צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה וגו' (במדבר ה, ב), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי כה, ד): הָגוֹ סִיגִים מִכָּסֶף וַיֵּצֵא לַצֹּרֵף כֶּלִי, אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בַּר רַבִּי אַבָּא מַהוּ הָגוֹ סִיגִים מִכָּסֶף, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַפְּסֹלֶת הַזּוֹ בַּכֶּסֶף אֵינוֹ מַרְאֶה יָפְיוֹ, לֹא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא נִסְתַּנְּנָה הַפְּסֹלֶת מִמֶּנּוּ, מִיָּד הוּא מַרְאֶה שִׁבְחוֹ. הָגוֹ סִיגִים מִכָּסֶף, אַחַר כָּךְ וַיֵּצֵא לַצֹּרֵף כֶּלִי, כֵּיצַד בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם הָיוּ כָּל רֻבָּן בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, לָמָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיוּ יְגֵעִים בַּטִּיט וּבַלְּבֵנִים וְעוֹלִים לְרֹאשׁ הַבִּנְיָן וּמִי שֶׁהוּא בּוֹנֶה עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹלִין לְרָאשֵׁי הַדָּמוֹסִין, אוֹ הָאֶבֶן נוֹפֶלֶת וְקוֹטַעַת יָדוֹ, אוֹ הַקּוֹרָה אוֹ הַטִּיט נִכְנָס בְּעֵינָיו וְהוּא נִסְמָא. וְהָיוּ בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּאוּ לְמִדְבַּר סִינַי אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים כָּךְ הוּא כְּבוֹדָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֶתֵּן אוֹתָהּ לְדוֹר בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין, וְאִם אַמְתִּין עַד שֶׁיַּעַמְדוּ אֲחֵרִים הֲרֵי אֲנִי מַשְׁהֶא בְּמַתַּן תּוֹרָה, מֶה עָשָׂה הָאֱלֹהִים, אָמַר לַמַּלְאָכִים שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ אֵצֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל וִירַפְּאוּ אוֹתָן, וְתֵדַע לְךָ שֶׁכֵּן, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בָּהֶן חִגְרִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יט, יז): וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר, וְאֵין נִצָּב אֶלָּא עַל רַגְלָיו. מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בָּהֶן גִּדְמִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כד, ז): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בָּהֶן חֵרְשִׁין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות): וְנִשְׁמַע. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בָּהֶן סוּמִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ, טו): וְכָל הָעָם רֹאִים אֶת הַקּוֹלֹת. וּמִנַיִן שֶׁלֹא הָיָה בָּהֶן אִלְמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יט, ח): וַיַּעֲנוּ כָל הָעָם, נִמְצֵאתָ אוֹמֵר שֶׁהֲרֵי נִתְרַפְּאוּ כֻּלָּן. וְאִם אֵין אַתָּה לָמֵד מִכָּאן יֵשׁ לְךָ לִלְמֹד מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טו, כו): כָּל הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם וגו', הֲרֵי לְךָ שֶׁנִּתְרַפְּאוּ, אֲבָל כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָשׂוּ אוֹתוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁל עֵגֶל חָזְרוּ לְמוּמָן וְנַעֲשׂוּ זָבִין וּמְצֹרָעִין, שֶׁכֵּן משֶׁה רוֹאֶה אוֹתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לב, כה): וַיַּרְא משֶׁה אֶת הָעָם כִּי פָרֻעַ הוּא, וְאֵין פָּרוּעַ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן צָרוּעַ, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ויקרא יג, מה): וְהַצָּרוּעַ אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ הַנֶּגַע וגו' וְרֹאשׁוֹ יִהְיֶה פָרוּעַ וגו'. אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים לְמשֶׁה עַד שֶׁלֹא עֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן הָיִיתִי מְגַלְגֵּל בַּדְּבָרִים וְהָיוּ הַזָּבִים וְהַמְצֹרָעִים מְעֹרָבִים עִמָּכֶם, עַכְשָׁו שֶׁעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וַאֲנִי מַשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָתִי בֵּינֵיכֶם, הַפְרִישׁוּ אוֹתָם מִכֶּם, וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ וְכָל זָב וְכֹל טָמֵא לָנֶפֶשׁ, בִּשְׁבִיל מַה, (במדבר ה, ג): וְלֹא יְטַמְּאוּ אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָם. “Command the children of Israel, and they shall send out from the camp every leper and every zav, and every one impure by means of a corpse” (Numbers 5:2).
“Command the children of Israel, and they shall send out from the camp…” – that is what is written: “Remove the dross from silver, and a vessel will emerge for the smith” (Proverbs 25:4). Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Rabbi Abba said: What is “remove the dross from silver”? As long as this waste is in the silver, it does not display its beauty. If one does nothing but filter the waste from it, it immediately displays its excellence. “Remove the dross from silver” – subsequently, “and a vessel will emerge for the smith.” How so? When Israel departed from Egypt, the vast majority of them were blemished. Why? It is because they were toiling in mortar and bricks and would ascend to the top of the structure. One who builds by ascending to the top course, a stone would fall and sever his hand, or a beam or mortar would enter his eye and he would be blinded. They were blemished.
When they arrived at Mount Sinai, God said: Is this commensurate with the honor of the Torah, that I will give it to a generation of blemished people? If I wait until others arise, I will delay the giving of the Torah. What did God do? He said to the angels that they should descend to Israel and heal them. Know that it is so. Rabbi Yehuda said that Rabbi Simon said: From where is it derived that there was no one lame among them? As it is stated: “They stood at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 19:17), and standing is only on one’s feet. From where is it derived that there were no amputees among them? As it is stated: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will perform” (Exodus 24:7). From where is it derived that there were no deaf among them? As it is stated: “And we will heed” (Exodus 24:7). From where is it derived that there were no blind among them? As it is stated: “All the people saw the sounds” (Exodus 20:15). From where is it derived that there were no mutes among them? As it is stated: “All the people answered” (Exodus 19:8) – you find that they were all healed.
If you do not derive it from here, you can derive it from elsewhere. As it is stated: “All the disease that I placed in Egypt [I will not place upon you, as I am the Lord your healer” (Exodus 15:26) – you see that they were healed. However, once they performed that act of the calf, they were restored to their blemish and became zavim1People who became impure due to an emission. and lepers. Thus Moses saw them, as it is stated: “Moses saw the people, that it was wild [farua]” (Exodus 32:25). Parua is nothing other than an expression of leprosy, just as it says: “The leper in whom the mark is…and the hair of his head shall be unshorn [farua]…” (Leviticus 13:45). God said to Moses: Until you crafted the Tabernacle, I would have My words reach you in a temporary manner, and the zavim and the lepers were intermingled with you. Now that you crafted the Tabernacle and I rest My Divine Presence in your midst, separate them from you. “They shall send out from the camp every leper and every zav, and every one impure by means of a corpse.” For what purpose? It is “so that they will not defile their camp, in which I dwell in their midst” (Numbers 5:3).
וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ וגו', לָמָּה נִסְמְכָה פָּרָשַׁת מְצֹרָעִים לְפָרָשַׁת הַלְוִיִּם, אַתְּ מוֹצֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַלְוִיִּם קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם מַלְכוּתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּסִינַי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יט, ח): וַיַּעֲנוּ כָל הָעָם יַחְדָּו, לְסוֹף אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם מָרְדוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (שמות לב, ח): וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם עֵגֶל מַסֵּכָה וגו' וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלוּךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם, אֲבָל הַלְוִיִּם נִמְצְאוּ מֻשְׁלָמִים עִם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לב, כו): וַיַּעֲמֹד משֶׁה בְּשַׁעַר הַמַּחֲנֶה וגו', אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (שמואל א ב, ל): כִּי מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד וּבֹזַי יֵקָלוּ, בְּנֵי לֵוִי שֶׁכִּבְּדוּנִי שֶׁלֹא כָּפְרוּ בִּי, לָהֶם אֲנִי מְכַבֵּד, אֲבָל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבִּזּוּנִי, שֶׁאֲנִי הֶעֱלֵיתִי אוֹתָם מִמִּצְרַיִם וְהֵם אָמְרוּ לָעֵגֶל שֶׁהוּא הֶעֱלָם, בְּדִין הוּא שֶׁיֵּקַלּוּ. מַה כָּבוֹד כִּבֵּד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת הַלְוִיִּם, שֶׁלְּקָחָם לְחֶלְקוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר ג, יב): וַאֲנִי הִנֵּה לָקַחְתִּי אֶת הַלְוִיִּם מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו', וְכֵיוָן שֶׁבָּא לִמְנוֹתָם לַעֲמֹד בְּשִׁמּוּשׁוֹ, הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ מְנָאָם, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁכֵּן הוּא, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן כְּתִיב לְמַעְלָה מִן פָּרָשַׁת מְצֹרָעִים (במדבר ד, מט): עַל פִּי ה' פָּקַד אוֹתָם בְּיַד משֶׁה, וְאוֹמֵר (במדבר ד, מט): וּפְקֻדָיו אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה', וּכְתִיב בְּרֹאשׁ הָעִנְיָן (במדבר ד, לו): וַיִּהְיוּ פְקֻדֵיהֶם, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הֵיאַךְ יִמְצָא הַדּוֹרֵשׁ יָדָיו בֵּין פְּקֻדָיו לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם, אִם פְּקֻדָיו לָמָּה פְּקֻדֵיהֶם, אֶלָּא פְּקֻדֵיהֶם מַה שֶּׁמָּנוּ משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, וּפְקֻדָיו מַה שֶּׁמָּנָה הָאֱלֹהִים, וְלָמָּה מְנָאָם הָאֱלֹהִים, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁלֹא יֹאמַר אָדָם וְכִי משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן הָיוּ יְכוֹלִים לִמְנוֹת כָּל אוֹתָן הָאֻכְלוּסִין, אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים אִם הִרְהַרְתָּ אַחֲרֵיהֶם כְּאִלּוּ אַחֲרַי אַתָּה מְהַרְהֵר, לְכָךְ כָּתַב: וּפְקֻדָיו וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם, וְהֵיאַךְ מְנָאָם משֶׁה, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר לוֹ לְמשֶׁה בְּמִשְׁפַּחַת פְּלוֹנִי כָּךְ וְכָךְ, עַד שֶׁמָּנָה אוֹתָן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: עַל פִּי ה' פָּקַד אוֹתָם בְּיַד משֶׁה, לְכָךְ כְּשֶׁמְּנָאָם משֶׁה מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ עַל פִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְנָאָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר ג, לט): כָּל פְּקוּדֵי הַלְוִיִּם וגו', אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה הַכֹּהֵן כָּךְ אַתְּ סָבוּר שֶׁהָיָה משֶׁה הוֹלֵךְ וְנִכְנַס לְאָהֳלוֹ שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לִרְאוֹת כַּמָּה בָּנִים הָיוּ לוֹ, לָאו, אֶלָּא אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים לְמשֶׁה יֵשׁ בְּאָהֳלוֹ שֶׁל פְּלוֹנִי שְׁנַיִם וּבְאָהֳלוֹ שֶׁל פְּלוֹנִי שְׁלשָׁה, עַד שֶׁמָּנָה אוֹתָן, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: עַל פִּי ה', הֱוֵי כָּבוֹד גָּדוֹל חָלַק לָהֶם שֶׁהוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ מְנָאָם, אֲבָל בְּמִנְיַן יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵין אַתְּ מוֹצֵא עַל פִּי ה', לְפִי שֶׁהֵם לֹא כִּבְּדוּהוּ אַף הוּא לֹא כִּבְּדָם. וְכֵן כְּשֶׁבָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁכָּן קֵרַב הַלְוִיִּם לְשִׁמּוּשׁוֹ, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָמַר בַּפָּרָשָׁה, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הַלְוִיִּם שֶׁכִּבְּדוּנִי יִהְיוּ אֶצְלִי אֲבָל אוֹתָן שֶׁטָּעוּ בָּעֵגֶל הֵם יִלְקוּ בְּצָרַעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לב, כה): וַיַּרְא משֶׁה אֶת הָעָם כִּי פָרֻעַ הוּא, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים קא, ג): עֲשׂה סֵטִים שָׂנֵאתִי וגו'. “They shall send out from the camp every leper…” – why is the portion of lepers juxtaposed to the portion of the Levites? You find that Israel and the Levites accepted the kingdom of the Holy One blessed be He upon themselves at Sinai, as it is stated: “All the people answered together” (Exodus 19:8). At the end of forty days, Israel rebelled against the Holy One blessed be He: “They crafted for themselves a molten calf…and said: This is your god, Israel, who took you up from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 32:8). But the Levites were found faultless before the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “Moses stood at the gate of the camp [and said: Whoever is for the Lord, come to me; and all the sons of Levi gathered to him]” (Exodus 32:26). The Holy One blessed be He said: “For those who honor Me, I will honor, but those who scorn Me will be lowly” (I Samuel 2:30). The sons of Levi, who honored Me and did not deny Me, them I honor. But Israel, who scorned Me, as I took them up out of Egypt but they said it was the calf that took them up, by right they should be lowly. With what honor did the Holy One blessed be He honor the Levites? It is that He took them as His portion, as it is stated: “I have hereby taken the Levites from among the children of Israel…[and the Levites shall be Mine]” (Numbers 3:12). When He came to count them to stand in His service, He counted them Himself.
From where is it derived that it is so? Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Shimon said: It is written before the portion of the lepers: “According to the directive of the Lord he counted them, at the hand of Moses” (Numbers 4:49), and it says: “And his count was as the Lord commanded Moses” (Numbers 4:49). It is written at the beginning of the matter: “Their counted were” (Numbers 4:36). Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Shimon said: How will the expounder find his bearings between “his count” and “their counted”? If “his count,” why “their counted”? Rather, “their counted” – what Moses and Aaron counted; “His count” – what God counted. Why did God count them? The Holy One blessed be He said: So no man would say: Were Moses and Aaron capable of counting all those multitudes? God said: If you express reproof about them it is as though you are expressing reproof about Me. That is why He wrote: “His count” and “their counted.”
How did Moses count them? Rabbi Berekhya said: The Holy One blessed be He would say to Moses: ‘In such and such family there are such and such people,’ until he counted them. That is what is written: “According to the directive of the Lord he counted them, at the hand of Moses.” When Moses counted them from one month old, he counted them at the directive of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “All those counted of the Levites, [whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the directive of the Lord]” (Numbers 3:39). Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen said: Do you believe that Moses would go and enter the tent of each and every one to see how many sons he had? No, rather God said to Moses: ‘There are two in the tent of so-and-so, and three in the tent of so-and-so,’ until he counted them. From where is it derived? As it is stated: “According to the directive of the Lord.” Thus, He accorded great honor to them in that He Himself counted them. But in the census of Israel, you do not find “according to the directive of the Lord.” Because they did not honor Him, He did not honor them.
Likewise, when the Holy One blessed be He came to establish the Tabernacle, He drew the Levites near in His service, as it says in the portion.2This refers to Numbers, chapters 3–4, which describe how the Levites were chosen and what their role was in the Tabernacle. The Holy One blessed be He said: The Levites who honored Me will be with Me, but those who erred with the calf will be afflicted with leprosy, as it is stated: “Moses saw the people, that it was wild [farua]” (Exodus 32:25).3The proof from the verse is explained in Bemidbar Rabba 7:1. Likewise, it says: “I hate the doing of perversity; [it shall not cleave to me]” (Psalms 101:3).4Therefore, other Israelites, who sinned with the calf, were rejected and did not serve in the Tabernacle and Temple.
וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ וגו' (במדבר ה, ב), אַתְּ מוֹצֵא מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ פְּרוֹפָּסִיטִין, אַף הָאֱלֹהִים יֵשׁ לוֹ פְּרָפּוֹסִיטִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר א, ב): שְׂאוּ אֶת רֹאשׁ כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו', מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ דֻּכָּסִין, אַף הָאֱלֹהִים יֵשׁ לוֹ דֻּכָּסִין, (במדבר ג, לב): וּנְשִׂיא נְשִׂיאֵי הַלֵּוִי וגו', אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי דּוּךְ דּוּכָנִין הָיָה, מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם מְחַלֵּק דּוֹנָטִיבָא לְלִגְיוֹנוֹתָיו, הָאֱלֹהִים מְחַלֵּק דּוֹנָטִיבָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טז, ד): הִנְנִי מַמְטִיר לָכֶם לֶחֶם מִן הַשָּׁמָיִם. מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם מְחַלֵּק כֵּלִים וּבֶסְטִיָא לְאִסְרַטְיוֹטוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ, וְאַף הָאֱלֹהִים כֵּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ח, ד): שִׂמְלָתְךָ לֹא בָלְתָה וגו'. מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ סְפֶקוּלָא, וְאַף הָאֱלֹהִים יֵשׁ לוֹ סְפֶקוּלָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כ, י): מוֹת יוּמַת הַנֹּאֵף וְהַנֹּאָפֶת. מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ קָטָרִיקָס, אַף הָאֱלֹהִים יֵשׁ לוֹ קָטָרִיקָס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כב, יט): וְעָנְשׁוּ אֹתוֹ מֵאָה כֶסֶף. מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ קָטָפוֹרָס, אַף הָאֱלֹהִים יֵשׁ לוֹ קָטָפוֹרָס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כה, ג): אַרְבָּעִים יַכֶּנּוּ לֹא יֹסִיף. מֶלֶךְ בָּשָׂר וָדָם יֵשׁ לוֹ מֶטָלוֹן שֶׁל טֵרוּדִין, אַף הָאֱלֹהִים יֵשׁ לוֹ מֶטָלוֹן שֶׁל טֵרוּדִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ וגו'. “They shall send out from the camp every leper…” – you find that a king of flesh and blood has nobility; God, too, has nobility, as it is stated: “Take a census of [se’u et rosh]5Literally, elevate them. the entire congregation of the children of Israel…” (Numbers 1:2). A king of flesh and blood has senior officials; God, too, has senior officials: “The prince of the princes of the Levites, [Elazar son of Aaron the priest]” (Numbers 3:32). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: He [Elazar] was an overseer of officials. A king of flesh and blood distributes sustenance to his legions; God, too, distributes sustenance, as it is stated: “Behold, I am raining bread for you from the heavens” (Exodus 16:4). A king of flesh and blood distributes blankets and garments to his soldiers; the same is true of God, as it is stated: “Your garments did not become worn…” (Deuteronomy 8:4). A king of flesh and blood issues a death sentence; God, too, issues a death sentence, as it is stated: “The adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death” (Leviticus 20:10). A king of flesh and blood exacts fines; God, too, exacts fines, as it is stated: “They shall fine him one hundred silver pieces” (Deuteronomy 22:19). A king of flesh and blood inflicts corporal punishment; God, too, inflicts corporal punishment, as it is stated: “Forty he shall flog him; he shall not add” (Deuteronomy 25:3). A king of flesh and blood has a metal mine to which the banished are exiled; God, too, has a metal mine6This is meant metaphorically; there is a place to which people are banished. to which the banished are exiled, as it is stated: “They shall send out from the camp every leper…”
וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה וגו', מֵהֵיכָן בָּאת עֲלֵיהֶם הַצָּרָעַת, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר מִן מַעֲשֵׂה הָעֵגֶל, וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אוֹמְרִים מִן הַמִּתְאוֹנְנִים, לְדַעַת רַבּוֹתֵינוּ מִן הַמִּתְאוֹנְנִים בָּאת עֲלֵיהֶם הַצָּרָעַת, כֵּיצַד, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוֹרִיד לָהֶם הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת הַמָּן עָשָׂה לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים כַּמָּה נִסִּים, אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (גמרא יומא עה-ב): לֹא הָיוּ נִצְרָכִין לְהִפָּנוֹת כְּדֶרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם, לָמָּה כֵן, אֶלָּא אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים יִהְיוּ בָנַי נִצְרָכִין לְהִפָּנוֹת וְהֵיאַךְ הִכְתַּבְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁהֵם אֱלֹהִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פב, ו): אֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם, אֶלָּא כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין הַמַּלְאָכִים צְרִיכִין לְדָבָר זֶה, אַף הֵן לֹא יִצָּרְכוּ לְדָבָר זֶה עוֹד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים הָאֻמּוֹת אוֹכְלִין וְנִצְרָכִין וְהֵיאַךְ אֲנִי נוֹתֵן הֶפְרֵשׁ בֵּין בָּנַי לְבֵין הָאֻמּוֹת, לְפִיכָךְ לֹא הָיוּ נִצְרָכִין. מֶה עָשׂוּ, בַּטּוֹבָה שֶׁעָשָׂה לָהֶם הָאֱלֹהִים הִתְחִילוּ אוֹמְרִים לֵיצָנוּת עָלָיו, אוֹמֵר זֶה לָזֶה אִי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ שִׁמְעוֹן אָחִי, וְזֶה אוֹמֵר מָה אַתָּה אוֹמֵר רְאוּבֵן אָחִי, אָמַר לוֹ בְּחַיֶּיךָ רָאִיתָ בְּיָמֶיךָ אָדָם נוֹתֵן חִטִּים בָּרֵחַיִם וְאֵינָן נִטְחָנוֹת וְיוֹרְדוֹת, אַף אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין אֶת הַמָּן וְאֵינוֹ יוֹרֵד. אָמַר לוֹ חֲבֵרוֹ מִתְיָרֵא אֲנִי שֶׁלְּיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן תִּנָּפַח כְּרֵסִי וְתִבָּקַע, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין אָנוּ מוֹצִיאִין אוֹתוֹ. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים לְמשֶׁה אֵינִי יָכוֹל לִסְבֹּל וְלִכְבּשׁ (במדבר יד, יא): עַד אָנָה יְנַאֲצֻנִי וגו', וְעַד אָנָה לֹא יַאֲמִינוּ בִי בְּכָל נִפְלְאוֹתָי אֲשֶׁר אֶעֱשֶׂה עִמּוֹ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא אֶעֱשֶׂה בְּקִרְבּוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי כַּמָּה אוֹתוֹת וְנִפְלָאוֹת עָשִׂיתִי בְּקִרְבֵּיהֶן וְהֵן מְנַאֲצִין אוֹתִי, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא א, יג): וְהַקֶּרֶב וְהַכְּרָעַיִם וגו', וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹא הָיָה יוֹצֵא מֵהֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים עח, כה): לֶחֶם אַבִּירִים אָכַל אִישׁ, אַל תְּהִי קוֹרֵא אַבִּירִים אֶלָּא לֶחֶם אֵיבָרִים, לֶחֶם שֶׁהוּא נִמּוֹחַ בְּאֵיבְרֵיהֶם, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן לָמַד משֶׁה סָנֵיגוֹרְיָא עֲלֵיהֶם וְחָזַר בּוֹ אֱלֹהִים מִן הָרָעָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמְרוּ זֶה לָזֶה יִהְיוּ זְכוּרִין אוֹתָן הַיָּמִים שֶׁהָיִינוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיִינוּ מְבַשְּׁלִין קְדֵרוֹת קְדֵרוֹת שֶׁל בָּשָׂר וְיוֹשְׁבִין וְאוֹכְלִין פַּכְּסָמִין, וּפוֹתִין בְּתוֹךְ הַזּוֹם שֶׁל בָּשָׂר, לְוַאי מַתְנוּ שָׁם וְלֹא הוֹצִיאָנוּ הָאֱלֹהִים מִשָּׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טז, ג): מִי יִתֵּן מוּתֵנוּ בְּיַד ה' בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּשִׁבְתֵּנוּ וגו', וְעַכְשָׁו אֵין לָנוּ אֶלָּא הַמָּן הַזֶּה בִּלְבָד בָּעֶרֶב כֵּן בַּבֹּקֶר כֵּן בַּחוֹל כֵּן בַּשַּׁבָּת, עָשָׂה אָדָם יוֹם טוֹב אֵין לוֹ לֶאֱכֹל אֶלָּא מָן, עָשָׂה יוֹם רָע אֵין לוֹ לֶאֱכֹל אֶלָּא מָן, הֲרֵי נְפָשׁוֹת יְבֵשִׁים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יא, ו): וְעַתָּה נַפְשֵׁנוּ יְבֵשָׁה אֵין כֹּל וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי וְכִי בָּשָׂר הָיוּ מְבַקְּשִׁין, וַהֲלוֹא כָּל מַעֲדַנֵּי עוֹלָם טוֹעֲמִין בַּמָּן, כָּל מִי שֶׁהָיָה מִתְאַוֶּה בָּשָׂר הָיָה טוֹעֲמוֹ, וְכָל מִי שֶׁהָיָה מִתְאַוֶּה דָּגָה הָיָה טוֹעֲמוֹ, מִי שֶׁהָיָה מִתְאַוֶּה תַּרְנְגוֹל אוֹ פַּסְיוֹן אוֹ טַוָּס כָּךְ הָיָה טוֹעֵם, כָּל מַה שֶּׁהָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ, וְלָמָּה מִתְרַעֲמִים, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיוּ מְבַקְּשִׁים עֲלִילָה הֵיאַךְ לַחֲזֹר לְמִצְרַיִם, וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים לְמשֶׁה מָה הֵם מְבַקְּשִׁים, בָּשָׂר, אֱמֹר לָהֶם שֶׁאֲנִי אֶתֵּן לָהֶם בָּשָׂר, וְאֵין אַתֶּם אוֹכְלִים מִמֶּנּוּ יוֹם אֶחָד בִּלְבָד אוֹ יוֹמַיִם, אֶלָּא חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר יא, יט כ): לֹא יוֹם אֶחָד תֹּאכְלוּן וגו' עַד חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נָתַן לָהֶם הָאֱלֹהִים בָּשָׂר, כָּל מִי שֶׁלֹא נִתְרַעֵם לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים הָיָה אוֹכְלוֹ וְנֶהֱנֶה מִמֶּנּוּ, וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה מְנַאֵץ לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, הָיָה אוֹכְלוֹ וְהָיָה בּוֹדְקוֹ וְיוֹצֵא מֵאַפּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יא, כ): עַד אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מֵאַפְּכֶם וגו'. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אוֹמֵר לְאַסְכְּרָא. רַבִּי הוּנָא הַכֹּהֵן בַּר אָבִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן בְּשֵׁם רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁבַּגּוֹלָה אוֹמֵר לְזָרָא וּלְבוּטְנָא. רַבִּי אֶבְיָתָר אוֹמֵר מַאי לְזָרָא לְקַרְדָא, אוֹ שֶׁאֶהְיֶה נוֹתֵן דּוּרָא בְּמֵעֵיהֶן. רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ בַּר נַגָּרִי אוֹמֵר וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְאַזְהָרָה, שֶׁמִּיכָּן וָאֵילָךְ יַזְהִירוּ לָהֶם. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר מַה וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְזָרָא, שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ כֻּלָּם זָרִים, כְּמָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כב, יג): וְכָל זָר לֹא יֹאכַל בּוֹ, כָּךְ כָּל מִי שֶׁנִּאֵץ לֵאלֹהִים נַעֲשָׂה זָר, וְהֵיאַךְ נַעֲשָׂה זָר, אֶלָּא שֶׁבָּאת עֲלֵיהֶם הַצָּרָעַת, אָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים לָמָּה הֵם נִאֲצוּ אוֹתִי הֲרֵי הֵם זָרִים מִן הַקָּהָל, וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ וגו', וְעַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר רַבִּי סִימוֹן דְּאָמַר מִן מַעֲשֵׂה הָעֵגֶל בָּאת עֲלֵיהֶם הַצָּרָעַת, מַפִּיק לֵיהּ מֵהַאי קְרָא (ישעיה יז, יא): בְּיוֹם נִטְעֵךְ תְּשַׂגְשֵׂגִי וגו'. אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אַחַר אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה עָשׂוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הָעֵגֶל, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁכֵּן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא שֶׁהָאֱלֹהִים רָמַז לְמשֶׁה עַל כָּךְ, אָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים משֶׁה אֵין אַתְּ רוֹאֶה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הֵיכָן הֵם עוֹמְדִים וְאוֹמְרִים (שמות כד, ח): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע, חַיֶּיךָ בִּכְזָבִים הֵם עוֹמְדִים, אֵינָם מֻשְׁלָמִים לִי אֶלָּא אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יט, ו): וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ לִי מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וגו', חָסֵר מִקְרָא כְּלוּם לִי, למ"ד שְׁלשִׁים, יו"ד עֲשָׂרָה, הֲרֵי אַרְבָּעִים. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי וְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אֶחָד מֵהֶם הָיָה אוֹמֵר עֶשְׂרִים וְתִשְׁעָה יָמִים הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֻשְׁלָמִין, וְחַד מִנְהוֹן הָיָה אוֹמֵר אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֻשְׁלָמִין, וְתַרְוֵיהוֹן מֵחַד קְרָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים א, ב): אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם מֵחֹרֵב וגו', אֶחָד מֵהֶן אוֹמֵר מַהוּ אַחַד עָשָׂר, אָמַר לָהֶם משֶׁה, לֹא עֶשְׂרִים וְתִשְׁעָה יוֹם הֱיִיתֶם מֻשְׁלָמִין לֵאלֹהִים, וְאַחַד עָשָׂר אַחֲרוֹנִים הֱיִיתֶם מִתְחַשְּׁבִין הֵיאַךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הָעֵגֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם. וַחֲבֵרוֹ אוֹמֵר אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם, הָיוּ מֻשְׁלָמִים לֵאלֹהִים וְעֶשְׂרִים וְתִשְׁעָה הָיוּ מִתְחַשְּׁבִין הֵיאַךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הָעֵגֶל. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא אוֹמֵר יוֹם אֶחָד הָיוּ מֻשְׁלָמִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ד, י): יוֹם אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּחֹרֵב. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר לֹא כְדִבְרֵי אֵלּוּ וְלֹא כְדִבְרֵי אֵלּוּ, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים (שמות כד, ח): כֹּל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע, הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים בְּפִיהֶם אֶחָד וּבְלִבָּם אֶחָד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים עח, לו לז): וַיְפַתּוּהוּ בְּפִיהֶם וּבִלְשׁוֹנָם יְכַזְּבוּ לוֹ וְלִבָּם לֹא נָכוֹן עִמּוֹ, הֲרֵי אֲפִלּוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹמְדִים לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי לֹא הָיָה לִבָּם נָכוֹן לְבוֹרְאָם, הוּא שֶׁיְּשַׁעְיָה אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: בְּיוֹם נִטְעֵךְ תְּשַׂגְשֵׂגִי, אָמַר לָהֶם הָאֱלֹהִים בְּיוֹם שֶׁבִּקַּשְׁתִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶתְכֶם נְטִיעָה לִשְׁמִי עֲשִׂיתֶם סִיגִים, הֱוֵי: בְּיוֹם נִטְעֵךְ תְּשַׂגְשֵׂגִי. מַהוּ (ישעיה יז, יא): וּבַבֹּקֶר זַרְעֵךְ תַּפְרִיחִי, רַבִּי חָמָא וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן, חַד מִנְּהוֹן אָמַר לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה, לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ גִּנָה אַחַת מְלֵאָה בִּכְרוּב נָאֶה וּמְשֻׁבָּח, נִכְנַס לְתוֹכָהּ בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם וְרָאָה אוֹתָהּ, וְאָמַר מַה נָּאֶה וּמְשֻׁבָּח, לַבֹּקֶר אֲנִי מוֹכֵר אוֹתָהּ לַתַּגָּרִין וַאֲמַלֵּא כִּיסִי זְהוּבִים. בַּבֹּקֶר נִכְנַס לִרְאוֹתָהּ וּמָצָא אוֹתָהּ שֶׁהִפְרִיגָה, אָמַר לָהּ תִּפַּח רוּחֵךְ, בָּעֶרֶב הָיִית נָאָה וּמְשֻׁבַּחַת וּבַבֹּקֶר הֲרֵי הִפְרַגְתְּ. כָּךְ אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: וּבַבֹּקֶר זַרְעֵךְ תַּפְרִיחִי. וַחֲבֵרוֹ אוֹמֵר לְמִי שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ שָׂדֶה שֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן נִכְנָס לְתוֹכָהּ בָּעֶרֶב וְהָיְתָה נָאָה, בָּא לְהִכָּנֵס בַּבֹּקֶר וּמְצָאָהּ שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה גִבְעוֹלִין, כָּךְ אָמַר לָהֶם אֱלֹהִים וּבַבֹּקֶר זַרְעֵךְ תַּפְרִיחִי. (ישעיה יז, יא): בְּיוֹם נַחֲלָה, בַּיּוֹם שֶׁסָּבַרְתִּי לַעֲשׂוֹתְכֶם נַחֲלָה לִשְׁמִי לֹא קִיַּמְתֶּם מַלְכוּתִי עֲלֵיכֶם. וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, בּוֹאוּ וְקַבְּלוּ אֶת הַצָּרָעַת. וְלָמָּה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, לְשׁוֹן גֶּבֶר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא מַכָּה הַגְּבַרְתָּנִית. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, שֶׁהִיא מְנַתֶּשֶׁת אֶת הַגּוּף שֶׁהִיא נִכְנֶסֶת בּוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים לְמשֶׁה הַפְרֵשׁ הַמְצֹרָעִים שֶׁבֵּינֵיהֶם שֶׁהֵם עָשׂוּ אוֹתָהּ הַמַּעֲשֶׂה, וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ וגו'. “They shall send out from the camp…” – from where did the leprosy befall them? Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Simon said: Due to the act of the calf. Our Rabbis say: Due to the murmurers;7See Numbers 11:1. according to the opinion of our Rabbis, the leprosy befell them from the murmurers. How so?8The answer to this question appears at the end of the description of the complaints about the manna. When God rained the manna down for them, God performed several miracles for them. Our Rabbis said: They did not need to relieve themselves in the manner of people. Why did He do so? It is, rather, that God said: If My children need to relieve themselves, how, then, did I write in their regard that they are divine, as it is stated: “I had said: You are divine” (Psalms 82:6)? Rather, just as the angels do not need to engage in this matter, they too will no longer need to engage in this matter.
Another matter: God said: The nations eat and need to relieve themselves, and how do I distinguish between My children and the nations. That is why they did not need to relieve themselves. What did they do with the good that God performed on their behalf? They began speaking cynically about it. One said to another: Do you not hear, Shimon my brother? That one says: What do you say, Reuven my brother? He said to him: As you live, have you in all your days seen a person placing wheat in a mill, and after they are ground do not flow down?9Namely, the flour does not flow down. We, too, eat the manna, and it does not flow down. His counterpart said to him: I fear that ultimately my stomach will become swollen and burst because we do not excrete it. At that moment, God said to Moses: ‘I cannot bear and restrain Myself: “Until when will [this nation continue to] provoke Me? Until when will they not believe in Me?”’ (Numbers 14:11). Here, it is not written, “with all the wonders that I have performed with them [imo],” but rather, “[with all the signs] that I have performed in their midst [bekirbo]” (Numbers 14:11). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: How many signs and wonders I have performed in their innards [bekirbeihen], but they provoke Me, like the matter that is stated: “And the innards [vehakerev] and the legs…” (Leviticus 1:13).10This verse is brought as a proof that the term bekirbo can mean in their innards. From where is it derived that it would not emerge from them? As it is stated: “Man ate the bread of abirim” (Psalms 78:25).11The term “the bread of abirim” refers to the manna mentioned in the previous verse. Do not read it as abirim, but rather, “the bread of eivarim,” bread that is absorbed in their organs [eivarim]. Nevertheless, Moses advocated on their behalf, and God reconsidered the evil.
Then they said to one another: ‘Remember those days when we were in Egypt, when we would cook cauldrons upon cauldrons of meat, and would sit and eat toasts, and would crumble them into the gravy of the meat. If only we had died there, and God had not taken us out of there,’ as it is stated: “If only our death had been at the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat [by the fleshpots, when we ate bread until satiation]” (Exodus 16:3). ‘Now, we have nothing other than this manna alone; so it is in the evening, so it is in the morning, so it is during the week, so it is on Shabbat. If a person celebrated a good day, he has nothing to eat other than manna. If he marks a bad day, he has nothing to eat other than manna. Therefore, the souls are parched,’ as it is stated: “But now our soul is parched; there is nothing at all; [nothing but the manna to look to]” (Numbers 11:6).
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: Were they requesting meat? Did they not taste all the delicacies of the world in the manna? Anyone who desired meat would taste it, and anyone who desired fish would taste it. Anyone who desired rooster, pheasant, peacock, or anything that he sought, would taste that. Why, then, were they murmuring? It was, rather, that they sought a pretext for how to return to Egypt. Nevertheless, God said to Moses: What are they requesting? It is meat. Say to them that I will provide them with meat. You will eat of it not only one or two days, but one entire month. That is what is written: “You will eat, not one day…but until an entire month” (Numbers 11:19–20). At that moment, God provided them with meat. Anyone who did not murmur before God would eat it and enjoy it. Anyone who blasphemed before God would eat, and [the meat] would examine him,12The meat would “check” whether the person eating it was a blasphemer. and it would come out of his nose, as it is stated: “Until it comes out of your nose, [and it will be lezara for you]” (Numbers 11:20). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says: [The meat will cause] croup. Rabbi Huna HaKohen bar Avin says in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman in the name of our Rabbis in the Diaspora: [The meat will cause] vomit and excrement. Rabbi Evyatar says: What is lezara? It is a tick, or, that I will introduce a worm into their intestines. Rabbi Aivu bar Nagari says: It will be a warning [le’azhara] for you that from here on they will be forewarned.
Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Simon said: What is, “and it will be lezara for you” (Numbers 11:20)? They all became outcasts [zarim], just as it is stated: “No zar may eat of it” (Leviticus 22:13). So, anyone who blasphemes God becomes an outcast. How does he become an outcast? It is, rather, that leprosy befell them. God said to him: Why did they blaspheme Me? They are outcasts from the congregation: “They shall send out from the camp every leper…”
According to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda bar Rabbi Simon, who said: Due to the act of the calf, leprosy befell them, he derives it from this verse: “On the day of your planting you will flourish, [and in the morning your seed will blossom; your branch will be lost on a day of affliction and mortal pain]” (Isaiah 17:11). Our Rabbis say: Forty days after Israel received the Torah, Israel crafted the calf.13For those forty days they were completely devoted to God. From where is it derived? It is as you find that God alluded to this to Moses. God said to Moses: ‘Do you not see Israel, that they are standing and saying: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7); as you live, they are standing in deceit. They are complete with Me only forty days,’ as it is stated: “You shall be for Me [li] a kingdom of priests…” (Exodus 19:6). Was the verse lacking “li”? Lamed is thirty, yod is ten; there is forty.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai and Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov: one of them would say: They were completely devoted for twenty-nine days, and one of them would say: They were completely devoted for eleven days. Both derive it from one verse, as it is stated: “Eleven days from Ḥorev…” (Deuteronomy 1:2). One of them says: What is “eleven”? Moses told them: ‘Was it not that you were completely devoted to God for twenty-nine days, but during the final eleven, you were calculating how to craft the calf,’ as it is stated: “Eleven days…” But his counterpart says: For eleven days they were completely devoted to God, and for twenty-nine they were calculating how to craft the calf. Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta says: They were completely devoted for one day, as it is stated: “The day that you stood before the Lord your God at Ḥorev” (Deuteronomy 4:10).
Rabbi Meir says: It is neither in accordance with the statement of these nor in accordance with the statement of those, but even at the moment that they were saying, “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7), they were saying one matter with their mouth and one matter with their heart, as it is stated: “But they enticed Him with their mouth and deceived Him with their tongue. Their heart was not true with Him” (Psalms 78:36–37). Even on that very day that they were standing before Mount Sinai, their heart was not true to their Creator. That is what Isaiah says to them: “On the day of your planting you will flourish (tesagsegi)” (Isaiah 17:11) – God said to them: On the day that I sought to render you a plant in My name14Namely, on the day that I established you as My nation., you generated dross (sigim).15Tesagsegi is interpreted as: Make sigim. That is: “On the day of your planting you will flourish.”
What is, “and in the morning your seed will blossom” (Isaiah 17:11)? Rabbi Ḥama, Rabbi Ḥanina, and Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: one of them said: To what is the matter analogous? It is to a king who had one garden filled with fine and excellent cabbage. He entered into it at dusk and saw it. He said: How fine and excellent; in the morning I will sell it to the merchants and fill my purse with gold pieces. In the morning he entered to see it and found that it had germinated.16Its leaves had spread and it no longer looked fine and excellent. He said to it: May you be cursed; in the evening you were fine and excellent, and in the morning you germinated. So God said to Israel: “And in the morning your seed will blossom [tafriḥi].”17Tafriḥi is interpreted as meaning that the seeds flew out [hifriḥu], which is a sign of deterioration.
His counterpart says: It is analogous to one who had a field of flax. He entered into it in the evening, and it was fine. He came to enter in the morning and found that it had become stalks. So, God said to them: “And in the morning your seed will blossom [tafriḥi] (Isaiah 17:11).”18See previous footnote.
“On a day of affliction [naḥala]” (Isaiah 17:11) – on a day that I thought to render you an inheritance [naḥala] in My name, you did not sustain My kingdom over you. “And mortal pain” (Isaiah 17:11) – come and receive leprosy. Why does it call it “mortal [anush] pain”? It is because it is an expression of man [gever],19Enosh and gever both mean man. as it is an affliction that overcomes [hagevartanit]. Alternatively, “and mortal pain” – because it causes the body that it enters to decompose; that is why God said to Moses: Separate the lepers that are in their midst as it is they who performed that act. “They shall send out from the camp every leper…”
מִכָּאן אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַלֵּוִי בַּר רַבִּי שָׁלוֹם עַל אַחַד עָשָׂר דְבָרִים הַצָּרַעַת בָּאָה, עַל קִלְלַת הַשֵּׁם, וְעַל גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, וְעַל שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים, וְעַל הָאוֹמֵר עַל חֲבֵרוֹ דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ בּוֹ, וְעַל גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ, וְעַל הַנִּכְנָס בִּתְחוּם שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ, וְעַל לְשׁוֹן שֶׁקֶר, וְעַל הַגְּנֵבוֹת, וְעַל שְׁבוּעַת שֶׁקֶר, וְעַל הַמְחַלֵּל שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, וְעַל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אוֹמֵר עַל עַיִן רָעָה. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אוֹמְרִים עַל מִי שֶׁמְּנַאֵץ בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה. וְעַל דַּעְתַּיְהוּ דְּרַבָּנָן דְּאָמְרִין עַל מִי שֶׁמְּנַאֵץ בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ה, כד): לָכֵן כֶּאֱכֹל קַשׁ לְשׁוֹן אֵשׁ וגו' וּפִרְחָם כָּאָבָק יַעֲלֶה, זֶה צָרָעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג, יב): וְאִם פָּרוֹחַ תִּפְרַח הַצָּרַעַת, מַהוּ כָּאָבָק יַעֲלֶה, כְּאוֹתוֹ פִּיחַ כִּבְשָׁן שֶׁזָּרַק משֶׁה הַשָּׁמָיְמָה (שמות ט, ט): וְהָיָה לְאָבָק עַל כָּל אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם, וּמִמֶּנּוּ לָקוּ הַמִּצְרִים בִּשְׁחִין אֲבַעְבּוּעוֹת פּוֹרֵחַ בָּאָדָם וּבַבְּהֵמָה. עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יִצְחָק דְּאָמַר עַל עַיִן הָרָע, כְּשֶׁאָדָם צַר עַיִן וְאֵינוֹ מַשְׁאִיל אֶת כֵּלָיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְשַׁלֵּחַ צָרַעַת בְּבֵיתוֹ וּמוֹצִיא כֵּלָיו לַחוּץ וְהַבְּרִיוֹת אוֹמְרִים פְּלוֹנִי שֶׁלֹא הָיָה מַשְׁאִיל כֵּלָיו וְאוֹמֵר שֶׁלֹא הָיוּ לוֹ כֵּלִים, הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ כֵּלִים, וְעָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר (איוב כ, כח): יִגֶל יְבוּל בֵּיתוֹ. וְעַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה הַלֵּוִי דְּאָמַר עַל קִלְלַת הַשֵּׁם, מַפִּיק לֵיהּ מִגָּלְיָת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א יז, לו): כִּי חֵרֵף מַעַרְכֹת אֱלֹהִים חַיִים, מַה כְּתִיב בּוֹ (שמואל א יז, מו): הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְסַגֶּרְךָ ה' בְּיָדִי, וְאֵין יְסַגֶּרְךָ אֶלָּא הַצָּרָעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג, ה): וְהִסְגִּירוֹ הַכֹּהֵן. וְעַל גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ג, יז): וְשִׂפַּח ה' קָדְקֹד בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן, אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן פְּדָת אֵין וְסִפַּח אֶלָּא הַצָּרָעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יג, ב): שְׂאֵת אוֹ סַפַּחַת וגו'. וְעַל שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים, מִקַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ד, טו): וַיָּשֶׂם ה' לְקַיִן אוֹת, אָמַר רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה זוֹ הַצָּרָעַת, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן אוֹת, וְנֶאֱמַר בְּחִזְקִיָּהוּ (מלכים ב כ, ח): אוֹת, מָה אוֹת הָאָמוּר בְּחִזְקִיָּהוּ שְׁחִין, אַף כָּאן שְׁחִין. וְאִם אֵין אַתְּ לָמֵד לְמַד מִיּוֹאָב שֶׁשָּׁפַךְ דָּמִים, מַה כְּתִיב בּוֹ (שמואל ב ג, כט): וְאַל יִכָּרֵת מִבֵּית יוֹאָב זָב וּמְצֹרָע. וְעַל הָאוֹמֵר דָּבָר לַחֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁאֵינוֹ בּוֹ, זֶה משֶׁה, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ אֵצֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל, אָמַר לוֹ רִבּוֹנִי וַהֲרֵי אֵינָן מַאֲמִינִין אוֹתִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ד, א): וְהֵן לֹא יַאֲמִינוּ לִי וגו', אָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים הָא משֶׁה כְּבָר אַתְּ יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאֵינָן מַאֲמִינִין אוֹתָךְ, מַאֲמִינִין בְּנֵי מַאֲמִינִין הֵם, אָמַרְתָּ לִי: וְהֵן לֹא יַאֲמִינוּ לִי וגו' (שמות ד, ו): הָבֵא נָא יָדְךָ בְּחֵיקֵךָ וגו', מִיָּד (שמות ד, ו): וַיּוֹצִאָהּ וְהִנֵּה יָדוֹ מְצֹרַעַת כַּשָּׁלֶג. וְעַל גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ זֶה נַעֲמָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ה, א): וְנַעֲמָן שַׂר צְבָא מֶלֶךְ אֲרָם הָיָה אִישׁ גָּדוֹל, מַהוּ גָּדוֹל, שֶׁהָיְתָה רוּחוֹ גַּסָּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיָה גִּבּוֹר חַיִל, וְעַל יְדֵי כָךְ נִצְטָרַע. וְעַל הַנִּכְנָס בִּתְחוּם שֶׁאֵינוֹ שֶׁלּוֹ, זֶה עֻזִּיָהוּ, שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לְהִכָּנֵס בִּתְחוּם הַכְּהֻנָּה, וּמַה כְּתִיב בּוֹ (דברי הימים ב כו, יט): וְהַצָּרַעַת זָרְחָה בְמִצְחוֹ. וְעַל לְשׁוֹן שֶׁקֶר, זוֹ מִרְיָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יב, יט): וַתְּדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַהֲרֹן בְּמשֶׁה, וּמַה כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו (במדבר יב, י): וַיִּפֶן אַהֲרֹן אֶל מִרְיָם וְהִנֵּה מְצֹרָעַת. וְעַל הַגְּנֵבוֹת וְעַל שְׁבוּעַת שֶׁקֶר, דִּכְתִיב (זכריה ה, ד): וּבָאָה אֶל בֵּית הַגַּנָּב וְאֶל בֵּית הַנִּשְׁבָּע בִּשְׁמִי לַשָּׁקֶר וגו', אֵיזוֹ הִיא מַכָּה שֶׁהִיא מְכַלָּה אֶת הָעֵצִים וְאֶת הָאֲבָנִים, הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר זוֹ הַצָּרָעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יד, מה): וְנָתַץ אֶת הַבַּיִת אֶת אֲבָנָיו וְאֶת עֵצָיו וגו'. וְעַל הַמְחַלֵּל שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, זֶה גֵּיחֲזִי שֶׁרָץ אַחַר נַעֲמָן לִטֹּל מִמֶּנּוּ מָמוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ה, כא): וַיִּרְדֹּף גֵּיחֲזִי אַחֲרֵי נַעֲמָן וגו'. אֱלִישָׁע קִדֵּשׁ שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁלֹא רָצָה לִטֹּל מִנַּעֲמָן כְּלוּם, וְגֵיחֲזִי רָדַף אַחֲרָיו וְנִשְׁבַּע לוֹ לַשֶּׁקֶר שֶׁשָּׁלַח אֶצְלוֹ שֶׁיִּשְׁלַח לוֹ מָמוֹן, נִמְצָא זֶה מְחַלֵּל שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם מַה שֶּׁקִּדֵּשׁ אֱלִישָׁע, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְגֵיחֲזִי רָשָׁע אַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ (מלכים ב ה, כ): חַי ה' כִּי אִם רַצְתִּי אַחֲרָיו וְלָקַחְתִּי מֵאִתּוֹ מְאוּמָה, נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ בִּשְׁמִי כְּדֵי לְחַלְּלוֹ, חַיֶּיךָ מְאוּמָה אָמַרְתָּ וּמוּמוֹ אַתָּה נוֹטֵל, (מלכים ב ה, כז): וְצָרַעַת נַעֲמָן תִּדְבַּק בְּךָ. וְעַל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּשֶׁעָשׂוּ אוֹתוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה נַעֲשׂוּ מְצֹרָעִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לב, כה): וַיַּרְא משֶׁה אֶת הָעָם כִּי פָרֻעַ הוּא, וְאוֹמֵר (ישעיה יז, יא): וּכְאֵב אָנוּשׁ, לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר אֱלֹהִים לְמשֶׁה הַפְרֵשׁ הַמְצֹרָעִים שֶׁבֵּינֵיכֶם מִמַּחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁהֵם עָשׂוּ אוֹתוֹ הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל צָרוּעַ. From here, Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi bar Rabbi Shalom said: Leprosy comes due to eleven matters: For cursing the name of God, for illicit sexual relations, for bloodshed, for saying regarding another a [negative] matter that is not accurate, for arrogance, for one who enters an area that is not his, for false speech, for thefts, for a false oath, for one who profanes the name of Heaven, and for idol worship. Rabbi Yitzḥak says: For miserliness. Our Rabbis say: For one who scorns matters of Torah.
According to the opinion of the Rabbis, who said: For one who scorns matters of Torah, it is as it is stated: “Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes straw [and a flame destroys chaff]…their blossom [ufirḥam] will rise as dust; [for they spurned the Torah of the Lord of hosts and scorned the word of the Holy One of Israel]” (Isaiah 5:24). This is leprosy, as it is stated: “If the leprosy shall erupt [paro’aḥ tifraḥ]” (Leviticus 13:12). What is “will rise as dust”? It is like that furnace soot that Moses cast heavenward: “It will become dust over the entire land of Egypt” (Exodus 9:9) – from it the Egyptians were stricken with “a rash erupting in blisters on man and on animal” (Exodus 9:10).
According to the opinion of Rabbi Yitzḥak, who said: For miserliness, when a person is miserly and does not lend his utensils, the Holy One blessed be He will afflict his house with leprosy; he takes his utensils outside,20As part of the procedure in cases of leprosy of the house. and the people say: So-and-so, who would not lend his utensils and would say that he did not have utensils, he did have utensils. In his regard the verse states: “The produce of his house will be exiled” (Job 20:28).
According to the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi, who said: For cursing the name of God, he derives it from Goliath, as it is stated: “For he blasphemed the armies of the living God” (I Samuel 17:36). What is written in his regard? “This day, the Lord will deliver you [yesagerkha] into my hand” (I Samuel 17:46). “Yesagerkha” is nothing other than leprosy, as it is stated: “The priest shall quarantine him [vehisgiro]” (Leviticus 13:5).
For illicit sexual relations, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “The Lord will afflict with scabs [vesipaḥ] the heads of the daughters of Zion” (Isaiah 3:17). Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said: Vesipaḥ is nothing other than leprosy, as it is stated: “A spot or a scab [sapaḥat]…” (Leviticus 13:2).
For bloodshed, from Cain, as it is stated: “God placed a mark [ot] on Cain” (Genesis 4:15). Rabbi Neḥemya said: This is leprosy. “Ot” is stated here, and “ot” (II Kings 20:8) is stated regarding Hezekiah. Just as ot stated regarding Hezekiah was a rash, so, too, here, it is a rash. If you do not derive it, derive it from Yoav, who shed blood. What is written in his regard? “May there not be eliminated from the house of Yoav a zav or a leper” (II Samuel 3:29).
For saying regarding another a [negative] matter that is not accurate, this is [from] Moses, as when God said to him that he should go to Israel, he said to Him: ‘My Master, but they will not believe me,’ as it is stated: “But they will not believe me…” (Exodus 4:1). God said to him: ‘Moses, do you already know that they will not believe you? They are believers, descendants of believers, yet you say to Me, “but they will not believe me…”?’ “Bring your hand to your bosom…” (Exodus 4:6). Immediately, “he withdrew it, and behold, his hand was leprous like snow (Exodus 4:6).
For arrogance, this is Naaman, as it is stated: “Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man […and the man…was leprous]” (II Kings 5:1). What is “great”? It is that he had an arrogance of spirit because he was a great warrior. It is due to this that he was afflicted with leprosy.
For one who enters an area that is not his, this is Uziyahu, who sought to enter the area of the priesthood. What is written in his regard? “The leprosy radiated on his forehead” (II Chronicles 26:19).
For false speech, this is Miriam, as it is stated: “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses” (Numbers 12:1). What is written thereafter? “Aaron turned to Miriam, and behold, she was leprous” (Numbers 12:10).
For thefts and for a false oath, as it is written: “It will arrive at the house of the thief and at the house of one who takes an oath by My name falsely, […and it will eliminate it and its timber and its stones]” (Zechariah 5:4). What is a plague that destroys timber and stones? This is leprosy, as it is stated: “He shall demolish the house, its stones, and its timber…” (Leviticus 14:45).
For one who profanes the name of Heaven, this is Geḥazi, who pursued Naaman in order to take money from him, as it is stated: “Geḥazi pursued Naaman…” (II Kings 5:21). Elisha sanctified the name of the Holy One blessed be He, as he did not wish to take anything from Naaman, but Geḥazi pursued him and took a false oath to him [Naaman] that he [Elisha] had sent him [Geḥazi] to him [Naaman], so that he would send money to him [Elisha]. The result is this one profaned the name of Heaven, which Elisha had sanctified. The Holy One blessed be He said to Geḥazi: ‘Wicked one; you said: “As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something [me’uma] from him” (II Kings 5:20). You took an oath in My name in order to profane it? You said me’uma; you will take his blemish [mum]’: “the leprosy of Naaman will cleave to you” (II Kings 5:27).
And for idol worship, this is Israel; when they performed that act21The sin of the Golden Calf. In section 4 the midrash derives that Israel became lepers after the sin. they became lepers, as it is stated: “Moses saw the people, that it was wild [farua]” (Exodus 32:25). And it says: “And mortal pain” (Isaiah 17:11) – that is why God said to Moses: ‘Separate the lepers who are in your midst from the camp of Israel, as it is they who performed that act.’ “They shall send out from the camp every leper.”
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי (ספרי נשא א): בֹּא וּרְאֵה מַה כֹּחַ עֲבֵרָה קָשֶׁה, שֶׁעַד שֶׁלֹא פָּשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בַּעֲבֵרָה לֹא הָיוּ בָּהֶן זָבִין וּמְצֹרָעִים, מִשֶּׁפָּשְׁטוּ יְדֵיהֶם בַּעֲבֵרָה הָיוּ בָּהֶן זָבִין וּמְצֹרָעִין. לְפִי דַּרְכֵּנוּ לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁשְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים אֵלּוּ אֵרְעוּ בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם. Rabbi Yosei HaGelili said: Come and see how severe is the power of transgression, as until they transgressed, there were no zavim and lepers in their midst. Once they transgressed, there were zavim and lepers in their midst. According to our approach, we learned that these three matters22The presence of zavim, the presence of lepers, and death. The verse also mentions people who are impure because they came in contact with somebody who died. From the giving of the Torah until the sin of the Golden Calf, the angel of death was suspended and did not take any lives. occurred on that very day.23Sifrei, Naso 1.
צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (במדבר ה, ב): (גמרא קידושין כט-א): כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר צִוּוּי הַצִּוּוּי מִיָּד בִּשְׁעַת הַמַּעֲשֶׂה וְנוֹהֵג לַדּוֹרוֹת, (ספרי נשא א): רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בְּתֵירָא אוֹמֵר אֵין צִוּוי בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא זֵרוּז, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ג, כח): וְצַו אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְחַזְקֵהוּ, לְפִי דַּרְכֵּנוּ לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁאֵין מְחַזְּקִין אֶלָּא הַמְּחֻזָּקִין, וְאֵין מְזָרְזִין אֶלָּא הַמְזֹרָזִין. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי אוֹמֵר אֵין צִוּוּי בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כד, ב): צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ, צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וִישַׁלְּחוּ, (במדבר לה, ב): צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנָתְנוּ לַלְוִיִּם, (במדבר כח, ב): צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם אֶת קָרְבָּנִי, הָא אֵין צִוּוּי בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס, חוּץ מֵאַחַת, וְאֵי זֶה זֶה (במדבר לד, ב): צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם כִּי אַתֶּם בָּאִים אֶל הָאָרֶץ כְּנָעַן, תְּיַחֵס לְעִנְיַן חִלּוּק הָאָרֶץ. רַבִּי אוֹמֵר אֵין צִוּוּי בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֶלָּא אַזְהָרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, טז יז): וַיְצַו אֱלֹהִים עַל הָאָדָם וּמֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע. “Command [tzav] the children of Israel” – anywhere that command [tzav] is stated, the command is immediately at the time of the action and is practiced throughout the generations. Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira says: Command [tzivui] is everywhere nothing other than exhortation, as it is stated: “Command Joshua and encourage him [and exhort him]” (Deuteronomy 3:28). According to our approach we learned that one encourages only the encouraged and one exhorts only the exhorted.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: Command, everywhere, involves monetary loss,24Monetary loss means that fulfilling the commandment requires spending money. as it is stated: “Command the children of Israel and they shall take to you pure olive oil” (Leviticus 24:2); “command the children of Israel and they shall send out”; “command the children of Israel and they shall give to the Levites” (Numbers 35:2); “command the children of Israel and say to them: My offering” (Numbers 28:2). Command, everywhere, always involves monetary loss, except for one. Which is that? “Command the children of Israel and say to them that you are coming to the land, Canaan” (Numbers 34:2), which addresses the matter of the division of the land. Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: Command, everywhere, is nothing other than admonition, as it is stated: “God commanded the man…but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil [you shall not eat]” (Genesis 2:16–17).
וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה (במדבר ה, ב), מִמַּחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמְּצֹרָעִים וּטְמֵאֵי מֵתִים מִשְׁתַּלְּחִים מִשָּׁם. צָרוּעַ זֶה מֻסְגָּר, כָּל צָרוּעַ זֶה מֻחְלָט, זָב זֶה זָב גָּמוּר, כָּל זָב לְרַבּוֹת זָב שְׁתֵּי רְאִיּוֹת, וְכָל זָב לְרַבּוֹת זָב רְאִיָּה אַחַת, טָמֵא לָנָפֶשׁ זֶה אָדָם שֶׁהוּא יָכוֹל לְהִשְׁתַּלֵּחַ, כֹל טָמֵא לְרַבּוֹת כֵּלִים הַנּוֹגְעִים בְּמֵת, וְכֹל טָמֵא לְרַבּוֹת כֵּלִים הַנּוֹגְעִים בְּשֶׁרֶץ. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: טָמֵא לָנָפֶשׁ זֶה אָדָם וְכֵלִים הַנּוֹגְעִים, כֹל טָמֵא לְרַבּוֹת הַנּוֹגְעִים בְּשֶׁרֶץ. (במדבר ה, ג): מִזָּכָר עַד נְקֵבָה בְּכָל אָדָם הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, אוֹ אֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא בַּלְוִיִּם נוֹשְׂאֵי אָרוֹן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: מִזָּכָר עַד נְקֵבָה תְּשַׁלֵּחוּ, בְּכָל אָדָם הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר: מִזָּכָר עַד נְקֵבָה, אֶחָד גְּדוֹלִים וְאֶחָד קְטַנִּים בְּמַשְׁמַע. מִזָּכָר טְבוּל יוֹם, עַד נְקֵבָה לְרַבּוֹת מְחֻסַּר כַּפָּרָה. (במדבר ה, ג): וְלֹא יְטַמְאוּ אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם, יָכוֹל כֻּלָּם יִשְׁתַּלְחוּ חוּץ לְמַחֲנֶה אַחַת, אָמַרְתָּ: צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה, רִבָּה כָּאן מַחֲנֶה אַחַת, (במדבר ה, ג): אֶל מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה תְּשַׁלְּחוּם, רִבָּה כָּאן שְׁתֵּי מַחֲנוֹת, (במדבר ה, ג): וְלֹא יְטַמְאוּ אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם, רִבָּה כָּאן שָׁלשׁ מַחֲנוֹת. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ (תוספתא כלים בבא קמא פרק א, י): שָׁלשׁ מַחֲנוֹת הֵן: מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּמַחֲנֵה לְוִיָּה, וּמַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה. מִפֶּתַח יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְעַד הַר הַבַּיִת, מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל. מִפֶּתַח הַר הַבַּיִת וְעַד הָעֲזָרָה, מַחֲנֵה לְוִיָּה. מִפֶּתַח הָעֲזָרָה וְלִפְנִים, מַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה. יָכוֹל כֻּלָּם יִשְׁתַּלְּחוּ לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר בַּמְּצֹרָע (ויקרא יג, מו): בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה מוֹשָׁבוֹ, כָּל שֶׁהַזָּב מְטַמֵּא מְצֹרָע מְטַמֵּא, חָמוּר מְצֹרָע שֶׁמְטַמֵּא בְּבִיאָה. כָּל שֶׁטָּמֵא מֵת מְטַמֵּא הַזָּב מְטַמֵּא, חָמוּר הַזָּב שֶׁהוּא מְטַמֵּא תַּחַת אֶבֶן מְסָמָא. כָּל שֶׁטְּבוּל יוֹם מְטַמֵּא טְמֵא מֵת מְטַמֵּא, חָמוּר טְמֵא מֵת שֶׁהוּא מְטַמֵּא אֶת הָאָדָם. כָּל שֶׁמְחֻסַּר כִּפּוּרִים פּוֹסֵל טְבוּל יוֹם פּוֹסֵל, חָמוּר טְבוּל יוֹם שֶׁהוּא פּוֹסֵל אֶת הַתְּרוּמָה. מִכָּאן נָתְנוּ חֲכָמִים מְחִצּוֹת וְאָמְרוּ (משנה כלים א-ו): עֶשֶׂר קְדֻשּׁוֹת הֵן: אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת מִכָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת, וּמָה הִיא קְדֻשָּׁתָהּ שֶׁמְבִיאִין מִמֶּנָּהּ הָעֹמֶר וְהַבִּכּוּרִים וּשְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם, מַה שֶּׁאֵין כֵּן בְּכָל הָאֲרָצוֹת. אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת מֵעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן, אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן כְּשֵׁרָה לְבֵית שְׁכִינָה וְאֵין עֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן כָּשֵׁר לְבֵית שְׁכִינָה. עִיר חוֹמָה מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת מִן הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁמְּצֹרָעִים הוֹלְכִים בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ וְאֵינָם הוֹלְכִים בְּעָרֵי חוֹמָה. יְרוּשָׁלַיִם מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת מֵעָרֵי חוֹמָה, שֶׁקֳּדָשִׁים קַלִּים וּמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי נֶאֱכָלִין בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְאֵינָן נֶאֱכָלִים בְּעָרֵי חוֹמָה. הַר הַבַּיִת מְקֻדָּשׁ מִירוּשָׁלַיִם, שֶׁזָּבִים וְזָבוֹת נִכְנָסִים בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְאֵין נִכְנָסִים בְּהַר הַבַּיִת. הַחֵיל מְקֻדָּשׁ מֵהַר הַבַּיִת, שֶׁנָּכְרִים וּטְמֵא מֵת נִכְנָסִין לְהַר הַבַּיִת וְאֵין נִכְנָסִין לַחֵיל. עֶזְרַת הַנָּשִׁים מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת הֵימֶנּוּ שֶׁאֵין טְבוּל יוֹם נִכְנַס לְשָׁם וְאֵין חַיָּבִים עָלָיו חַטָּאת. עֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקֻדֶּשֶׁת הֵימֶנָּה שֶׁמְחֻסְּרֵי כִּפּוּרִים נִכְנָסִין לְעֶזְרַת הַנָּשִׁים וְאֵין נִכְנָסִים לְעֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. יִשְׂרָאֵל מְעֹרָבִין שֶׁמֶשׁ, נִכְנָסִים לְעֶזְרַת כֹּהֲנִים בְּרוֹחַב אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה אַמָּה עַל אֹרֶךְ מֵאָה וּשְׁלשִׁים וְחָמֵשׁ, אֲבָל לֹא הָיוּ עוֹמְדִין עַל הַדּוּכָן, וְהַלְוִיִּם הָיוּ עוֹמְדִים עַל הַדּוּכָן אֲבָל לֹא הָיוּ נִכְנָסִים מִכָּן וְלִפְנִים, וּבַעֲלֵי מוּמִין כֹּהֲנִים וּפְרוּעֵי רֹאשׁ וּשְׁתוּיֵי יַיִן הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין מִכָּן וְלִפְנִים אֲבָל לֹא הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין בֵּין הָאוּלָם וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ, וְלֹא לָאוּלָם וְלֹא לַהֵיכָל וְלֹא לִסְבִיבוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, וּשְׁאָר כֹּהֲנִים נִכְנָסִין לָאוּלָם וְלַהֵיכָל וְלִסְבִיבוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, אֲבָל לֹא הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין לְבֵית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים, וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל הָיָה נִכְנָס לְבֵית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים אַרְבַּע פְּעָמִים בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּחֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים בֵּין הָאוּלָם וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ שָׁוֶה לַהֵיכָל, שֶׁאֵין פְּרוּעַ רֹאשׁ וּשְׁתוּי יַיִן וְשֶׁלֹא רְחוּץ יָדַיִם וְרַגְלַיִם נִכְנָסִין לְשָׁם, וּכְדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהֵם פּוֹרְשִׁים מִן הַהֵיכָל בִּשְׁעַת הַקְטָרָה כָּךְ הָיוּ פּוֹרְשִׁין מִבֵּין הָאוּלָם בִּשְׁעַת הַקְטָרָה, הֱוֵי מַה מַּעֲלָה בֵּין הָאוּלָם וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלַהֵיכָל, אֶלָּא שֶׁבֵּין הָאוּלָם וְלַמִּזְבֵּחַ נִכְנָסִין לַעֲבוֹדָה וְשֶׁלֹא לַעֲבוֹדָה, וְלַהֵיכָל אֵין נִכְנָסִין אֶלָּא לַעֲבוֹדָה בִּלְבָד. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהָיוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר שָׁלשׁ מַחֲנוֹת, מַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה, מַחֲנֵה לְוִיָּה, מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּךְ הָיוּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, מִפֶּתַח יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְעַד פֶּתַח הַר הַבַּיִת, מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל. מִפֶּתַח הַר הַבַּיִת וְעַד שַׁעַר נִיקָנוֹר, מַחֲנֵה לְוִיָּה. מִשַּׁעַר נִיקָנוֹר וְלִפְנִים, מַחֲנֵה שְׁכִינָה. וְהֵן הֵן קְלָעִים שֶׁבַּמִּדְבָּר. וּבִשְׁעַת מַסָּעוֹת אֵין בָּהֶן מִשּׁוּם קְדֻשָּׁה וְאֵין חַיָּבִין עֲלֵיהֶם מִשּׁוּם טֻמְאָה. (במדבר ה, ג): וְלֹא יְטַמְאוּ אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם, לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר ה, ב): וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי לֹא יִגְעוּ לֹא בָּאָרוֹן וְלֹא בַּנּוֹשְׂאִין אֲבָל יַקְצוּ לָהֶם מָקוֹם בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְלֹא יְטַמְאוּ אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם. (במדבר ה, ג): אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָם, חֲבִיבִין הֵן יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן טְמֵאִין שְׁכִינָה בֵּינֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא טז, טז): הַשֹּׁכֵן אִתָּם בְּתוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם, וְאוֹמֵר: וְלֹא יְטַמְּאוּ אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם, וְאוֹמֵר (במדבר לה, לד): וְלֹא תְטַמֵּא אֶת הָאָרֶץ וגו'. “And they shall send out from the camp” – from the camp of the Divine Presence. It teaches that lepers and those impure due to corpses are sent out of there. “Leper” – this is a quarantined one;25He is in quarantine until it is determined whether he is a leper. See Leviticus 13:1–8. “every leper” – this is a confirmed one. “Zav” – this is a full-fledged zav; “every zav” – to include a zav who experienced two sightings; “and every zav” – to include a zav who experienced one sighting. “Impure by means of a corpse” – this is a person, who can be sent out; “every one impure” – to include vessels that come in contact with a corpse; “and every one impure” – to include vessels that come in contact with a [dead] creeping animal. Some say: “Impure by means of a corpse” – these are a person and vessels that come in contact [with a corpse]; “every one impure” – to include those who come in contact with a [dead] creeping animal.
“Male and female alike you shall send out, outside the camp you shall send them, and they shall not impurify their camp, in which I dwell in their midst” (Numbers 5:3).
“Male and female alike” – is the verse referring to all people or is it speaking only of the Levites, bearers of the Ark? The verse states: “Male and female alike you shall send out” – the verse is referring to all people. “Male and female alike” – both adults and children are denoted; “male” – who immersed on that day, “and female alike” – to include one lacking atonement.26There are three stages in purification of lepers and zavim: Immersion, sunset, and sacrificing offerings. After immersion, the person may eat second tithe. After sunset, if he is a priest, he may partake of teruma. After sacrificing the offerings, the person is no longer lacking atonement, and it is permitted for the person to partake of sacrificial food. “And they shall not impurify their camp” – shall all of them, perhaps, be sent outside of one camp? It says: “Command the children of Israel, and they shall send out from the camp” – it includes here one camp. “Outside the camp you shall send them” – it includes here two camps. “And they shall not impurify their camp” – it includes here three camps.
From here they said: They are three camps: The Israelite camp, the Levite camp, and the camp of the Divine Presence. From the entrance to Jerusalem to the Temple Mount is the Israelite camp; from the entrance to Temple Mount until the courtyard is the Levite camp; from the entrance to the courtyard and inward is the camp of the Divine Presence.27Tosefta, Kelim, Bava Kama 1:10.
Shall they, perhaps, be sent out to the same place? The verse states regarding the leper: “He shall dwell in isolation; his dwelling is outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:46). Everything that a zav impurifies, a leper impurifies. The leper is more severe, as he impurifies through entry.28When he enters a structure, everything under that roof becomes impure. Everything that one impure due to a corpse impurifies, the zav impurifies. The zav is more severe, as he impurifies beneath a very heavy stone.29If he sits on an object, even if it is an object that cannot become ritually impure, and beneath that object is a vessel, even though the weight of the zav has no effect on the vessel, it becomes ritually impure. Everything that one who immersed that day impurifies, one impure due to a corpse impurifies. One impure due to a corpse is more severe, as he impurifies a person. Everything that one lacking atonement disqualifies, one who immersed on that day disqualifies.30Disqualification is the term used when a person or a vessel impurifies another item but that item does not transmit the impurity to another item. The one who immersed on that day is more severe, as he disqualifies teruma.
From here the Sages instituted partitions: There are ten sanctities: The Land of Israel is more sacred than all the lands. How is its sanctity manifest? It is, that one brings the omer, first fruits, and two loaves from it, which is not so regarding all the lands. The land of Canaan is more sacred than the east bank of the Jordan. The land of Canaan is fit to serve as an abode for the Divine Presence, and the east bank of the Jordan is not fit to serve as an abode for the Divine Presence. A walled city is more sacred than the Land [of Israel], as lepers can walk throughout the Land [of Israel], but do not walk in walled cities. Jerusalem is more sacred than walled cities, as offerings of lesser sanctity and second tithe are eaten in Jerusalem but are not eaten in walled cities. The Temple Mount is more sacred than Jerusalem, as zavim and zavot enter Jerusalem but do not enter the Temple Mount. The rampart is more sacred than the Temple Mount, as zavim and one impure due to a corpse enter the Temple Mount but do not enter the rampart. The Women’s Courtyard is more sacred than it, as one who immersed that day does not enter there, but they do not incur liability to bring a sin offering.31This is referring to one who immersed that day who then entered the rampart or the Women’s courtyard. The Israelite courtyard is more sacred than it, and those lacking atonement enter the Women’s Courtyard but do not enter the Israelite Courtyard. Israelites for whom the sun has set32These are Israelites who immersed themselves on the final day of their impurity and waited until the evening. At that point they are pure without any impurity. enter the Priestly Courtyard to an area eleven cubits width by one hundred and thirty-five cubits length, but they did not stand on the podium. Levites would stand on the podium but would not enter from there inward. Priests who were blemished, or with the hair on their heads unshorn, or who were intoxicated with wine would enter from there inward, but would not enter between the Entrance Hall and the altar, not to the Entrance Hall, not to the Sanctuary, and not within the four cubits surrounding the altar. The rest of the priests would enter the Entrance Hall, the Sanctuary, and within the four cubits surrounding the altar, but they would not enter the chamber of the Holy of Holies. The High Priest would enter the chamber of the Holy of Holies four times on Yom Kippur.
Rabbi Yosei said: In five respects, the area between the Entrance Hall and the altar was equal to the Sanctuary: One with the hair on their heads unshorn, or those who were intoxicated with wine, or one who had not washed his hands and his feet would not enter there; and just as everybody was required to leave the Sanctuary during the burning of the incense, so they would be required to leave the area between the Entrance Hall and the altar during the burning of the incense.33Four are listed here. The fifth respect is that blemished priests would not enter into either area. In what way was the Sanctuary superior to the area between the entrance Hall and the altar? It is, rather, that one may enter between the Entrance Hall and the altar for the purpose of service and not for the purpose of service, but into the Sanctuary one may enter only for the purpose of service.
Just as in the wilderness there were three camps, the Camp of the Divine Presence, the Levite Camp, the Israelite Camp, so there were in Jerusalem. From the entrance to Jerusalem until the entrance to Temple Mount was the Israelite Camp; from the entrance to Temple Mount until the Nikanor Gate was the Levite camp; from the Nikanor Gate and inward was the Camp of the Divine Presence, and this [area] was the equivalent of the [area] within the hangings [of the courtyard] in the wilderness. During the journeys the camps did not have sacred status, and one would not incur liability for them due to impurity.34When Israel journeyed in the wilderness, the impure were allowed into the camp. See Menaḥot 95 a–b.
“They shall not impurify their camp” – why is it stated? Because it says: “They shall send out from the camp” (Numbers 5:2) – I hear that they should touch neither the Ark nor the bearers, but they should designate a place for them in and of themselves?35The suggestion is perhaps that the impure should be in a designated area in the camp to ensure that they do not touch the Ark or the Levites who carry the Ark, but that they do not have to be sent entirely out of the camp. The verse states: “They shall not impurify their camp.”
“In which I dwell in their midst” – Israel are beloved, as even though they are impure, the Divine Presence is in their midst, as it is stated: “That dwells with them in the midst of their impurity” (Leviticus 16:16). And it says: “They shall not impurify their camp [in which I dwell in their midst].” And it says: “You shall not impurify the land [in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the children of Israel]” (Numbers 35:34).
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אוֹתָם אֶל מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה (במדבר ה, ד), לְהוֹדִיעַ שִׁבְחָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם משֶׁה כֵּן עָשׂוּ, (במדבר ה, ד): כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' אֶל משֶׁה כֵּן עָשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר אֵין בְּמַשְׁמַע אֶלָּא הַמְשַׁלְּחִים לֹא הֻצְרְכוּ, וּמִנַּיִן אַף הַמִּשְׁתַּלְּחִים לֹא הֻצְרְכוּ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' אֶל משֶׁה כֵּן עָשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, מֵעַצְמָן, לֹא הֻצְרְכוּ שֶׁיַּעֲשִׂיאוּם [את] משֶׁה וְ[את] אַהֲרֹן. “The children of Israel did so, and sent them outside the camp. As the Lord spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did” (Numbers 5:4).
“The children of Israel did so, and sent them outside the camp” – to inform of the praiseworthiness of Israel that just as Moses said to them, so they did. “As the Lord spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did” – Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon says: This indicates only that the senders did not require [compulsion]. From where is it derived that those who were sent out also did not require [compulsion]? The verse states: “As the Lord spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did” – of their own volition, and they did not require that Moses and Aaron would compel them.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, רַבָּנָן פָּתְרִין קְרָיָה בַּגָּלוּת, צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַל שֶׁעָבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל הַמִּצְווֹת נִתְחַיְּבוּ שִׁלּוּחַ, זֶה גָּלוּת, הֲדָא הוּא דִּכְתִיב: וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה, אֵין וִישַׁלְחוּ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן גָּלוּת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ירמיה טו, א): שַׁלַּח מֵעַל פָּנַי וְיֵצֵאוּ. מִן הַמַּחֲנֶה, זוֹ אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁשָּׁם הַשְּׁכִינָה חוֹנָה. כָּל צָרוּעַ וְכָל זָב וְכֹל טָמֵא לָנֶפֶשׁ, רָמַז לָהֶם שֶׁאִם יַעַבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל שָׁלשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת הַלָּלוּ: עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, וְגִלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת וּשְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים, יִתְחַיְּבוּ גָּלוּת. צָרוּעַ, זוֹ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, מַה מְּצֹרָע מְטַמֵּא בְּבִיאָה, אַף עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים מְטַמֵּא בְּבִיאָה. זָב, זוֹ גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, שֶׁאֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ מְטַמְּאִין עַל יְדֵי שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע. טָמֵא לָנָפֶשׁ, אֵלּוּ שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים, שֶׁהֵן מְטַמְאִין עַצְמָן וּמְטַמְּאִין הָאָרֶץ בִּשְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים. וּתְנֵינַן כֵּן (משנה אבות ה-יב): גָּלוּת בָּא לָעוֹלָם עַל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים וְעַל גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת וְעַל שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים וְעַל שְׁמִטַּת הָאָרֶץ. עַל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים כֵּיצַד, הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא כו, ל): וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּי אֶת בָּמֹתֵיכֶם וגו', וּכְתִיב (ויקרא כו, לג): וְאֶתְכֶם אֱזָרֶה בַגּוֹיִם וגו', אָמַר לָהֶם הַמָּקוֹם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הוֹאִיל וְאַתֶּם רוֹצִים בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אַף אֲנִי אַגְלֶה אֶתְכֶם לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, לְכָךְ וְהִשְׁמַדְתִּי אֶת בָּמֹתֵיכֶם. וְעַל גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת כֵּיצַד, אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי כָּל זְמַן שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל פְּרוּצִין בַּעֲרָיוֹת שְׁכִינָה מִסְתַּלֶּקֶת מֵהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כג, טו): וְלֹא יִרְאֶה בְךָ עֶרְוַת דָּבָר וְשָׁב מֵאַחֲרֶיךָ. וְעַל שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים כֵּיצַד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר לה, לג): וְלֹא תַחֲנִיפוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וגו', מַגִּיד הַכָּתוּב שֶׁשְּׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים מְטַמֵּא אֶת הָאָרֶץ וּמִסְתַּלֶּקֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה, וּמִפְּנֵי שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים חָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְגָלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְצָם. וּדְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ הָיוּ בְּמִקְדָּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן וּלְכָךְ גָּלוּ וְחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן תּוֹרְתָא (גמרא יומא ט-ב): מִקְדָּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן מִפְּנֵי מָה חָרַב, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיוּ בָּהּ שְׁלשָׁה דְּבָרִים: עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים: וְגִלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת: וּשְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים. עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה כח, כ): כִּי קָצַר הַמַּצָּע מֵהִשְׂתָּרֵעַ וגו', אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן קָצַר מַצָּע זוֹ מִלְּהִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלָיו שְׁנֵי רֵעִים כְּאֶחָד, (ישעיה כח, כ): וְהַמַּסֵּכָה צָרָה כְּהִתְכַּנֵּס, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי כִּי מָטֵי רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן לְהַאי קְרָא בָּכֵי, אָמַר מַאן דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ (תהלים לג, ז): כֹּנֵס כַּנֵּד מֵי הַיָּם, תֵּעָשֶׂה לוֹ מַסֵּכָה צָרָה. גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ג, טז): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' יַעַן כִּי גָבְהוּ בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן וגו'. שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים, דִּכְתִיב (מלכים ב כא, טז): וְגַם דָּם נָקִי שָׁפַךְ מְנַשֶּׁה הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד וגו', וּלְפִיכָךְ הֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שָׁלשׁ פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת כְּנֶגֶד שָׁלשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבְּיָדָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מיכה ג, יב): לָכֵן בִּגְלַלְכֶם צִיּוֹן שָׂדֶה תֵחָרֵשׁ וגו', וְהַשִּׁלּוּחַ הַזֶּה אָמוּר בְּגָלוּת בָּבֶל. (במדבר ה, ג): מִזָּכָר עַד נְקֵבָה תְּשַׁלֵּחוּ, הֲרֵי זֶה אָמוּר כְּנֶגֶד גָּלוּת מָדַי, שֶׁהָלְכוּ מִבָּבֶל לְמָדַי, וּלְפִי שֶׁלֹא יָצְאוּ מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּשֶׁגָּלוּ לְמָדַי לְכָךְ לֹא נֶאֱמַר כָּאן מַחֲנֶה, וְלָמָּה כְתִיב בְּגָלוּת מָדַי מִזָּכָר עַד נְקֵבָה, רָמַז לָהֶם שֶׁעֲתִידָה מַלְכוּת מָדַי לִגְזֹר עֲלֵיהֶם גְּזֵרוֹת מִזָּכָר וְעַד נְקֵבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (אסתר ג, יג): וְנִשְׁלוֹחַ סְפָרִים בְּיַד הָרָצִים אֶל כָּל מְדִינוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהַשְׁמִיד וגו'. (במדבר ה, ג): אֶל מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה תְּשַׁלְּחוּם, הֲרֵי זֶה אָמוּר כְּנֶגֶד גָּלוּת אֱדוֹם שֶׁהֶחֱרִיבוּ בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהִגְלוּ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאַרְצָם. וְלָמָּה סָמַךְ גָּלוּת אֱדוֹם אֵצֶל גָּלוּת בָּבֶל, לְפִי שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁבָּבֶל חָרַב הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהִגְלָה יִשְׂרָאֵל, כָּךְ עָשׂוּ אֱדוֹמִיִּים, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (תהלים קלז, ח): בַּת בָּבֶל הַשְּׁדוּדָה, הַכָּתוּב קוֹרֵא לֶאֱדוֹם בַּת בָּבֶל, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁגָּלוּת מָדַי מַבְדִּיל בֵּינֵיהֶם בַּמִּקְרָא, לֹא עָשָׂה הַכָּתוּב כֵּן אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁגָּלוּת מָדַי לֹא בָּא אֶלָּא מִכֹּחַ גָּלוּת בָּבֶל, שֶׁכְּשֶׁגָּלוּ לְמָדַי מִבָּבֶל יָצָאוּ. (במדבר ה, ג): וְלֹא יְטַמְּאוּ אֶת מַחֲנֵיהֶם, הֲרֵי זֶה אָמוּר כְּנֶגֶד שִׁעְבּוּד יָוָן, וּלְכָךְ לֹא נֶאֱמַר בָּזֶה שִׁלּוּחַ שֶׁלֹא הִגְלוּם מֵאַרְצָם, וּלְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר בָּזֶה טֻמְאָה שֶׁטִּמְאוּ יְוָנִים אֶת הַהֵיכָל בַּעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁלָּהֶם. (במדבר ה, ג): אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי שֹׁכֵן בְּתוֹכָם, רָמַז לָהֶם שֶׁבְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁגָּלוּ שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם. תָּנֵי, רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר חֲבִיבִין יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁגָּלוּ שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם, גָּלוּ לְמִצְרַיִם, שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א ב, כז): הֲנִגְלֹה נִגְלֵיתִי אֶל בֵּית אָבִיךָ וגו'. גָּלוּ לְבָבֶל, שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מג, יד): לְמַעַנְכֶם שִׁלַּחְתִּי בָבֶלָה וגו'. גָּלוּ לְעֵילָם, שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה מט, לח): וְשַׂמְתִּי כִסְאִי בְּעֵילָם. גָּלוּ לֶאֱדוֹם, שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה סג, א): מִי זֶה בָּא מֵאֱדוֹם. וּכְשֶׁהֵן פְּזוּרִין, שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ל, ג): וְשָׁב ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת שְׁבוּתְךָ וגו', וְהֵשִׁיב לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא וְשָׁב, וְאוֹמֵר (שיר השירים ד, ח): אִתִּי מִלְּבָנוֹן כַּלָּה וגו'. (במדבר ה, ד): וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כֵן בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ אוֹתָם אֶל מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁחָטְאוּ, גָּלוּ. (במדבר ה, ד): כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר ה' אֶל משֶׁה כֵּן עָשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, מַה דִּבֶּר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה, שֶׁאִם יַעֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה בַּמַּלְכֻיּוֹת שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שָׁם, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַבְּצָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ל, א ו): וְהָיָה כִי יָבֹאוּ עָלֶיךָ כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הַבְּרָכָה וְהַקְּלָלָה וגו' וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וגו' וּמָל ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וגו'. כֵּן עָשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁעֲתִידִין יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים וְהֵם נִגְאָלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ל, טו): בְּשׁוּבָה וָנַחַת תִּוָּשֵׁעוּן. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁמְצֹרָע וְזָב וּטְמֵא נֶפֶשׁ לֹא יִטְהֲרוּ לְעוֹלָם עַד שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ בְּמַיִם טְהוֹרִים, כָּךְ עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִזְרֹק עֲלֵיהֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וּלְטַהֲרָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל לו, כה): וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וּטְהַרְתֶּם וגו'. Another matter: “Command the children of Israel” (Numbers 5:2) – the Rabbis interpreted that the verse refers to exile. “Command the children of Israel” – because they violated the mitzvot, they incurred liability to be banished; this is exile. That is what is written: “They shall send out from the camp” (Numbers 5:2); “they shall send out” is nothing other than an expression of exile, just as it says: “Send them out from My Presence, and let them go” (Jeremiah 15:1). “From the camp” – this is the Land of Israel, as the Divine Presence dwells there. “Every leper and every zav, and every one impure by means of a corpse” (Numbers 5:2) – He implied to them that if Israel violates these three transgressions, idol worship, illicit sexual relations, and bloodshed, they will incur liability to be exiled. “Leper” – this is idol worship. Just as a leper impurifies through entry, so idol worship impurifies through entry.36If a leper enters a house everything in the house becomes impure; if something which was offered to an idol is under a roof, everything under the roof becomes impure (see Ḥullin 13b). “Zav” – this is illicit sexual relations. These and those are impurified by means of a seminal emission.37Illicit sexual relations impurify the land. See Leviticus 18:24–28. “Impure by means of a corpse” – these are murderers, who impurify themselves and impurify the land with bloodshed. We learned that it is so:38Mishna Avot 5:12. Exile comes to the world for idol worship, for illicit sexual relations, for bloodshed, and for failure to leave the land fallow.39During the Sabbatical Year.
For idol worship, how so? It says: “I will destroy your private altars, [and eliminate your sun-stones, and I will cast your carcasses on the carcasses of your idols]” (Leviticus 26:30). And it is written: “And you I will scatter among the nations…” (Leviticus 26:33). The Omnipresent said to Israel: Since you desire idol worship, I will exile you to a place where there is idol worship. That is why “I will destroy your private altars.”
For illicit sexual relations, how so? Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei said: Whenever Israel are steeped in illicit sexual relations [arayot], the Divine Presence departs from them, as it is stated: “And He will not see a shameful matter [ervat davar]40Erva is the singular of arayot. in your midst, and turn from behind you” (Deuteronomy 23:15)
For bloodshed how so? It is as it is stated: “You shall not pollute the land [in which you are, as the blood will pollute the land.… And do not impurify the land]” (Numbers 35:33–34). The verse tells that bloodshed impurifies the land, and the Divine Presence departs. It is due to bloodshed that the Temple was destroyed and Israel was exiled from their land.
These matters were in the first Temple, and that is why they were exiled and the Temple was destroyed, as Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Toreta said: Due to what reason was the first Temple destroyed? It was due to the fact that there were three matters in it: Idol worship, illicit sexual relations, and bloodshed. Idol worship, as it is written: “For the bedding is too short for stretching [mehistare’a]…” (Isaiah 28:20). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said that Rabbi Yonatan said: This bed is too short for two counterparts [re’im] to dominate [mehistarer] as one.41Mehistare’a is a portmanteau of mehistarer and re’a. “And the covering [vehamasekha] is too narrow [tzara] for taking shelter [kehitkannes]” (Isaiah 28:20) – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said that when Rabbi Yonatan would reach this verse, he would weep and say: For the One in whose regard it is written: “He gathers [kones] waters of the sea together as a mound” (Psalms 33:7), will the idol [masekha] became a rival [tzara]? Illicit sexual relations, as it is written: “The Lord says: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty [and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes]” (Isaiah 3:16). Bloodshed, as it is written: “Moreover, Menashe shed very much innocent blood…” (II Kings 21:16). That is why the Holy One blessed be He brought upon them three calamities corresponding to the three transgressions that they performed, as it is stated: “Therefore, due to you, Zion will be plowed as a field; [Jerusalem will become heaps, and the Temple Mount into forested heights [bamot]] (Micah 3:12).42The term bamot also refers to private altars, and in many instances, altars of idol worship, which were regularly built in elevated locations.
This sending43“They shall send out from the camp” (Numbers 5:2). is stated regarding the Babylonian exile. “Male and female alike you shall send out” (Numbers 5:3) – that is stated corresponding to the exile of Media, as they went from Babylon to Media. Because they did not depart from the Land of Israel when they were exiled to Media, that is why “camp” is not stated here. Why is “male and female alike” written regarding the exile of Media? He implied to them that the kingdom of Media was destined to issue edicts upon them, “male and female alike,” as it is stated: “The scrolls were sent in the hand of the couriers to all the king’s provinces: To destroy, [to kill, and to eliminate all the Jews, from lad to elder, children and women]” (Esther 3:13). “Outside the camp you shall send them” (Numbers 5:3) – this is stated corresponding to the exile of Edom,44Edom refers to the Roman Empire. who destroyed the Temple and exiled Israel from their land. Why is the exile of Edom juxtaposed to the exile of Babylon? It is because just as Babylon destroyed the Temple and exiled Israel, so did the Edomites. Likewise it says: “Daughter of Babylon, marked for devastation” (Psalms 137:8) – the verse characterizes Edom as the daughter of Babylon;45The previous verse states: “Remember, Lord, the day of Jerusalem against the sons of Edom” (Psalms 137:7). even though the exile of Media is interposed between them in this verse,46“Male and female alike you shall send out” separates between the allusion to Babylon and the allusion to Edom. it is only because the exile of Media comes as an extension of the exile of Babylon, as when they were exiled to Media they departed from Babylon. “They shall not impurify their camp” (Numbers 5:3) – that is stated corresponding to the subjugation to Greece. This is why “sending” is not stated in its regard, as they did not exile them from their land. This is the reason that impurity is stated in its regard, as the Greeks impurified the Sanctuary with their idols.
“In which I dwell in their midst” (Numbers 5:3) – He implied to them that in every place they were exiled, the Divine Presence was with them. It is taught: Rabbi Natan says: Israel are beloved, as every place they were exiled, the Divine Presence was with them. They were exiled to Egypt; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is stated: “Did I not appear to your father's house, [when they were in Egypt]” (I Samuel 2:27). They were exiled to Babylon; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is stated: “For your sake, I sent to Babylon…” (Isaiah 43:14). They were exiled to Elam; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is stated: “I will place My throne in Elam” (Jeremiah 49:38). They were exiled to Edom; the Divine Presence was with them, as it is stated: “Who is this coming from Edom…” (Isaiah 63:1). When they are scattered, the Divine Presence is with them, as it is stated: “The Lord your God will return [veshav] your returnees…” (Deuteronomy 30:3). It is not written here: Will restore [veheshiv], but rather, “will return [veshav].” And it says: “With me from Lebanon, my bride, [with me from Lebanon, come]” (Song of Songs 4:8).
“The children of Israel did so, and sent them outside the camp” – when they sinned, they were exiled. “As the Lord spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did” – what did the Holy One blessed be He speak to Moses? It is that if they will repent in the kingdoms where they will be, the Holy One blessed be He will gather them, as it is stated: “It will be when all these matters will come upon you, the blessing and the curse [that I have placed before you, you shall restore to your heart among all the nations that the Lord your God has banished you there. And you will return to the Lord your God].… The Lord your God [will bring you to the land]… The Lord your God will circumcise [your heart]…” (Deuteronomy 30:1–2, 5–6).
“So the children of Israel did [asu]” – that Israel is destined to repent [laasot teshuva] at the end of days and they would be redeemed, as it is stated: “With repose [beshuva] and stillness you will be saved” (Isaiah 30:15). Just as a leper, a zav, and one impure due to a corpse will never be purified until they enter pure water, so, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to sprinkle pure water upon them and to purify them, as it is stated: “I will sprinkle pure water upon you, and you will be purified…” (Ezekiel 36:25).