 |
|
First Reading, Second Reading, Third Reading, Fourth Reading, Fifth Reading, Sixth Reading, Seventh Reading, Last Reading |
 |
First Reading, Second Reading, Third Reading, Fourth Reading, Fifth Reading, Sixth Reading, Seventh Reading, Last Reading |
Metsora |  |
|
| | 14:1 |
First Reading
God spoke to Moses, saying:
Vayedaber Adonay el-Moshe lemor. |
| 14:2 |
This is the law concerning the leper when he is purified and placed under the jurisdiction of the priest.
Zot tihyeh torat hametsora beyom tahorato vehuva el-hakohen. |
| 14:3 |
The priest shall go outside the camp, where he shall examine the leper to determine that the leprous mark has healed.
Veyatsa hakohen el-michuts lamachaneh vera'ah hakohen vehineh nirpa nega hatsara'at min-hatsarua. |
| 14:4 |
The priest shall then order that for the person undergoing purification there be taken two live kosher birds, a piece of cedar, some crimson [wool], and a hyssop branch.
Vetsivah hakohen velakach lamitaher shtey-tsiporim chayot tehorot ve'ets erez ushni tola'at ve'ezov. |
|
Commentary:
placed under the jurisdiction...
(Saadia; HaKethav VeHaKabbalah). Literally, 'he shall be brought,' or, '[the case] shall be brought.'
| outside the camp
See Leviticus 13:46. The leper is not permitted to remain inside a walled city (Yad, Tumath Tzaraath 10:7).
| kosher
(Rashi). Literally, 'clean.' See Leviticus 11:13-19.
| birds
Tzipor in Hebrew. According to Talmudic tradition, the bird used was the deror (Negaim 14:1; cf. Psalms 84:4, Proverbs 26:2). Some identify this as the swallow, hirundo in Latin, hirondelle in French (Rashi on Proverbs 26:2; Septuagint on Psalms 84:4). Nevertheless, among the swallows there are some varieties that are kosher and some that are not (cf. Radak, Sherashim, s.v. Derar; Pri Chadash, Orach Chaim 497:9; Pri Megadim, Mishbetzoth Zahav, Yoreh Deah 82:7).Other sources, however, identify the deror as the sparrow, passer in Latin, and pasra in Old Spanish (Radak on Psalms 84:4; Tifereth Yisrael, Negaim 14:4). The Talmud apparently identifies the deror with a bird known as the senunith (Chullin 62a; Ramban; cf. Tosafoth Chullin 139b, s.v. Ta Sh'ma; Nekudoth HaKesef, Yoreh Deah 82:7). The Talmud notes that only the white-breasted varieties of this bird are kosher, while the all black ones are not (Chullin 62a; cf. Rashba, Torath HaBayith 65a). The Targum identifies the senunith with the agur in Jeremiah 8:7, which some also identify as the swallow (Rashi, Radak ad. loc.), rondenella in Italian (Radak, Sherashim). Others, however, identify the senunith as a species of jay, gayo in Spanish, gayt in Old Spanish (Radak, loc. cit.). These were birds of the glandualia family, glondrina in Old Spanish (Beth Yosef, Yoreh Deah 82); hadolo nadrina in Provincial (Rabbenu Yerocham, Toledoth Adam VeChavah 15:21, 132b). As the Talmud notes, the jay is a bird closely related to the crow, but more colorful. To some degree, it can mimic human speech (cf. Radak, loc. cit.).
| cedar
The piece must be at least one cubit (18') long and one-fourth the cross section of a bedpost (Negaim 14:6; Yad, Tumath Tzaraath 11:1). Some say that the piece was the size of a hatchet handle (Raavad on Sifra). It appears that a bedpost in those times had approximately the same diameter as an egg (cf. Betza 3b).
| crimson wool
See Exodus 25:4. This consisted of combed out unspun wool (Rashi; Bertenoro, Tosefoth Yom Tov on Negaim 14:1). According to tradition, one shekel (0.8 oz.) of wool would be used (Yoma 42a; Yad, Tumath Tzaraath 11:1).
| hyssop...
See Exodus 12:22. The branch would have to be at least a handbreadth (3') long (Niddah 26a; Yad, loc. cit.) See Numbers 19:6.
|
|
Navigating the Bible
