(Lev. 14:2:) “In the day of his cleansing.” [With what?]20Lev. R. 16:7. With (according to vs. 4) “two live clean birds.” How is his offering different from all [other] offerings? It is simply that he has spoken slander. Therefore, the text says that his sacrifice is two birds, because they (like slanderers) carry their voices. (Lev. 14:4, cont.:) “And cedar wood.” In the case of the cedar, no tree is taller (gevoha) than that one; so because [the leper] has exalted (gevoha) himself like a cedar, [he has had] the leprosy come upon him.21PRK 4:3. Thus Simeon ben Eleazar has said, “Leprosy comes on account of haughtiness, for so you find in the case of Uzziah (in II Chron. 26:16), ‘But when he was strong, he grew so arrogant that he acted corruptly,’ and it is written (in II Chron. 26:19), ‘but during his anger with the priests, leprosy appeared on his forehead.’” (Lev. 14:4, cont.:) “And with hyssop.” Among the trees there is none [as short] as the hyssop. Because [the leper] has lowered himself, [leprosy] is therefore cured through the hyssop. (Lev. 14:5:) “[Then the priest shall give a command] to kill one bird.” Why kill one and release one? It is simply that, if he has repented, the leprosy shall not return upon him.22Cf. Lev. 16:9. (Lev. 14:2:) “[This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing:] He shall be brought unto the priest.” What is the meaning of “He shall be brought (rt.: bw')?” He comes (rt.: bw'). Why? Because everything is far off and separated from him, for so David says (in Ps. 38:12), “My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my kinfolk stand far off.” So also it says (in Lev. 13:46), “he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp,” outside the camp of Israel. It is therefore stated (in Lev. 14:2), “he shall be brought (rt.: bw'),” [meaning] he comes (rt.: bw').
בְּיוֹם טָהֳרָתוֹ. כַּמָּה, שְׁתֵּי צִפָּרִים חַיּוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת. מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה קָרְבָּנוֹ מִשְּׁאָר קָרְבָּנוֹת. עַל שֶׁסִּפֵּר לָשׁוֹן הָרַע. לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר הַכָּתוּב, יְהֵא קָרְבָּנוֹ שְׁתֵּי צִפָּרִים, שֶׁקּוֹלָן מוֹלִיכוֹת. וְעֵץ אֶרֶז, הָאֶרֶז הַזֶּה אֵין גָּבֹהַּ מִמֶּנּוּ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהִגְבִּיהַּ עַצְמוֹ כָּאֶרֶז, בָּאָה עָלָיו הַצָּרַעַת. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר, עַל גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ הַצָּרַעַת בָּאָה. שֶׁכֵּן אַתְּ מוֹצֵא בְּעֻזִּיָּהוּ כְּתִיב: וּכְחֶזְקָתוֹ גָּבַהּ לִבּוֹ עַד לְהַשְׁחִית (דה״ב כו, טז). וּכְתִיב: וּבְזַעְפּוֹ עִם הַכֹּהֲנִים, וְהַצָּרַעַת זָרְחָה בְמִצְחוֹ (דה״ב כו, יט). הָאֵזוֹב הַזֶּה אֵין בָּאִילָנוֹת שָׁפֵל מִמֶּנּוּ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהִשְׁפִּיל עַצְמוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ מִתְרַפֵּא עַל יְדֵי אֵזוֹב. וְשָׁחַט אֶת הַצִּפּוֹר הָאַחַת. לָמָּה שׁוֹחֵט אַחַת וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ אַחַת. אֶלָּא אִם עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה, אֵין הַצָּרַעַת חוֹזֵר עָלָיו. וְהוּבָא אֶל הַכֹּהֵן. מַהוּ וְהוּבָא אֶל הַכֹּהֵן. הוּא בָא, לָמָּה. שֶׁהַכֹּל רְחוֹקִים וּבְדֵלִים מִמֶּנּוּ. שֶׁכֵּן דָּוִד אוֹמֵר, אֹהֲבַי וְרֵעַי מִנֶּגֶד נִגְעִי יַעֲמֹדוּ וּקְרוֹבַי מֵרָחוֹק עָמָדוּ (תהלים לח, יב). וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר, בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב מִחוּץ לְמַחֲנֵה מוֹשָׁבוֹ, מִחוּץ לְמַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: וְהוּבָא אֶל הַכֹּהֵן, וְהוּא בָא.
(Lev. 14:2:) “In the day of his cleansing.” [With what?]20Lev. R. 16:7. With (according to vs. 4) “two live clean birds.” How is his offering different from all [other] offerings? It is simply that he has spoken slander. Therefore, the text says that his sacrifice is two birds, because they (like slanderers) carry their voices. (Lev. 14:4, cont.:) “And cedar wood.” In the case of the cedar, no tree is taller (gevoha) than that one; so because [the leper] has exalted (gevoha) himself like a cedar, [he has had] the leprosy come upon him.21PRK 4:3. Thus Simeon ben Eleazar has said, “Leprosy comes on account of haughtiness, for so you find in the case of Uzziah (in II Chron. 26:16), ‘But when he was strong, he grew so arrogant that he acted corruptly,’ and it is written (in II Chron. 26:19), ‘but during his anger with the priests, leprosy appeared on his forehead.’” (Lev. 14:4, cont.:) “And with hyssop.” Among the trees there is none [as short] as the hyssop. Because [the leper] has lowered himself, [leprosy] is therefore cured through the hyssop. (Lev. 14:5:) “[Then the priest shall give a command] to kill one bird.” Why kill one and release one? It is simply that, if he has repented, the leprosy shall not return upon him.22Cf. Lev. 16:9. (Lev. 14:2:) “[This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing:] He shall be brought unto the priest.” What is the meaning of “He shall be brought (rt.: bw')?” He comes (rt.: bw'). Why? Because everything is far off and separated from him, for so David says (in Ps. 38:12), “My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my kinfolk stand far off.” So also it says (in Lev. 13:46), “he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp,” outside the camp of Israel. It is therefore stated (in Lev. 14:2), “he shall be brought (rt.: bw'),” [meaning] he comes (rt.: bw').