ויקרא רבה 16

זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע (ויקרא יד, ב), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי ו, טז): שֶׁשׁ הֵנָּה שָׂנֵא ה' וְשֶׁבַע תּוֹעֲבַת נַפְשׁוֹ, רַבִּי מֵאִיר וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר שֵׁשׁ וָשֶׁבַע הֲרֵי שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי שֶׁבַע מְקַיְימִין, וְשֶׁבַע דִּכְתִיב זוֹ שְׁבִיעִית שֶׁקָּשָׁה כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם, וְאֵיזֶה זֶה (משלי ו, יט): וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן (משלי ו, יז יט): עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר וְיָדַיִם שֹׁפְכוֹת דָּם נָקִי, לֵב חֹרֵשׁ מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָוֶן רַגְלַיִם מְמַהֲרוֹת לָרוּץ לָרָעָה, יָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים עֵד שָׁקֶר וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים, וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְכֻלָּן לָקוּ בְּצָרַעַת, עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת, מִבְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה ג, טז): יַעַן כִּי גָבְהוּ בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן וַתֵּלַכְנָה נְטוּיוֹת גָּרוֹן וּמְשַׂקְּרוֹת עֵינָיִם, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה ג, יז): וְשִׂפַּח ה' קָדְקֹד בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן, דְּהַוְּיָן שָׁיְפִין כְּרוֹמְחִין וּמְהַלְּכִין בְּגַסּוּת הָרוּחַ. (ישעיה ג, טז): וַתֵּלַכְנָה נְטוּיוֹת גָּרוֹן, שֶׁהָיְתָה אַחַת מֵהֶן לוֹבֶשֶׁת תַּכְשִׁיטֶיהָ וְהָיְתָה מַטָּה גְרוֹנָהּ בִּשְׁבִיל לְהַרְאוֹת אֶת תַּכְשִׁיטֶיהָ. (ישעיה ג, טז): וּמְשַׂקְּרוֹת עֵינָיִם, רַבִּי מָנֵי דְקֵיסָרִי אָמַר שֶׁהָיוּ מְסַקְּרוֹת עֵינֵיהֶם בְּסִיקְרָא, וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר בְּקוֹלָרְיָא אֲדֻמָּה. (ישעיה ג, טז): הָלוֹךְ וְטָפֹף תֵּלַכְנָה, כְּשֶׁהָיְתָה אַחַת מֵהֶן אֲרֻכָּה הָיְתָה מְבִיאָה שְׁתֵּי קְצָרוֹת אַחַת מִכָּאן וְאַחַת מִכָּאן כְּדֵי שֶׁתֵּרָאֶה אֲרֻכָּה, וּכְשֶׁהָיְתָה אַחַת מֵהֶן קְצָרָה, הָיְתָה מְבִיאָה שְׁתֵּי קְצָרוֹת וְהָיְתָה נוֹתֶנֶת בְּרַגְלֶיהָ קוּנְדִירִיקוֹן עָבֶה, כְּדֵי שֶׁתֵּרָאֶה אֲרֻכָּה. (ישעיה ג, טז): וּבְרַגְלֵיהֶם תְּעַכַּסְנָה, רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא אָמַר שֶׁהָיְתָה צוּרַת דְּרָקוֹן בְּמִנְעָלֶיהָ. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי הָיְתָה מְבִיאָה שְׁפוֹפֶרֶת שֶׁל בֵּיצָה וְהָיְתָה מְמַלְּאָה אוֹתָהּ אֲפַרְסְמוֹן וְנוֹתֶנֶת אוֹתָהּ תַּחַת עֲקֵבָה בְּמִנְעָלֶיהָ, וּכְשֶׁהָיְתָה רוֹאָה כַּת שֶׁל בַּחוּרִים הָיְתָה רוֹפֶסֶת עָלֶיהָ וְהָיָה אוֹתוֹ הָרֵיחַ מְפַעְפֵּעַ בָּהֶן כְּאֶרֶס שֶׁל עַכְנָה, וְהָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר לִישַׁעְיָה מָה אֵלּוּ עוֹשׂוֹת כָּאן יָקוּמוּ וְיִגְלוּ מִכָּאן, וְהָיָה יְשַׁעְיָה אוֹמֵר לָהֶם עֲשׂוּ תְּשׁוּבָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹאוּ עֲלֵיכֶם שׂוֹנְאִים, אָמַר אִם יָבוֹאוּ שׂוֹנְאִים עָלֵינוּ מַה יִּהְיוּ יְכוֹלִים לַעֲשׂוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ה, יט): הָאֹמְרִים יְמַהֵר יָחִישָׁה מַעֲשֵׂהוּ לְמַעַן נִרְאֶה, דֻּכָּס אֶחָד רוֹאֵנִי וְנוֹטֵל אוֹתִי, אִפַּרְכוֹס רוֹאֶה אוֹתִי וְנוֹטֵל אוֹתִי, אַסְטְרָטִילָטִיס רוֹאֶה אוֹתִי וּמוֹשִׁיב אוֹתִי בְּקָרוֹן, הֱוֵי (ישעיה ה, יט): וְתִקְרַב וְתָבוֹאָה עֲצַת קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנֵדָעָה, וְנֵדַע דְּמַן הוּא דְּקַיָּמָא דִּילָן אוֹ דִילֵיהּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁגָּדְלוּ עֲוֹנוֹת בָּאוּ הַשּׂוֹנְאִים הָיוּ מִתְקַשְּׁטוֹת וְיוֹצְאוֹת לִפְנֵיהֶם כְּזוֹנוֹת, דֻּכָּס רָאָה אוֹתָן וּנְטָלָן, אִפַּרְכוֹס רָאָה אוֹתָן וּנְטָלָן, אַסְטְרָטִילָטִיס רָאָה אוֹתָן וּנְטָלָן וּמוֹשִׁיב אוֹתָן בְּקָרוֹן, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָא קָיְמָא דִילִי וְקָיְמָא דִילְהוֹן, מֶה עָשָׂה (ישעיה ג, יז): וְשִׂפַּח ה' קָדְקֹד בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר הִלְקָן בְּצָרַעַת, כְּדִכְתִיב (ויקרא יד, נו): וְלַשְּׂאֵת וְלַסַּפַּחַת. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא אָמַר הֶעֱלָה עַל רֹאשָׁם מִשְׁפָּחוֹת מִשְׁפָּחוֹת שֶׁל כִּנִּים. רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר עֲשָׂאָן שְׁפָחוֹת מְכוּדָנוֹת, מַהוּ מְכוּדָנוֹת, אַמְהָן מְשַׁעְבְּדָן. רַבִּי חִיָּא וְחִילְפָא בַּר אִידֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר, מַהוּ וְשִׂפַּח, שָׁמַר מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶן כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעָרֵב זֶרַע קֹדֶשׁ בְּעַמֵּי הָאֲרָצוֹת, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי שֶׁאֵין אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם בְּדֵלִין מִן הַצָּרַעַת, מֶה עָשָׂה (ישעיה ג, יז): וַה' פָּתְהֵן יְעָרֶה, רָמַז הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמַעְיְנֵיהֶם וְהִיא מוֹצִיאָה דַם וּמְמַלֵּא הַקָּרוֹן דַּם וְהָיָה אוֹתוֹ שִׁלְטוֹן נוֹעֲצָהּ בְּרֹמַח וְנוֹתְנָהּ לִפְנֵי הַקָּרוֹן וְהָיָה קָרוֹן עוֹבֶרֶת עֲלֵיהֶן וּמְרַמְּסָן, הוּא שֶׁיִּרְמְיָה אוֹמֵר (איכה ד, טז): סוּרוּ טָמֵא קָרְאוּ לָמוֹ. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר לָשׁוֹן יְוָנִי הוּא סִירוֹן סִירוֹן. לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר, מִמִּרְיָם, דִּכְתִיב (במדבר יב, א): וַתְּדַבֵּר מִרְיָם וְאַהֲרֹן בְּמשֶׁה, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלָּקְתָה בְּצָרַעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יב, י): וְהֶעָנָן סָר מֵעַל הָאֹהֶל וְהִנֵּה מִרְיָם מְצֹרַעַת כַּשָּׁלֶג. וְיָדַיִם שֹׁפְכוֹת דָּם נָקִי, מִיּוֹאָב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א ב, לב): וְהֵשִׁיב ה' אֶת דָּמוֹ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלָּקָה בְּצָרַעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ג, כט): יָחֹלוּ עַל רֹאשׁ יוֹאָב זָב וּמְצֹרָע. לֵב חֹרֵשׁ מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָוֶן, מֵעֻזִּיָּה, שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לָבוֹז כְּהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁלָּקָה בְּצָרַעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב טו, ה): וַיְנַגַע ה' אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיְהִי מְצֹרָע עַד יוֹם מֹתוֹ. וְרַגְלַיִם מְמַהֲרוֹת לָרוּץ לְרָעָה, מִגֵּיחֲזִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ה, כ): וַיֹּאמֶר גֵּיחֲזִי נַעַר אֱלִישָׁע, וּמִנַיִן שֶׁלָּקָה בְּצָרַעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ה, כז): וְצָרַעַת נַעֲמָן תִּדְבַּק בְּךָ. וּמְשַׁלֵחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים, מִפַּרְעֹה, שֶׁשִּׁלַּח מְדָנִים בֵּין אַבְרָהָם לְשָׂרָה, וּמִנַיִן שֶׁלָּקָה בְּצָרַעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יב, יז): וַיְנַגַּע ה' אֶת פַּרְעֹה. אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל פַּעַם אַחַת הָיִיתִי מְהַלֵּךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ מִטְּבֶרְיָא לְצִפּוֹרִי, מְצָאַנִי זָקֵן אֶחָד וְאָמַר לִי עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מִינֵי שְׁחִין הֵן, וְאֵין לְךָ קָשֶׁה לְתַשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה חוּץ מִבַּעַל רָאתָן בִּלְבָד, אָמַר רַבִּי פְּדָת וּבוֹ לָקָה פַּרְעֹה, לְפִיכָךְ הָיָה משֶׁה מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל: זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הַמּוֹצִיא שֵׁם רָע. תַּנְיָא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי שָׂח לִי זָקֵן אֶחָד מֵאַנְשֵׁי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מִינֵי שְׁחִין הֵן וְכֻלָּן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים תַּשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה קָשֶׁה לָהֶן, וּבַעַל רָאתָן קָשֶׁה מִכֻּלָּן, מִמַּאי הֲוֵי תָּנִינָא הִקִּיז דָּם וְשִׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ הַוְיָן לֵיהּ בָּנִים נִכְפִּין וכו', אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הִזְהֲרוּ מִזְבוּבֵי בַּעֲלֵי רָאתָן. רַבִּי זֵירָא לָא הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּגַוֵּיהּ. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לָא עָיֵיל בְּאָהֳלֵיהּ. רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסֵּי לָא הֲווֹ אָכְלִין בֵּיעָא דִילֵיהּ, וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר: זֹאת תִּהְיֶה וגו'.

“This shall be the law of the leper on the day of his purification: He shall be brought to the priest” (Leviticus 14:2).
“This shall be the law of the leper.” That is what is written: “They are six that the Lord hates, and seven that are an abomination to His soul” (Proverbs 6:16). Rabbi Meir and the Rabbis, Rabbi Meir says: Six and seven are thirteen.¹Six are enumerated before this verse and seven after this verse. The Rabbis say: There are a total of seven; “and seven” that is written is [referring to] the seventh, who is worse than all of them together. Which is this? It is “one who incites discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:19). These are they: “Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart devising iniquitous thoughts, feet hastening to run to evil, he who utters lies as a false witness, and he who incites discord among brothers (Proverbs 6:17–19).
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: All of them are afflicted with leprosy. “Haughty eyes,” from the daughters of Zion,²The precedent of the daughters of Zion demonstrates that one with haughty eyes is afflicted with leprosy. as it is written: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and they walk with outstretched necks and painted eyes” (Isaiah 3:16), and it is written: “The Lord will afflict the head of the daughters of Zion with scabs” (Isaiah 3:17). They would extend themselves, erect like spears, and walk haughtily. “They walk with outstretched necks,” one of them would wear her jewelry and would turn her neck in order to flaunt her jewelry. “And painted eyes,” Rabbi Manei of Caesarea said: They would paint their eyes with red paint. Reish Lakish said: With red eye balm. “They walk with dainty steps” (Isaiah 3:16). When one of them was tall she would bring two short ones, one on one side and one on the other side, so she would appear tall. When one of them was short, she would bring two short ones and would place a thick sole on her feet so she would appear tall.
“And strut [te’akasna] their feet” – Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: There was the form of a serpent³One term for a serpent is akas. The serpent was a symbol of idolatry. on her shoes. The Rabbis say: She would bring an eggshell and fill it with balsam and place it under the heel of her shoe. When she would see a group of young men, she would stomp on it and the scent would spread through them like the venom of a serpent. The Holy One blessed be He would say to Isaiah: ‘What are these doing here? Let them rise and be exiled from here.’ Isaiah would say to them: ‘Repent before enemies set upon you!’ They would say: ‘If enemies set upon us, what will they be able to do,’ as it is stated: “[Woe to them…] who say: Let Him hurry, let Him hasten His action, so that we will see it” (Isaiah 5:18–19). ‘A commander will see me and abduct me. A governor will see me and abduct me. A general will see me and abduct me, and seat me in his carriage.’⁴The women said that they would not mind being taken captive by enemy officers. That is, “let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel approach and be realized, and we will know it” (Isaiah 5:19); we will know whose counsel prevails, ours or His.
When their sins became greater, the enemies came, and [the women] would adorn themselves and go out before them like prostitutes. A commander would see them and abduct them. A governor would see them and abduct them. A general would see them and abduct them and seat them in the carriage. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Will My counsel not prevail and theirs will prevail?’ What did he do? “The Lord afflicted the head of the daughters of Zion with scabs [vesipaḥ].” Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina, Rabbi Elazar says: He afflicted them with leprosy, as it is written: “And for the spot and for the scab [velasapaḥat]” (Leviticus 14:56). Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: He brought up on their head swarms [mishpaḥot] upon swarms of lice. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: He rendered them mekhudanot maidservants [shefaḥot]. What is mekhudanot? It is enslaved maidservants.
Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Ḥilfa bar Idi said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: What is vesipaḥ? He protected their families so that the holy seed would not intermingle with the peoples of the lands. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I know that the nations of the world do not separate themselves from leprosy.’ What did He do? “The Lord will bare their private parts” (Isaiah 3:17). The Holy One blessed be He indicated to their uteruses, and [the woman] would discharge blood and fill the carriage with blood. The government official would pierce her with a spear and place her before the carriage. The carriage would go over them and trample them. That is what Jeremiah says: “Turn away [suru] impure one, [turn away, turn away [suru suru]], they shouted at them” (Lamentations 4:15). Rabbi Meir said: It is in the Greek language, stench [siron siron].⁵Because of her foul odor, the official cast her from the carriage.
“A lying tongue” (Proverbs 6:17) from Miriam, as it is written: “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses” (Numbers 12:1). From where is it derived that she was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “The cloud withdrew from upon the Tent, and behold, Miriam was leprous like snow” (Numbers 12:10).
“Hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17), from Yoav, as it is stated: “The Lord will repay his blood upon his head” (I Kings 2:32). From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is written: “It shall rest on the head of Yoav…those who suffer from discharge and lepers” (II Samuel 3:29).
“A heart devising iniquitous thoughts” (Proverbs 6:18), from Uzziah, who sought to usurp the high priesthood. From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “The Lord afflicted the king, and he was a leper until the day of his death” (II Kings 15:5).
“Feet hastening to run to evil” (Proverbs 6:18), from Geḥazi, as it is stated: “Geḥazi, the lad of Elisha…said…[I will run after him and take something from him]” (II Kings 5:20). From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “The leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you” (II Kings 5:27).
“And he who incites discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:19), from Pharaoh, who incited discord between Abraham and Sarah. From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “The Lord afflicted [vaynaga] Pharaoh”⁶The word nega means leprosy, as in Leviticus 13:2. (Genesis 12:17). Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: One time I was walking on the road between Tiberias and Tzippori. A certain elder encountered me and said to me: ‘There are twenty-four types of skin disease and none is more problematic for the conduct of sexual relations than raatan.’⁷A form of gonorrhea. Rabbi Pedat said: Pharaoh was afflicted with it. That is why Moses cautioned Israel: “This shall be the law of the leper [hametzora],” the defamer [hamotzi shem ra].⁸The Torah refers to the law of the leper [metzora] rather than the law of leprosy in order to hint to the fact that one who defames others [motzi shem ra] becomes a leper. The fact that this is the only cause alluded to in the verse affirms the statement that “he who incites discord among brothers” is worse than the others who are punished with leprosy.
It is taught: Rabbi Yosei said: A certain elder from the men of Jerusalem said to me: ‘There are twenty-four types of skin disease and all of them are problematic for the conduct of sexual relations, but raatan is most problematic of them all.’ From what does one contract it? We learned: If one let his blood, and engaged in sexual relations, he will have epileptic children, etc.⁹This is a reference to a statement cited in the Talmud. The statement continues: If both of them let their blood and then engaged in sexual relations, they will have children with raatan (Ketuvot 77b; Nidda 17a).
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Be wary of flies that frequent sufferers of raatan. Rabbi Zeira would not sit in their midst. Rabbi Elazar would not enter their tents. Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi would not eat an egg of theirs. In that regard it is stated: “This shall be [the law of the leper [nametzora]].

דָּבָר אַחֵר, זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים לד, יג): מִי הָאִישׁ הֶחָפֵץ חַיִּים. מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרוֹכֵל אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה מַחֲזִיר בָּעֲיָרוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ סְמוּכוֹת לְצִפּוֹרִי וְהָיָה מַכְרִיז וְאוֹמֵר, מַאן בָּעֵי לְמִזְבַּן סַם חַיִּים, אוֹדְקִין עֲלֵיהּ, רַבִּי יַנַּאי הֲוָה יָתֵיב וּפָשֵׁיט בְּתוּרְקְלִינֵיהּ שָׁמְעֵיהּ דְּמַכְרִיז מַאן בָּעֵי סַם חַיִּים, אֲמַר לֵיהּ תָּא סַק לְהָכָא זַבִּין לִי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָאו אַנְתְּ צָרִיךְ לֵיהּ וְלָא דְכַוָּותָךְ, אַטְרַח עֲלֵיהּ סָלֵיק לְגַבֵּיהּ הוֹצִיא לוֹ סֵפֶר תְּהִלִּים הֶרְאָה לוֹ פָּסוּק: מִי הָאִישׁ הֶחָפֵץ חַיִּים, מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ (תהלים לד, יד טו): נְצֹר לְשׁוֹנְךָ מֵרָע, סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב. אָמַר רַבִּי יַנַּאי אַף שְׁלֹמֹה מַכְרִיז וְאוֹמֵר (משלי כא, כג): שֹׁמֵר פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ שֹׁמֵר מִצָּרוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי יַנַּאי כָּל יָמַי הָיִיתִי קוֹרֵא הַפָּסוּק הַזֶּה וְלֹא הָיִיתִי יוֹדֵעַ הֵיכָן הוּא פָּשׁוּט עַד שֶׁבָּא רוֹכֵל זֶה וְהוֹדִיעוֹ, מִי הָאִישׁ הֶחָפֵץ חַיִּים, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, תּוֹרַת הַמּוֹצִיא שֵׁם רָע.

Another matter, “this shall be the law of the leper.” That is what is written: “Who is the man who desires life?” (Psalms 34:13). There was an incident involving a certain peddler who would circulate in the towns adjacent to Tzippori and would proclaim and say: ‘Who seeks to purchase the elixir of life?’ [People] would crowd around him. Rabbi Yanai was sitting and interpreting verses in his study. He heard [the peddler] proclaiming: ‘Who seeks the elixir of life?’ He said to him: ‘Come in here and sell it to me.’ He said to him: ‘You and those like you do not require it.’ [Rabbi Yanai] pressed him and he came to him. [The peddler] took out the book of Psalms and showed him the verse: “Who is the man who desires life?” What is written after it? “Guard your tongue from evil…Turn away from evil and perform good” (Psalms 34:14–15). Rabbi Yanai said: ‘Solomon, too, proclaims and says: “One who guards his mouth and his tongue guards himself from troubles”’ (Proverbs 21:23). Rabbi Yanai said: ‘All my life I have been reading this verse, but I did not know how obvious it is¹⁰That guarding the tongue is the elixir of life. until this peddler came and informed [me]: “Who is the man who desires life.”’ Therefore, Moses cautions Israel and says: “This shall be the law of the leper [hametzora],” the law of the defamer [hamotzi shem ra].

דָּבָר אַחֵר, זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב כ, ו): אִם יַעֲלֶה לַשָּׁמַיִם שִׂיאוֹ וְרֹאשׁוֹ לָעָב יַגִּיעַ. שִׂיאוֹ, לְרוּמָא. לָעָב, לַעֲנָנָא. (איוב כ, ז): כְּגֶלְלוֹ לָנֶצַח יֹאבֵד, מַה גְּלָלִים הַלָּלוּ מְזֹהָמִין אַף הוּא מְזֹהָם. (איוב כ, ז): רֹאָיו יֹאמְרוּ אַיּוֹ, חָמוּן לֵיהּ וְלָא מַכִּירִין בֵּיהּ, שֶׁכֵּן כְּתִיב בְּרֵעֵי אִיּוֹב (איוב ב, יב): וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם מֵרָחוֹק וְלֹא הִכִּירֻהוּ. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אוֹמֵר אָסוּר לֵילֵךְ בְּמִזְרָחוֹ שֶׁל מְצֹרָע אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר אֲפִלּוּ מֵאָה אַמָּה, וְלָא פְּלִיגֵי מַאן דְּאָמַר אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאֵין הָרוּחַ יוֹצֵא, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר מֵאָה אַמָּה, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהָרוּחַ יוֹצֵא. רַבִּי מֵאִיר לָא אָכֵיל בֵּיעֵי מִן מְבוֹאָה דִּמְצֹרָע, רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסֵּי לָא הֲווֹ עָיְילֵי לִמְבוֹאוֹת שֶׁל מְצֹרָע, רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ כַּד הֲוָה חָמֵי חַד מִנְּהוֹן בִּמְדִינְתָּא מְרַגֵּם לְהוֹן בַּאֲבָנַיָא אֲמַר לוֹ פּוֹק לְאַתְרָךְ לָא תִּזְהוֹם בְּרִיָּיתָא, דְּתָנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא (ויקרא יג, מו): בָּדָד יֵשֵׁב, לְבַדּוֹ יֵשֵׁב. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן כַּד חָמֵי חַד מִנְּהוֹן הֲוָה מִטַּמַּר מִנֵּיהּ, עַל שׁוּם דִּכְתִיב: זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הַמּוֹצִיא שֵׁם רָע.

Another matter, “this shall be the law of the leper.” That is what is written: “Though his height [sio] ascends to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds [laav]” (Job 20:6); sio, to the heights, laav, to the clouds.¹¹The midrash has defined the words sio and laav employed in the verse. “He will perish forever like his dung” (Job 20:7); just as dung is foul, so, too, he is foul. “They who see him will say: Where is he?” (Job 20:7). They see him but they do not recognize him, as it is written regarding Job’s comrades: “They lifted their eyes from a distance but they did not recognize him” (Job 2:12).
Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan says: It is prohibited to walk within four cubits to the east of a leper. Rabbi Shimon said: Even one hundred cubits. But they do not disagree. The one who said four cubits, that is when the wind is not blowing. The one who said one hundred cubits, that is when the wind is blowing.
Rabbi Meir would not eat eggs from the alleyway of a leper. Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi would not enter the alleyways of the leper. Reish Lakish, when he would see one of them in the city, he would stone them with stones. He would say to him: ‘Go out to your place. Do not contaminate the people,’ as Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: “He shall dwell apart” (Leviticus 13:46); he shall dwell alone. Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon, when he would see one of them, he would hide from him. [All this is] as it is written: “This shall be the law of the leper [hametzora],” of the defamer [hamotzi shem ra].

דָּבָר אַחֵר, זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים נ, טז): וְלָרָשָׁע אָמַר אֱלֹהִים מַה לְּךָ לְסַפֵּר חֻקָּי וַתִּשָּׂא בְרִיתִי עֲלֵי פִיךָ, בֶּן עַזַּאי הָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ וְהָאֵשׁ מְלַהֶטֶת סְבִיבוֹתָיו, אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ שֶׁמָּא בְּסִדְרֵי מֶרְכָּבָה אַתָּה עוֹסֵק, אָמַר לָהֶן לָאו, אֶלָּא מַחְרִיז דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה לִנְבִיאִים, וּנְבִיאִים לִכְתוּבִים, וְדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה שְׂמֵחִין כְּיוֹם נְתִינָתָן בְּסִינַי, עִקַּר נְתִינָתָן בָּאֵשׁ נִתְּנוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דברים ד, יא): וְהָהָר בֹּעֵר בָּאֵשׁ, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי מָצִינוּ בַּתּוֹרָה בַּנְּבִיאִים וּבַכְּתוּבִים שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חָפֵץ בְּקִלּוּסוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם רָשָׁע, מִן הַתּוֹרָה (ויקרא יג, מה): וְעַל שָׂפָם יַעְטֶה וְטָמֵא טָמֵא יִקְרָא. מִן הַנְּבִיאִים (מלכים ב ח, ה): וַיְהִי הוּא מְסַפֵּר לַמֶּלֶךְ אֵת אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱיָה אֶת הַמֵּת וגו' זֹאת הָאִשָּׁה וְזֶה בְּנָהּ אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱיָה אֱלִישָׁע, וְדִלְמָא לַאֲחוֹרֵי תַּרְעָא הֲוָה קָאֵים. רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אֲפִלּוּ בְּסוֹף הָעוֹלָם הֱסִיטָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וֶהֱבִיאָהּ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יְסַפֵּר אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע בְּשִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. בַּכְּתוּבִים מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים נ, טז): וְלָרָשָׁע אָמַר אֱלֹהִים מַה לְּךָ לְסַפֵּר חֻקָּי. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן זִמְרָא אָמַר מָאתַיִם וְאַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנָה אֵבָרִים יֵשׁ בּוֹ בָּאָדָם, מֵהֶם רְבוּצִין, מֵהֶם זְקוּפִין, וְלָשׁוֹן זֶה נָתוּן בֵּין שְׁנֵי לְחָיַיִּם וְאַמַּת הַמַּיִם עוֹבֶרֶת תַּחְתָּיו, וּמְכֻפָּל כַּמָּה כְּפֻלּוֹת, בּוֹא וּרְאֵה כַּמָּה שְׂרֵפוֹת הוּא שׂוֹרֵף, אִלּוּ הָיָה זָקוּף וְעוֹמֵד, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם: זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הַמּוֹצִיא שֵׁם רָע.

Another matter, “this shall be the law of the leper.” That is what is written: “But to the wicked one, God says: Who are you to speak of My statutes or to invoke My covenant?” (Psalms 50:16). Ben Azai was sitting and expounding and fire was blazing around him. They said to him: ‘Are you, perhaps, engaging in the protocols of the Chariot?’¹²The Divine Chariot is understood to have been described by Ezekiel in a very deep and esoteric prophetic vision (Ezekiel chapter 1). He said to them: ‘No. I am, rather, connecting words of Torah to the Prophets, and Prophets to Writings, and the words of Torah are as joyous as the day they were given at Sinai. The essential giving of the Torah was in fire; that is what is written: “The mountain was burning with fire”’ (Deuteronomy 4:11).
Rabbi Levi said: We found in the Torah, in the Prophets, and in the Writings that the Holy One blessed be He does not desire the praise of a wicked person. From the Torah: “He shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry: Impure, impure” (Leviticus 13:45).¹³But he shall not call out matters of sanctity and praise of God. From the Prophets: “It was as he was telling the king that he had revived the dead…this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha revived” (II Kings 8:5).¹⁴The Holy One blessed be He arranged that the woman would recount the miracle before the king and not Geḥazi the leper. Perhaps she was standing just behind the gate?¹⁵Perhaps she just happened to be there, and since the story was about her, she was the one to relate its details. The Rabbis say: Even had she been at the ends of the earth, the Holy One blessed be He would have diverted her and brought her so that this wicked one would not speak in praise of the Holy One blessed be He. From the Writings: “But to the wicked one God says: Who are you to speak of My statutes?” (Psalms 50:16).
Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: There are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a person, some of them are recumbent and some of them are erect. The tongue is situated between two cheeks. An aqueduct¹⁶Saliva. passes beneath it and it is folded into several folds.¹⁷It contracts in order to fit into the mouth. Come and see how many fires it ignites; if it stood erect, all the more so. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel and says: “This shall be the law of the leper [hametzora],” of the defamer [hamotzi shem ra].

דָּבָר אַחֵר, זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (קהלת ה, ה): אַל תִּתֵּן אֶת פִּיךָ לַחֲטִיא אֶת בְּשָׂרֶךָ, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי פָּתַר קְרָיָא בְּאֵלּוּ שֶׁפּוֹסְקִין צְדָקָה בָּרַבִּים וְאֵין נוֹתְנִין. רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פָּפָּא אָמַר בְּאִלֵּין שֶׁאוֹמְרִים לָשׁוֹן הָרָע. וְרַבִּי בִּנְיָמִין בֶּן לֵוִי פָּתַר קְרָיָא בַּחֲנִיפֵי תּוֹרָה. רַבִּי מָנֵי פָּתַר קְרָיָא בִּנְדָרִים וכו' כִּדְאִיתָא בְּמִדְרַשׁ קֹהֶלֶת. רַבָּנָן פָּתְרִין קְרָיָא בְּמִרְיָם, אַל תִּתֵּן אֶת פִּיךָ לַחֲטִיא אֶת בְּשָׂרֶךָ, אַל תִּתֵּן רְשׁוּת לְאֶחָד מֵאֵבָרֶיךָ לַחֲטִיא כָּל אֵבָרֶיךָ, אַל תֹּאמַר לִפְנֵי הַמַּלְאָךְ, זֶה משֶׁה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר כ, טז): וַיִּשְׁלַח מַלְאָךְ וַיֹּצִיאֵנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם. שְׁגָגָה הִיא (במדבר יב, יא): אֲשֶׁר נוֹאַלְנוּ וַאֲשֶׁר חָטָאנוּ. לָמָּה יִקְצֹף הָאֱלֹהִים עַל קוֹלֶךָ, עַל אוֹתוֹ הַקּוֹל שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר יב, ט): וַיִּחַר אַף ה' בָּם וַיֵּלַךְ. וְחִבֵּל אֶת מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶךָ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּפִיהָ חָטְאָה וְכָל הָאֵבָרִים לָקוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר יב, י): וְהֶעָנָן סָר מֵעַל הָאֹהֶל. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי מִלָּה בְּסֶלַע וּמִשְׁתּוֹקָא בִּשְׁתַּיִם, דִּתְנַן שִׁמְעוֹן בְּנוֹ אוֹמֵר כָּל יָמַי גָּדַלְתִּי בֵּין הַחֲכָמִים וְלֹא מָצָאתִי לַגּוּף טוֹב מִשְּׁתִיקָה.

Another matter, “this shall be the law of the leper.” That is what is written: “Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi interpreted the verse regarding those who pledge charity publicly but do not give. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: It is referring to those who speak slander. Rabbi Binyamin ben Levi interpreted the verse regarding those who are pretenders in their devotion to Torah study. Rabbi Manei interpreted the verse regarding vows…, as it appears in the midrash of Kohelet.¹⁸Kohelet Rabba 5:5. The Rabbis interpreted the verse regarding Miriam.¹⁹This is referring to the incident in which Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses; see Numbers chapter 12. Based on the verse’s usage of the feminine form of the word “spoke [vatedaber]” (Numbers 12:1), it is understood that it was Miriam who did the speaking. “Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin,” do not allow one of your limbs to cause all your limbs to sin. “Do not say before the messenger” (Ecclesiastes 5:5), this is Moses; that is what is written: “He sent a messenger and took us out of Egypt” (Numbers 20:16). “It is unwitting” (Ecclesiastes 5:5), “as we have been foolish and we have sinned” (Numbers 12:11). “Why should God become angry at your voice?” (Ecclesiastes 5:5). At that voice, as it is stated: “The wrath of the Lord was enflamed against them and He departed” (Numbers 12:9). “And destroy your handiwork” (Ecclesiastes 5:5), Rabbi Yoḥanan said: She sinned with her mouth but all her limbs were afflicted. That is what is written: “The cloud withdrew from upon the Tent, [and behold, Miriam was leprous like snow]” (Numbers 12:10).
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi taught: A word is worth a sela, but silence is worth two [sela], as we learned: Shimon his son said: All my days I grew among the Sages, but I found nothing for the body better than silence.²⁰Mishna Avot 1:17.

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי חָמֵשׁ תּוֹרוֹת כְּתוּבוֹת בַּמְּצֹרָע (ויקרא יג, נט): זֹאת תּוֹרַת נֶגַע צָרַעַת, (ויקרא יד, ב): זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, (ויקרא יד, לב): זֹאת תּוֹרַת אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ נֶגַע צָרָעַת, (ויקרא יד, נד): זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה לְכָל נֶגַע הַצָּרַעַת, (ויקרא יד, נז): זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַצָּרָעַת. זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע, הַמּוֹצִיא שֵׁם רָע, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁכָּל הָאוֹמֵר לָשׁוֹן הָרָע עוֹבֵר עַל חֲמִשָּׁה חֻמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, לְפִיכָךְ משֶׁה מַזְהִיר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל: זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: “Torah” is written five times regarding a leper. “This is the law [torat] of the mark of leprosy” (Leviticus 13:59). “This shall be the law [torat] of the leper” (Leviticus 14:2). “This is the law [torat] of one in whom there is a mark of leprosy” (Leviticus 14:32). “This is the law [tora] for any leprous mark” (Leviticus 14:54). “This is the law [torat] of leprosy” (Leviticus 14:57). “This shall be the law [torat] of the leper [hametzora],” of the defamer [hamotzi shem ra], to teach you that anyone who speaks slander violates the five books of the Torah. That is why Moses cautions: “This shall be the law of the leper.”

וְצִוָּה הַכֹּהֵן וְלָקַח לַמִּטַּהֵר וגו' (ויקרא יד, ד), אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן אִלֵּין צִפָּרַיָּא קוֹלָנִין, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יָבוֹא הַקּוֹל וִיכַפֵּר עַל הַקּוֹל. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר צִפּוֹר דְּרוֹר שֶׁאוֹכֶלֶת מִפִּתּוֹ וְשׁוֹתָה מֵימָיו, וַהֲלוֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחֹמֶר וּמָה אִם צִפֳּרִים שֶׁאוֹכְלוֹת מִפִּתּוֹ וְשׁוֹתִין מֵימָיו מְכַפְּרִין עָלָיו, כֹּהֵן שֶׁנֶּהֱנָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע מַתְּנוֹת כְּהֻנָּה עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה, בְּמַתְלָא אָמְרֵי דְּאָכֵיל בַּהֲדֵי קוֹרָא יִלְקֶה בַּהֲדֵי קִילָא.

“The priest shall command, and one shall take for the one being purified two living pure birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet wool, and hyssop” (Leviticus 14:4).
“The priest shall command, and one shall take for the one being purified [two living pure birds].” Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: These birds are noisy. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Let the voice come and atone for the voice.’ Rabbi Shimon ben Levi said: A free bird that eats of his food and drinks his water.²¹It should be a free bird that lives where it wants and is not confined, and the only benefit it gets from man is food and drink. Is the matter not an a fortiori inference? If birds that eat of his food and drink his water atone for him, a priest who benefits from Israel [by receiving] the twenty-four priestly gifts, all the more so. The parable says: One who eats hearts of palm will be wounded by the tree trunk.²²There is no reward without paying the price. Since the priest benefits from Israel, it is his job to atone for them.

אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא מֵאָדָם יְהֵא שֶׁלֹּא יָבוֹאוּ חֳלָיִים עָלָיו, מַאי טַעְמָא דְּאָמַר רַב אַחָא (דברים ז, טו): וְהֵסִיר ה' מִמְּךָ כָּל חֹלִי, מִמְךָ הוּא שֶׁלֹּא יָבוֹאוּ חֳלָיִים עָלֶיךָ. רַבִּי אָבִין אָמַר זֶה יֵצֶר הָרָע שֶׁתְּחִלָּתוֹ מָתוֹק וְסוֹפוֹ מָר. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי מְנַחֲמָא בְּשֵׁם רַב אָמַר: וְהֵסִיר ה' מִמְּךָ כָּל חֹלִי, זוֹ עַיִן. עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר תִּשְׁעִים וְתִשְׁעָה בְּעַיִן וְאֶחָד בִּידֵי שָׁמָיִם. רַב וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, רַב כְּדַעְתֵּיהּ דְּאָמַר תִּשְׁעִים וְתִשְׁעָה בְּעַיִן וְאֶחָד בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא כְּדַעְתֵּיהּ, דְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְרַבִּי נָתָן אָמְרֵי תַּרְוַיְיהוּ תִּשְׁעִים וְתִשְׁעָה בְּצִנָּה וְאֶחָד בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם. רַב עַל דַּהֲוָה שָׁרֵי בְּבָבֶל דַּהֲוָה עֵינָא בִּישָׁא שְׁכִיחָא, רַבִּי חֲנִינָא עַל דַּהֲוָה שָׁרֵי בְּצִפּוֹרִי וַהֲוָה תַּמָּן צִנָּתָא. אַנְטוֹנִינוּס אָמַר לְרַבֵּנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ צַלֵּי עָלַי, אָמַר לוֹ תִּשְׁתְּזֵיב מִן צִנָּתָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ יַתִּיר חָדָא כְּסוּ וְצִנָּתָא אָזְלַת, אָמַר לֵיהּ תִּשְׁתְּזֵיב מִן שְׁרָבָא, אָמַר לֵיהּ הָא כַּדּוּ צַלֵּי עָלַי, דִּכְתִיב (תהלים יט, ז): וְאֵין נִסְתָּר מֵחַמָּתוֹ. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי נַחְמָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי נָתָן אָמַר תִּשְׁעִים וְתִשְׁעָה בַּשָּׁרָב וְאֶחָד בִּידֵי שָׁמָיִם. רַבָּנָן אָמְרִין תִּשְׁעִים וְתִשְׁעָה בִּפְשִׁיעָה וְאֶחָד בִּידֵי שָׁמָיִם.

Rabbi Aḥa said: It is dependent upon a person to ensure that illnesses do not befall him. What is the source? It is as Rav Aḥa said: “The Lord will remove all illness [ḥoli] from you” (Deuteronomy 7:15); it is “from you” to ensure that illnesses do not befall you. Rabbi Avin said: This is the evil inclination, whose beginning is sweet²³In Aramaic, the term ḥoli means sweet, and it is an allusion to the evil inclination. but whose end is bitter.
Rabbi Tanḥuma in the name of Rabbi Elazar, and Rabbi Menaḥama in the name of Rav said: “The Lord will remove all illness from you,” this is the [evil] eye, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, [who said]: Ninety-nine [die] due to the [evil] eye and one at the hand of Heaven.²⁴Only one in a hundred people die due to natural causes. Some commentaries emend the text to match the opinion of Rabbi Elazar as cited in Bava Metzia (107b), where the “illness” is interpreted as referring to the medical problems stemming from the gall bladder, which was viewed as the source of a wide variety of illnesses (see, e.g., Etz Yosef). Rav and Rabbi Ḥanina, Rav [interpreted] in accordance with his opinion, as he said: Ninety-nine [die] due to the [evil] eye and one at the hand of Heaven. Rabbi Ḥanina [interpreted] in accordance with his opinion, as Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Natan both said: Ninety-nine [die] due to cold and one at the hand of Heaven. Rav, because he resided in Babylon where the evil eye is prevalent; Rabbi Ḥanina, because he resided in Tzippori, and it was cold there.
Antoninus said to our saintly Rabbi:²⁵Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. ‘Pray on my behalf.’ He said to him: ‘May you be spared from cold.’ He said to him: ‘Add one garment and the cold is gone.’ He said to him: ‘May you be spared from the heat.’ He said to him: ‘Say that prayer on my behalf,’ as it is written: “None escapes its heat” (Psalms 19:7). Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Naḥman said in the name of Rabbi Natan: Ninety-nine [die] due to heat and one at the hand of Heaven. The Rabbis say: Ninety-nine die [due] to negligence and one at the hand of Heaven.

וְצִוָּה הַכֹּהֵן וְשָׁחַט אֶת הַצִּפּוֹר הָאֶחָת (ויקרא יד, ה), לָמָּה שׁוֹחֵט אַחַת וּמֵנִיחַ אַחַת, לוֹמַר לְךָ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לַשְּׁחוּטָה לַחֲזֹר כָּךְ אִי אֶפְשָׁר לַנְּגָעִים לַחֲזֹר, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה קוֹרֵא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִגְיוֹנוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ וְאוֹמֵר לֹא עַל חִנָּם הִכֵּיתִי אוֹתוֹ, אֶלָּא (ישעיה נז, יז): בַּעֲוֹן בִּצְעוֹ קָצַפְתִּי וְאַכֵּהוּ. רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא אָמַר חָזַר תּוֹבְיָה לְתוֹבֵיהּ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (משלי כו, יא): כְּכֶלֶב שָׁב עַל קֵאוֹ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר הָדַר שַׁטְיָא לְאוֹרַח שְׁטוּתֵיהּ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (משלי כו, יא): כְּסִיל שׁוֹנֶה בְאִוַּלְתּוֹ. (ישעיה נז, יח): דְּרָכָיו רָאִיתִי וְאֶרְפָּאֵהוּ וְאַנְחֵהוּ וַאֲשַׁלֵּם נִחֻמִים לוֹ וְלַאֲבֵלָיו, אֵלּוּ אֵבָרָיו הַמִּתְאַבְּלִים עָלָיו. (ישעיה נז, יט): בּוֹרֵא נִיב שְׂפָתָיִם, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר אִם הֵנִיבוּ שְׂפָתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם בִּתְפִלָּה, יְהֵא מֻבְטָח שֶׁנִּשְׁמַעַת תְּפִלָּתוֹ, מַאי טַעְמָא בּוֹרֵא נִיב שְׂפָתָיִם שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם וגו', רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בַּר נַחְמָנִי אוֹמֵר אִם כִּוֵּן לִבּוֹ בַּתְּפִלָּה הוּא מוּבְטָח שֶׁנִּשְׁמַעַת תְּפִלָּתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים י, יז): תָּכִין לִבָּם תַּקְשִׁיב אָזְנֶךָ, כַּד שְׁלִימִין מִינֵיהּ זַכָּיָה (ישעיה נז, יט): לָרָחוֹק, רַב הוּנָא וְרַב יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רַב אַחָא, זֶה מְצֹרָע שֶׁהָיָה רָחוֹק וְנִתְקָרֵב, (ישעיה נז, יט): אָמַר ה' וּרְפָאתִיו, וְאַסִּינֵיהּ לֵיהּ לְגַרְמֵיהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה יז, יד): רְפָאֵנִי ה' וְאֵרָפֵא הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְאִוָּשֵׁעָה וגו',

“The priest shall command and one shall slaughter the one bird in an earthenware vessel over springwater” (Leviticus 14:5).
“The priest shall command and one shall slaughter the one bird.” Why does he slaughter one and leave one? It is to say to you: Just as it is impossible for the slaughtered one to return, so it is impossible for the leprosy to return.²⁶Just as the slaughtered bird will not come back to life, so the leprosy will not return to the individual once he has repented, if he does not return to his sinful ways. At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He summons His legions and says: ‘It was not for nothing that I struck him, but rather, “I became angry because of his sinful thievery; I struck him…[and he went waywardly in the way of his heart]”’ (Isaiah 57:17). Rabbi Abba bar Kahan said: The vomiter had returned to his vomit, just as it says: “Like a dog that returns to its vomit” (Proverbs 26:11).²⁷God did not strike him for nothing, but rather because “he went waywardly in the way of his heart.” Rabbi Abba compares this to one who returns to his vomit because before this individual was afflicted with leprosy he had received divine warnings in the form of leprous marks on his house and clothing, and yet he repeated his sin (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The fool returns to his path of folly, just as it says: “So a fool repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11). “I saw his ways and I will heal him; I will guide him and pay condolences to him and his mourners” (Isaiah 57:18); these are his limbs that mourn him.
“Creator of the expression [niv] of the lips” (Isaiah 57:19), Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: If a person’s lips produced [henivu] prayer, he is guaranteed that his prayer is heard. What is the source? “Creator of the expression of the lips: Peace, peace [for the distant and for the near said the Lord, and I will heal him]” (Isaiah 57:19). Rabbi Yehoshua bar Naḥmani says: If one focused [kiven] his heart in prayer, he is guaranteed that his prayer will be heard, as it is stated: “Prepare [takhin] their heart, incline your ear” (Psalms 10:17).
When the punishment has been completed, he is absolved.²⁸This is based on the double usage of the word “peace [shalom]” in the verse cited above (Isaiah 57:19). The midrash interprets this to mean that when his punishment has been completed [shelimin] he will live in peace. “For the distant” (Isaiah 57:19), Rav Huna and Rav Yudan in the name of Rav Aḥa: This is the leper, who had been distant but has drawn near. “Said the Lord and I will heal him” (Isaiah 57:19), He will heal him Himself, as it is stated: “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved…” (Jeremiah 17:14).