6. How can it bear with stringency? If [on the Sabbath] there was no white hair therein but [the next day] white hair appeared; or if they were black but [the next day] they turned white, or if one was white and the other black but [the next day] they were both white; or if they were short but became long, or if one was short and the other long, but [the next day] they were both long; or if a boil adjoined them both or one of them; or if the boil encompassed them both or one of them; or if [on the Sabbath] it was sundered by a boil or the quick flesh of a boil, or by a burning or the quick flesh of a burning, or by a tetter, but [the next day] they were gone; or if there was no quick flesh therein [on the Sabbath] but [the next day] quick flesh arose; or if it was round or long but became four-sided; or if [on the Sabbath] it was at the side but [the next day] it was encompassed; or if it was dispersed but became united; or if a boil came and entered therein; or if a boil or the quick flesh of a boil, a burning or the quick flesh of a burning, or a tetter encompassed, sundered, or lessened it, but [the next day] they were gone; or if [on the Sabbath] there was no spreading therein but [the next day] a spreading arose; or if [on the Sabbath] a boil or the quick flesh of a boil, a burning or the quick flesh of a burning, or a tetter sundered the first sign and the spreading, but [the next day] they were gone; — then the rule bears with stringency.
1 Cf. M. Kat. i5. 2 Which would certify the leprosy-sign to be unclean. Lev. 133.
3 They became too short to be taken account of. See Nidd. 612.
678 SIXTH DIVISION: TOHOROTH 2. i. In a German the Bright Spot appears as dull white, and in an Ethiopian1 what is dull white appears as bright white. R. Ishmael says: The Children of Israel (may I make atonement for them!) are like boxwood, neither black nor white, but of the intermediate shade. R. Akiba says: Painters have colours wherewith they depict figures in black and white and in the intermediate shade. A man should bring paint of an intermediate shade and encompass the leprosy-sign therewith, and it will then appear as on one [whose skin is] of the intermediate shade. R. Judah says: The [rules concerning] the colours of leprosy-signs should be applied leniently and not stringently: let a German be judged leniently by [the standard of the colour of] his own skin, and let an Ethiopian be judged leniently by [the standard of colour of] the intermediate shade. But the Sages say: Let both be judged by [the standard of colour of] the intermediate shade.
2. They may not inspect leprosy-signs in the early morning or in the evening or within the house or on a cloudy day, for then the dull white would appear bright white; or at mid-day, for then the bright white would appear dull white. When should they inspect them? At the third, fourth, fifth, seventh,2 eighth, or ninth hour. So R. Meir. R. Judah says: At the fourth, fifth, eighth, or ninth hour.
3. A priest that is blind in one eye or the light of whose eyes is dim may not inspect leprosy-signs, for it is written, As far as appeareth in the eyes of the priest* They may not open up windows in a dark house to inspect the leprosy-signs thereof.
4. After what fashion is the inspection of leprosy-signs? The man is inspected [while he stands] like one that hoes, and like one that gathers olives, and the woman [while she stands] like one that rolls out bread, and like one that gives suck to her child, and like one that weaves at an upright loom if the sign is within the right armpit. R. Judah says: Also like one that spins flax if the sign is within the left [armpit]. As the inspection of leprosy-signs in a man applies only to what is visible, so the cutting off of his hair4 applies only to what is visible.
5. A man may examine any leprosy-signs3 excepting his own leprosy- signs. R. Meir says: Excepting also those in his near of kin. A man6 may annul all vows excepting his own. R. Judah says: But not his wife’s vows that rest between herself and others. A man may inspect any Firstlings7 excepting his own Firstlings.
3. 1. All can contract uncleanness from leprosy-signs excepting gentiles and resident aliens.8 All are qualified to inspect leprosy-signs, but only a priest may pronounce them unclean or clean. They [that are skilled] say to a priest, ‘Say, Unclean!’ and he shall say ‘Unclean!’ or [they say to him], ‘Say, Clean!’ and he shall say ‘Clean!’ They may not inspect two leprosy- signs at the same time whether in the one man or in two men; but they must inspect the one, and shut him up or certify him unclean or pronounce him clean, and then turn to the second. [Because of a second leprosy-sign] they cannot shut up him that is already shut up or certify him unclean that is already certified unclean, or shut up him that is already certified unclean, 1 Lit. ‘Kushite.’ Cf. Sukk. 3®; Bekh. ya. * Some texts omit ‘seventh’.
J Lev. i3la. 4 Lev. 149. s Even those of his near of kin.
6 A sage, who had authority to release a man from his vow. Cf. Ned. 9lff.
7 To find whether they have a blemish. See Bekh. 6l£f.
or certify unclean him that is already shut up; but in the beginning, or by the end of the week the priest may shut him up [because of the one sign] and shut him up [because of the other also], or certify the one unclean and certify the other unclean also, or shut him up [because of the one] and pro¬ nounce the other clean, or certify the one unclean and pronounce the other clean.
2. If a leprosy-sign appeared in a bridegroom they must suffer him to remain free [before inspection] during the seven days of the marriage feast, whether it appeared in his person, in his house, or in his garment; so, too, [if it appeared in any man] during a Feast, they must suffer him to remain free all the days of the Feast.1 3. The skin of the flesh2 may be certified unclean within two weeks and by three tokens: by white hair3 or by quick flesh4 or by a spreading.5 ‘By white hair or by quick flesh’ — in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or even after it had been pro¬ nounced clean. ‘Or by a spreading’ — by the end of the first week or by the end of the second week, or even after it had been pronounced clean. It may be certified unclean within two weeks, that are but thirteen days.
4. A boil6 or a burning7 may be certified unclean within one week and by two tokens: by white hair8 or by a spreading.9 ‘By white hair’ — in the beginning, or by the end of the week, or even after it had been pronounced clean. ‘Or by a spreading’ — by the end of the week, or even after it had been pronounced clean. They may be certified unclean within one week, that is of seven days.
5. Scalls’0 may be certified unclean within two weeks and by two tokens: by yellow thin hair11 or by a spreading.12 ‘By yellow thin hair’ — in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or even after they had been pronounced clean. ‘By a spreading’ — by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or even after they had been pronounced clean. They may be certified unclean within two weeks, that are but thirteen days.
6. Scalp-baldness or forehead-baldness13 may be certified unclean within two weeks and by two tokens: by quick flesh or by a spreading. ‘By quick flesh’ — in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or even after they had been pronounced clean. ‘Or by a spreading’ — by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or even after they had been pronounced clean. They may be certified unclean within two weeks, that are but thirteen days.
7. Garments14 may be certified unclean within two weeks, and by three tokens: by a greenish colour or by a reddish colour or by a spreading. ‘By a greenish colour or by a reddish colour’ — in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or even after they had been pronounced clean. ‘Or by a spreading’ — by the end of the first week or by the end of the second week, or even after they had been pronounced clean. They may be certified unclean within two weeks, that are but thir¬ teen days.
8. Houses may be certified unclean within three weeks, and by three 1 Cf. M. Kat. i5. 2 In which any of the four shades of white had appeared.
680 SIXTH DIVISION: TOHOROTH tokens: by a greenish colour or by a reddish colour or by a spreading. ‘By a greenish colour or by a reddish colour’ — in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or bv the end of the third week, or even after they had been pronounced clean. 'Or by a spread¬ ing’ — by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or by the end of the third week, or even after they had been pronounced clean. They can be certified unclean within three weeks, that are but nineteen days. No leprosy-signs are shut up less than one week and none more than three weeks.1 4. i. Conditions pertain to the white hair which do not pertain to the spreading, and conditions pertain to the spreading which do not pertain to the white hair. Thus white hair certifies uncleanness in the beginning, it certifies uncleanness no matter what its degree of whiteness, and it can never be a token of cleanness. But it pertains to the spreading that the spreading certifies uncleanness no matter what its extent, and it certifies uncleanness in all other leprosv-signs though it is outside the sign itself; whereas not so is it with the white hair.
2. Conditions pertain to the quick flesh which do not pertain to the spreading, and conditions pertain to the spreading which do not pertain to the quick flesh. Thus quick flesh certifies uncleanness in the beginning, it certifies uncleanness no matter what its colour, and it can never be a token of cleanness. But it pertains to the spreading that the spreading certifies uncleanness no matter what its extent, and it certifies uncleanness in all other leprosy-signs though it is outside the sign itself; whereas not so is it with the quick flesh.
3. Conditions pertain to the white hair which do not pertain to the quick flesh and conditions pertain to the quick flesh which do not pertain to the white hair. Thus white hair certifies uncleanness in a boil or a burning or any leprosy-sign that is united or dispersed, encompassed or unencom¬ passed; but it pertains to quick flesh that quick flesh certifies uncleanness in scalp-baldness or forehead-baldness, whether the quick flesh came after or whether the quick flesh came before; and it hinders [the cleanness] in him who is all turned white,2 and it certifies uncleanness no matter what its colour; whereas not so is it with the white hair.
4. If two hairs [in the leprosy-sign] were black at the root and white at the tip, he is clean; if they were white at the root and black at the tip, he is unclean. How much thereof must be coloured white? R. Meir says: Aught soever. R. Simeon says: Enough to be cut with a pair of scissors.3 If it was single at the root but split at the tip and like two hairs in appear¬ ance, he is clean. If there was a Bright Spot wherein was a white hair or a black hair, he is unclean. They need not scruple lest the place of the black hair lessens the space of the Bright Spot since it scarce counts.
5. If from a Bright Spot the size of a split bean there extended a streak that was two hairs in breadth, it serves to link the Bright Spot with white hair or a spreading, but not with quick flesh. If there were two Bright Spots and a streak extended from one to the other, it makes them to be included together if it is two hairs in breadth; but if it is not, it does not make them to be included together.
6. If a Bright Spot the size of a split bean had within it quick flesh the size of a lentil and there was white hair within the quick flesh, if the quick flesh disappeared it is unclean by reason of the white hair; if the white hair disappeared it is unclean by reason of the quick flesh. R. Simeon declares it clean, since it did not turn white while in the Bright Spot. If the Bright Spot and the quick flesh together were the size of a split bean and there was white hair within the Bright Spot, if the quick flesh disappeared it is unclean by reason of the white hair; if the white hair disappeared it is unclean by reason of the quick flesh. R. Simeon declares it clean since it did not turn white while in a Bright Spot the size of a split bean. But he agrees that it is unclean if the place of the white hair was the size of a split bean.
7. If within the Bright Spot was quick flesh and a spreading, and the quick flesh disappeared, it is unclean by reason of the spreading; if the spreading disappeared it is unclean by reason of the quick flesh; so, too, if there was white hair and a spreading. If the Bright Spot disappeared and appeared again by the end of the week, it is regarded as though it had remained as it was; [but if it appeared] after it had already been pronounced clean, it must be inspected anew. If it had been bright white but was now dull white, or dull white but was now bright white, it is regarded as though it had remained as it was; provided that it does not become less white than the four colours.1 If it contracted and then spread or if it spread and then contracted, R. Akiba declares it unclean but the Sages declare it clean.
8. If a Bright Spot the size of a split bean spread as much as another half a split bean, and from the first spot there disappeared as much as half a split bean, R. Akiba says: It must be inspected anew. But the Sages declare it clean.
9. If a Bright Spot the size of a split bean spread as much as another half a split bean and more, and from the first spot there disappeared as much as half a split bean, R. Akiba declares it unclean but the Sages declare it clean. If a Bright Spot the size of a split bean spread as much as another split bean and more and the first spot disappeared, R. Akiba declares it unclean, but the Sages say: It must be inspected anew.
10. If a Bright Spot the size of a split bean spread as much as another split bean, and there appeared in the spreading quick flesh or white hair and the first spot disappeared, R. Akiba declares it unclean, but the Sages say: It must be inspected anew. If in a Bright Spot the size of half a split bean naught else appeared, but [beside it] there arose a Bright Spot the size of half a split bean and in it a single hair, it must be shut up. If in a Bright Spot the size of half a split bean there was a single hair, and another Bright Spot the size of half a split bean appeared, in which was a single hair, it must be shut up. If in a Bright Spot the size of half a split bean there were two hairs, and another Bright Spot the size of half a split bean appeared in which was a single hair, it must be shut up.
11. If in a Bright Spot the size of half a split bean naught else appeared but [beside it] arose a Bright Spot the size of half a split bean in which were two hairs, it must be certified unclean, since they have said: If the Bright Spot came before the white hair, he is unclean; but if the white hair came before the Bright Spot he is clean; and if it is in doubt, he is unclean. But [to this] R. Joshua demurred.
5. 1. Any condition of doubt in what concerns leprosy-signs is deemed clean, save only in this case2 and one other. Which is that? If a man had 1 See above, i*. 2 That recorded above, 411.
682 SIXTH DIVISION: TOHOROTH a Bright Spot the size of a split bean and it was shut up, and by the end of the week it was as large as a sela,1 and it is in doubt whether it is the same or whether another has arisen in its place, he is nevertheless unclean.
2. If he had been certified unclean because of white hair, and the white hair disappeared and other white hair appeared (so, too, with quick flesh or a spreading, in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or after he had been pronounced clean) it remains as it was before. If he had been certified unclean because of quick flesh, and the quick flesh disappeared and other quick flesh appeared (so, too, with white hair or a spreading, in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or after he had been pronounced clean), it remains as it was before. If he had been certified unclean because of a spreading, and the spreading disappeared and another appeared (so, too, with white hair by the end of the first week, or by the end of the second week, or after he had been pronounced clean), it remains as it was before.
3. Residuary hair2 Akabya b. Mahalaleel declares unclean, but the Sages declare it clean. What is residuary hair? If a man had a Bright Spot in which was white hair, and the Bright Spot disappeared and left the hair where it was, and it afterward returned, Akabya b. Mahalaleel declares him unclean, but the Sages declare him clean. R. Akiba said: I agree that such a one is clean. But what is residuary hair?3 If a man had a Bright Spot the size of a split bean in which were two hairs, and as much as half a split bean disappeared but left the white hair in the place of the Bright Spot, and it afterward appeared again [such is deemed unclean]. They said to him: Like as they made void4 the words of Akabya, so are thy words not to be accepted as valid.
4. Any condition of doubt5 in the beginning in what concerns leprosy- signs is deemed clean if it had not already come within the bonds of uncleanness; if it had come within the bonds of uncleanness its condition of doubt is deemed unclean. Thus if two men came to the priest, one with a Bright Spot the size of a split bean and the other with one the size of a sela, and at the end of the week that of each was the size of a sela, and it is not known in which of them was the spreading ([and it is all one] whether this befell one man or two men), he is clean. R. Akiba says: If there was but one man he is unclean; but if there were two he is accounted clean.
5. ‘If it had come within the bonds of uncleanness its condition of doubt is deemed unclean’ — thus if two men came to the priest, one with a Bright Spot the size of a split bean and the other with one the size of a sela, and at the end of the week that of each was the size of a sela and more, both are unclean; and even if both return to the size of a sela they both are unclean; [both are unclean] unless they [both] return to the size of a split bean. This it is whereof they have said, ‘If it had come within the bonds of uncleanness its condition of doubt is deemed unclean’.
6. 1. The space of a Bright Spot must be [not less than] a square with sides the length of a Cilician split bean.6 A space the size of a split bean equals that of nine lentils, and a space the size of a lentil equals that of four hairs;7 thus [the space of the Bright Spot] equals thirty-six hairs.
1 App. II, A. 2 Eduy. 56. 3 That must be deemed unclean.
4 Variant: Like as thou hast made void.
5 Naz. 94. * Kel. 1712. If it is smaller it is deemed clean.
7 i.e. the space they occupy when growing elsewhere than on the head or beard.
2. If in a Bright Spot the size of a split bean was quick flesh the size of a lentil, and the Bright Spot grew larger, it is unclean; if it grew smaller it is clean; if the quick flesh grew larger it is unclean; if it grew smaller it is clean.
3. If in a Bright Spot the size of a split bean there was quick flesh less in size than a lentil, and the Bright Spot grew larger, it is unclean; if it grew smaller it is clean; if the quick flesh grew larger it is unclean; if it grew smaller, R. Meir declares it unclean, but the Sages declare it clean, since the leprosy-sign cannot spread within itself.
4. If in a Bright Spot larger in size than a split bean there was quick flesh larger than a lentil and they increased or decreased, they are unclean provided that they do not grow smaller than the prescribed measure.
5. If a Bright Spot the size of a split bean was encompassed by quick flesh the size of a lentil, and outside the quick flesh was [another] Bright Spot, the inner Bright Spot must be shut up and the outer one must be certified unclean. R. Jose says: Quick flesh is not a token of uncleanness for the outer one, since the [inner] Bright Spot is encompassed by it. If the quick flesh decreased or disappeared, Rabban Gamaliel says: If it fell away from the inner side it is a token of a spreading in the inner Bright Spot, and the outer one becomes clean; but if it fell away from the outer side, the outer Bright Spot is clean and the inner one must be shut up. R. Akiba says: In either case it is clean.
6. R. Simeon said: This applies only if the quick flesh was the very size of the lentil applied thereto; if it exceeded the size of a lentil the excess betokens a spreading of the inner Bright Spot, and the outer one is unclean. If a tetter was there1 less in size than a lentil, it betokens a spreading of the inner Bright Spot and not a spreading of the outer one.
7. In a man’s body are twenty-four tips of members that may not be deemed unclean3 by reason of quick flesh: the tips of the fingers and the toes, the tips of the ears and the tip of the nose, and the tip of the male organ; and the nipples in a woman. R. Judah says: The nipples in men also. R. Eliezer says: Nor may warts or wens be deemed unclean by reason of quick flesh.
8. These places3 in men may not be deemed unclean by reason of a Bright Spot: inside the eye, inside the ear, inside the nose, inside the mouth, wrinkles, wrinkles in the neck, under the breast, and the armpit, the sole of the foot, the nails, the head and the beard, or a festering boil, burning, or blister; these cannot be deemed unclean by reason of leprosy-signs, nor can they be included together with other leprosy-signs, nor can a leprosy- sign spread into them, nor do they render other signs unclean by reason of being quick flesh, nor do they hinder [cleanness] in him who is all turned white.4 If a bald spot arose in the head or beard, or if the boil, burning, or blister formed a scar,5 they may be deemed unclean by reason of leprosy- signs, but they cannot be included together with other leprosy-signs, nor can other leprosy-signs spread into them, nor do they become unclean by reason of being quick flesh, but they hinder [cleanness] in him who is all turned white. The head and the beard before they have grown hair, and wens on the head or the beard, are deemed like to the skin of the flesh. 6 1 Between the inner and outer spots.
2 i.e. if the raw flesh (Lev. 1314) appears on any of these alone, the terms of Lev. 13“ do not apply, since the sign, appearing on a convex area, is not all visible at once.
3 They are excluded as not falling within the definition ‘the skin of his flesh’ (Lev. 13").
4 Except for any of these places. Lev. i3lsff. 5 Lev. 1323. 6 Lev. 133.
684 SIXTH DIVISION: TOHOROTH 7. i. These Bright Spots are clean: any that were on a man before the Law was given,1 or that were on a gentile when he became a proselyte, or that were on a child when it was born, or that w'ere in a crease and were later laid bare. If they were on the head or the beard, on a festering boil, burning, or blister, and the head or the beard then became bald, and the boil, burning, or blister formed a scar, they are clean. If they were on the head or the beard before these grew hair, and they then grew hair and again became bald, or if the boil, burning, or blister had not formed a scar and afterward formed a scar, and again became quick flesh, R. Eliezer b. Jacob declares them unclean, since both in the beginning and at the end they were unclean; but the Sages declare them clean.
2. If their colour changed, whether after a fashion that effects leniency or after a fashion that effects stringency — (How could it effect leniency? If, namely, the colour of the leprosy-sign had been white as snow and it became white as the lime used in the Sanctuary or as white wool or as the skin in an egg, or if its colour turned to the second shade of the Rising or to the second shade of bright white.2 How could it effect stringency? If, namely, its colour had been white as the skin in an egg and it became white as white wool or as the lime used in the Sanctuary or as snow) — R. Eleazar b. Azariah declares them clean. R. Eleazar Hisma says: If the leprosv-sign changed after a fashion that effects leniency it is clean, but if after a fashion that effects stringency it must be inspected anew. R. Akiba says: Whether it changed after a fashion that effects leniency or after a fashion that effects stringency it must be inspected anew.
3. If in a Bright Spot naught else appears, whether in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, it must be shut up; if [naught else appears] by the end of the second week, or after it had been pronounced clean, it may be pronounced clean. If the priest had not yet shut it up or pronounced it clean, and tokens of uncleanness3 arose, he must certify it to be unclean. If in a Bright Spot appeared tokens of uncleanness, he must certify it to be unclean; if he had not yet certified it to be unclean and the tokens of uncleanness disappeared, whether in the beginning, or by the end of the first week, he must shut it up; if [they disappeared] by the end of the second week or after it had been pronounced clean,4 he must pronounce it clean.
4. If a man plucked out the tokens of uncleanness or cauterized quick flesh, he transgresses a negative command.5 In what concerns his clean¬ ness, [if he removed the tokens] before he came to the priest, he is clean; but if after he had been certified unclean, he is still unclean. R. Akiba said: I asked Rabban Gamaliel and R. Joshua6 when they were on the way to Narwad,7 ‘What would befall [if he removed the tokens of uncleanness] while he was shut up?’ They said to me, ‘We have heard no tradition about this, but we have heard that if he did so before he came to the priest, he is clean; but if after he had been certified unclean, he is still unclean’. I began to bring them proofs: It is all one whether he stand before the priest or whether he is shut up: he is clean, unless the priest has certified him to be unclean. From what time does he [again] become dean? R. Eliezer • Although they continued after the Law was given. 1 See above t'.
3 White hair and 'plague...deeper than the skin of his flesh’.
4 e.g. if after being pronounced clean, tokens of uncleanness appeared but, before they were certified unclean, they disappeared, the priest must pronounce the Bright Spot clean.
7 Variants: Nad wad, Nadabah, Gad wad. Cf. Arak. 9'.
says: After another leprosy-sign has arisen in him and he has become clean again after it. But the Sages say: Only after it has spread over his whole body or until the Bright Spot grows smaller than a split bean.
5. If a man had a Bright Spot and it was cut off, he becomes clean; but if he cut it off intentionally, R. Eliezer says: [He does not become clean] until after another leprosy-sign has arisen in him and he has become clean again after it. But the Sages say: Only after it has spread over his whole body. If it is upon the tip of the foreskin, he may nevertheless be circumcised.1 8. 1. If it broke out abroad2 [and covered all his skin, beginning] from a leprosy-sign that was certified unclean,3 he becomes clean; but if it receded from but the ends of his members4 he becomes unclean until the Bright Spot is become less than the size of a split bean. [If it broke out abroad, beginning] from a leprosy-sign that was pronounced clean, he becomes unclean; and if it receded from the ends of his members he remains unclean until his Bright Spot becomes again what it was before.
2. If a Bright Spot the size of a split bean, wherein was quick flesh the size of a lentil, broke out abroad and covered all his skin, and the quick flesh afterward disappeared; or if the quick flesh disappeared and the Bright Spot afterward broke out abroad and covered all his skin, he is clean. If quick flesh then arose he is unclean. If white hair arose, R. Joshua declares him unclean but the Sages declare him clean.