׁ֗בוּ וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל אַחֵ֔ר וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ וַיַּטְמִֽנוּ:
9Now one said to another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, yet we are keeping quiet. If we wait until daybreak, we will incur guilt. Now, let us go and come and relate this in the king's palace."   טוַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֜הוּ לֹֽא־כֵ֣ן | אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹשִֹ֗ים הַיּ֚וֹם הַזֶּה֙ יוֹם־בְּשׂרָ֣ה ה֔וּא וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ מַחְשִׁ֗ים וְחִכִּ֛ינוּ עַד־א֥וֹר הַבֹּ֖קֶר וּמְצָאָ֣נוּ עָו֑וֹן וְעַתָּה֙ לְכ֣וּ וְנָבֹ֔אָה וְנַגִּ֖ידָה בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
We will incur guilt: We will be held guilty by the throne.   וּמְצָאָנוּ עָווֹן: מִתְחַיְּבִין אָנוּ לַמַּלְכוּת.
10And they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, saying, "We came to the Aramean camp, and behold there is no man there nor the sound of a human, but the horses are tethered and the donkeys are tethered, and the tents are as they were."   יוַיָּבֹ֗אוּ וַֽיִּקְרְאוּ֘ אֶל־שֹׁעֵ֣ר הָעִיר֒ וַיַּגִּ֚ידוּ לָהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּאנוּ אֶל־מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֔ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵֽין־שָׁ֛ם אִ֖ישׁ וְק֣וֹל אָדָ֑ם כִּ֣י אִם־הַסּ֚וּס אָסוּר֙ וְהַחֲמ֣וֹר אָס֔וּר וְאֹהָלִ֖ים כַּאֲשֶׁר־הֵֽמָּה:
as they were: as they were full at the beginning; they did not take out what was in them.   כַּאֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה: כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ מְלֵאִים מִתְּחִלָּתָם, לֹא הוֹצִיאוּ מַה שֶּׁבְּתוֹכָם.
11And he called the gatekeepers; and they related it to the king's palace inside.   יאוַיִּקְרָ֖א הַשֹּֽׁעֲרִ֑ים וַיַּגִּ֕ידוּ בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ פְּנִֽימָה:
12And the king arose at night and said to his servants, "Now I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry. So they left the camp to hide in the field, saying, 'When they come out of the city, we will seize them alive and enter the city.' "   יבוַיָּ֨קָם הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לַ֗יְלָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־עֲבָדָ֔יו אָגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־עָ֥שׂוּ לָ֖נוּ אֲרָ֑ם יָדְע֞וּ כִּי־רְעֵבִ֣ים אֲנַ֗חְנוּ וַיֵּצְא֚וּ מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֙ לְהֵחָבֵ֚ה בַשָּׂדֶה֙ (כתיב בַהשָּׂדֶה֙) לֵאמֹ֔ר כִּֽי־יֵצְא֚וּ מִן־הָעִיר֙ וְנִתְפְּשֵֹ֣ם חַיִּ֔ים וְאֶל־הָעִ֖יר נָבֹֽא:
that we are hungry: and long to go out to the loot and to the food.   כִּי רְעֵבִים אֲנַחְנוּ: וּתְאֵבִים לָצֵאת אֶל הַשָּׁלָל וְאֶל הַמָּזוֹן.
13Now one of his servants called out and said, "Let them take now five of the remaining horses that are left there. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel that are left there, behold they are like all the multitude of Israel that have perished; and let us send and we will see."   יגוַיַּעַן֩ אֶחָ֨ד מֵעֲבָדָ֜יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר וְיִקְחוּ־נָ֞א חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה מִן־הַסּוּסִים֘ הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִים֘ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁאֲרוּ־בָהּ֒ הִנָּ֗ם כְּכָל־הֲמ֚וֹן (כתיב ההֲמ֚וֹן) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁאֲרוּ־בָ֔הּ הִנָּ֕ם כְּכָל־הֲמ֥וֹן יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־תָּ֑מּוּ וְנִשְׁלְחָ֖ה וְנִרְאֶֽה:
that are left there: within the city, that did not die of hunger.   אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאֲרוּ בָהּ: בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר, שֶׁלֹּא מֵתוּ בָּרָעָב.
Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel that are left there: If they will say that they are imperiled lest the Arameans kill them, behold they are in this city in peril of famine like the rest of all the multitude of Israel that are left there, and if they die, they are like all the multitude of Israel that have perished from hunger.   הִנָּם כְּכָל הֲמוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאֲרוּ בָהּ: אִם יֹאמְרוּ מְסֻכָּנִין הֵם שֶׁלֹּא יַהַרְגֵם אַרָם, הֲרֵי הִנָּם בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת בְּסַכָּנַת הָרָעָב כִּשְׁאָר כָּל הֲמוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁאֲרוּ בָהּ, וְאִם יָמוּתוּ הִנָּם כְּכָל הֲמוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר תָּמּוּ בָּרָעָב.
14So they took two riders of horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean camp, saying, "Go and see."   ידוַיִּקְח֕וּ שְׁנֵ֖י רֶ֣כֶב סוּסִ֑ים וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אַחֲרֵ֧י מַחֲנֵֽה־אֲרָ֛ם לֵאמֹ֖ר לְכ֥וּ וּרְאֽוּ:
15And they followed them up to the Jordan, and behold all the way was full of garments and vessels that the Arameans had cast off in their haste; and the messengers returned and related it to the king.   טווַיֵּלְכ֣וּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם֘ עַד־הַיַּרְדֵּן֒ וְהִנֵּ֣ה כָל־הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ מְלֵאָ֚ה בְגָדִים֙ וְכֵלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁלִ֥יכוּ אֲרָ֖ם בְּחָפְזָ֑ם (כתיב בְּהחָפְזָ֑ם) וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ לַמֶּֽלֶךְ:
in their haste: in their hurry to flee.   בְּחָפְזָם: בְּמַהֲרָם לָנוּס.
16And the people went out and plundered the Aramean camp; and a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel and two seahs of barley were sold for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.   טזוַיֵּצֵ֣א הָעָ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֕זּוּ אֵ֖ת מַחֲנֵ֣ה אֲרָ֑ם וַיְהִ֨י סְאָה־סֹ֜לֶת בְּשֶׁ֗קֶל וְסָאתַ֧יִם שְׂעֹרִ֛ים בְּשֶׁ֖קֶל כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה:
17Now the king appointed the officer upon whose hand he leaned, over the gate, and the people trampled him and he died, as the man of God had spoken, which he spoke when the king had come down to him.   יזוְהַמֶּלֶךְ֩ הִפְקִ֨יד אֶת־הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁעָ֚ן עַל־יָדוֹ֙ עַל־הַשַּׁ֔עַר וַיִּרְמְסֻ֧הוּ הָעָ֛ם בַּשַּׁ֖עַר וַיָּמֹ֑ת כַּאֲשֶׁ֚ר דִּבֶּר֙ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר בְּרֶ֥דֶת הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֵלָֽיו:
upon whose hand he leaned: on the day before, when he came to Elisha’s house.   אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁעָן עַל יָדוֹ: אֶתְמוֹל כְּשֶׁבָּא לְבֵית אֱלִישָׁע.
18And it was when the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two seahs of barley will be sold for a shekel and a seah of fine flour will be sold at this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,".   יחוַיְהִ֗י כְּדַבֵּר֙ אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹ֑ר סָאתַ֨יִם שְׂעֹרִ֜ים בְּשֶׁ֗קֶל וּֽסְאָה־סֹ֙לֶת֙ בְּשֶׁ֔קֶל יִהְיֶה֙ כָּעֵ֣ת מָחָ֔ר בְּשַׁ֖עַר שֹׁמְרֽוֹן:
19That the officer answered the man of God and said, "And behold, if God makes windows in the sky, will this thing come about?" And he said, "Behold you will see it with your own eyes, yet you shall not eat therefrom."   יטוַיַּ֨עַן הַשָּׁלִ֜ישׁ אֶת־אִ֣ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים֘ וַיֹּאמַר֒ וְהִנֵּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה עֹשֶֹ֚ה אֲרֻבּוֹת֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם הֲיִהְיֶ֖ה כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנְּךָ֚ רֹאֶה֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וּמִשָּׁ֖ם לֹ֥א תֹאכֵֽל:
20And so it happened to him, that the people trampled him in the gate, and he died.   כוַיְהִי־ל֖וֹ כֵּ֑ן וַיִּרְמְס֨וּ אֹת֥וֹ הָעָ֛ם בַּשַּׁ֖עַר וַיָּמֹֽת:
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