📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 54

וִירִידָה שְׁמִינִית שֶׁיָּרַד בָּאֹהֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּרֶד ה' בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן וַיַּעֲמֹד פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וַיִּקְרָא אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם וַיֵּצְאוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם״. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: כָּל הַמַּלְשִׁין אֶת רֵעֵהוּ בַּסֵּתֶר אֵין לוֹ רְפוּאָה, עַל אָחִיו בֵּין אָבִיו וּבֵין אִמּוֹ עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה. וְכָעַס עֲלֵיהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְנִסְתַּלְּקָה מֵעַל הָאֹהֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּחַר אַף ה' בָּם וַיֵּלַךְ״. ״וְהֶעָנָן סָר מֵעַל הָאֹהֶל״, וּמִיָּד נִצְטָרְעָה מִרְיָם. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אִם יִהְיֶה אַהֲרֹן מְצֹרָע, אֵין כֹּהֵן בַּעַל מוּם יָכוֹל לְהַקְרִיב עַל מִזְבְּחִי, אֶלָּא יִרְאֶה אֲחוֹתוֹ וְיִתְמַהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּפֶן אַהֲרֹן אֶל מִרְיָם״. הָלַךְ אֵצֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאָמַר לוֹ: אֲדוֹנֵנוּ מֹשֶׁה, אֵין הָאַחִין מִתְפָּרְשִׁין זֶה מִזֶּה אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ מִיתָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי הוּא בֵּין אַחִים יַפְרִיא״, וַאֲחוֹתֵנוּ עַד שֶׁהִיא בַּחַיִּים נִפְרְשָׁה מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַל נָא תְהִי כַּמֵּת״. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא עַד עַכְשָׁו יִשְׁמְעוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיֹאמְרוּ: אֲחוֹתָם שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן מְצֹרַעַת הִיא, וַחֲצִי שֵׁם רַע שֶׁלְּךָ הוּא. וְנִתְרַצָּה מֹשֶׁה בַּדְּבָרִים וְעָמַד וְנִתְפַּלֵּל עָלֶיהָ, וְנֶעְתַּר לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּצְעַק מֹשֶׁה אֶל ה' לֵאמֹר: אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ״.

The eighth descent was when He descended into the Tabernacle, as it is said, "And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forth" (Num. 12:5). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Whosoever speaketh slander against his fellow in secret, hath no cure; if he slander his brother, the son of his father or the son of his mother, how much more so is this the case? The Holy One, blessed be He, was angry with them, and He departed from the Tent, as it is said, "And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed" (Num. 12:9). || "And the cloud removed from over the Tent" (Num. 12:10). Forthwith Miriam became leprous. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: If Aaron also be leprous, the High Priest, who is afflicted with a blemish, will not be able to bring an offering upon My altar; but he shall look upon his sister and become astonished, as it is said, "And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous" (ibid.). Aaron went to Moses, and said to him: O our lord, Moses! Brethren do not suffer themselves to be separated one from the other except through death, as it is said, "Though he be fruitful among his brethren" (Hos. 13:15). Our sister, while still among the living, is separated from us, as it is said, "Let her not, I pray, be as one dead" (Num. 12:12). Not only this, but now all Israel will hear and say that the sister of Moses and Aaron is leprous. Half of this infamous report concerns thee. Moses was appeased by the words, and he arose and prayed for her, and He was entreated of him, as it is said, "And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her, O God, I beseech thee" (Num. 12:13).

רַבִּי לְוִיטָס אִישׁ יַבְנֶה אוֹמֵר: אִם אֵין מְצֹרַעַת מְרַקֶּקֶת בְּפָנָיו, אֵינוֹ מִתְרַפֵּא. וְאִם אֵין אָבִיו מְרַקֵּק בְּפָנָיו, אֵינוֹ מִתְרַפֵּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאָבִיהָ יָרֹק יָרַק בְּפָנֶיהָ״. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: זָב שִׁבְעָה, זָבָה שִׁבְעָה, נִדָּה שִׁבְעָה, טְמֵא מֵת שִׁבְעָה, אָבֵל שִׁבְעָה, מִשְׁתֶּה שִׁבְעָה, מְצֹרָע שִׁבְעָה, מְצֹרַעַת שִׁבְעָה. זָב שִׁבְעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכִי יִטְהַר הַזָּב מִזּוֹבוֹ״. זָבָה שִׁבְעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״[וְאִם] טָהֲרָה מִזּוֹבָהּ״. נִדָּה שִׁבְעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תִּהְיֶה בְנִדָּתָהּ״. ״כְּנִדָּתָהּ״ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, וְאֵין אַתָּה קוֹרֵא אֶלָּא ״בְּנִדָּתָהּ״. דָּבָר אַחֵר, רַבִּי זֵירָא אוֹמֵר: בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל הֶחְמִירוּ עַל עַצְמָן שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ רוֹאוֹת טִפַּת דָּם כְּחַרְדָּל יוֹשְׁבוֹת עָלֶיהָ שִׁבְעָה נְקִיִּים. טְמֵא מֵת שִׁבְעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִגַּע עַל פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה״ וְכוּ'. אָבֵל שִׁבְעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּעַשׂ לְאָבִיו אֵבֶל שִׁבְעַת יָמִים״.

Rabbi Levitas, a man of Jamnia, said: Unless the father of a leprous person spit in his face, he will not be healed, as it is said, "And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be ashamed seven days?" (Num. 12:14). Hence (the sages) say: A male afflicted with unclean issue (needs) seven (days for his purification); a woman with an issue (requires) seven (days' separation); a menstruant (needs) seven (days of purification); one made unclean through a corpse (needs) seven (days of purification); a mourner (mourns for) seven (days); the wedding feast (lasts) seven (days); and a leprous person (requires) seven (days' separation). (Whence do we know that) a male with an unclean issue (requires) seven days (for his purification)? || (Because it is said,) "And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing" (Lev. 15:13). Whence do we know that a woman with an issue (requires) seven (days of purification)? Because it is said, "But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean" (Lev. 15:28). Whence do we know that a menstruant (requires) seven (days of separation)? Because it is said, "She shall be in her separation seven days" (Lev. 15:19). "Her separation" (or impurity) thou dost not read, but "in her impurity"; because Rabbi Ẓe'era said: The daughters of Israel have made the Law exceptionally stringent for themselves, so that if they see a blood stain of the size of a mustard seed they observe on its account seven days, after that they are cleansed (of their issue of blood). Whence do we know that one made unclean through a corpse (needs) seven (days of purification)? Because it is said, "And whosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, or a dead body… shall be unclean seven days" (Num. 19:16). Whence do we know that the mourner (mourns for) seven (days)? Because it is said, "And he made a mourning for his father seven days" (Gen. 50.10). Whence do we know that the (bridal) banquet (lasts) seven days? Because it is said, "Fulfil the week of this one…. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week" (Gen. 29:27, 28). Whence do we know that a leper (keeps) seven (days of purification)? From Miriam, as it is said, "And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days" (Num. 12:15).

רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: עוֹד הִלְשִׁינוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאָמְרוּ: ״הָיִינוּ יוֹשְׁבִים בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שַׁאֲנָן וְשָׁלֵו, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּמֹשֶׁה הוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְדַבֵּר הָעָם בֵּאלֹהִים וּבְמֹשֶׁה״. מֶה עָשָׂה לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? שָׁלַח לָהֶם הַנְּחָשִׁים וְהָיוּ נוֹשְׁכִים וּמְמִיתִים אוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְשַׁלַּח ה' בָּעָם״. וְרָאָה מֹשֶׁה בְּצָרָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעָמַד וְהִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״מֹשֶׁה, עֲשֵׂה לְךָ שָׂרָף נְחַשׁ נְחֹשֶׁת כְּמִין אוֹתוֹ נָחָשׁ שֶׁהִלְשִׁין בֵּינִי לְבֵין אָדָם וְעֶזְרוֹ, וְשִׂים אוֹתוֹ בְּמָקוֹם גָּבוֹהַּ, וְכָל אָדָם שֶׁהוּא נָשׁוּךְ וְהָיָה מְתַכְּוֵן לִבּוֹ לְאָבִיו שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם וּמִסְתַּכֵּל בְּאוֹתוֹ נָחָשׁ – מִיָּד נִתְרַפֵּא״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה אִם נָשַׁךְ הַנָּחָשׁ״. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״אִם יִשֹּׁךְ הַנָּחָשׁ בְּלוֹא לָחַשׁ״.

Rabbi said: They slandered God again and said, We were dwelling in the land of Egypt in ease and contentment, but the Holy One, blessed be He, and Moses have brought us forth from Egypt to die in the wilderness, as it is said, "And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?" (Num. 21:5). What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do unto them? He sent against them fiery serpents which bit and killed them, as it is said, "And the Lord sent among the people fiery serpents, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died" (Num. 21:6). Moses beheld the misfortune of Israel, and he arose and prayed on their behalf. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Moses! Make thee a serpent of copper like that serpent || which spoke slander betwixt Adam and his helpmate, and place it on a high place. Let every man who has been bitten direct his heart to his Father who is in heaven, and let him gaze at that serpent, and he will be healed. Moses made a serpent of copper and set it up in a high place, and every man who had been bitten turned his heart to his Father who is in heaven, and gazed at that serpent, forthwith he became restored to health, as it is said, "And it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of copper, he lived" (Num. 21:9); and it also says, "If the serpent bite without enchantment, then is there no advantage in the master of the tongue" (Eccles. 10:11).

רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: אִם יִכָּנֵס הָרוֹפֵא אֵצֶל מִי שֶׁנְּשָׁכוֹ וִירַפְּאֵהוּ, וַדַּאי לָזֶה מַחֲזִיקִין טוֹבָה.

Rabbi Meir said: If a doctor visit one whom a serpent has bitten, and cure him, verily will goodness be shown to this one.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אִם יִשְׂכֹּר אָדָם פּוֹעֵל זָרִיז וְיִתֵּן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ מִשָּׁלֵם, מַה טּוֹבָה מַחֲזִיקִין לָזֶה? אֲבָל אִם יִשְׂכֹּר אָדָם פּוֹעֵל עָצֵל וְיַקִּיפֵהוּ וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ מִשָּׁלֵם, מַה טּוֹבָה מַחֲזִיקִין לָזֶה? אֲבָל אִם יִשְׂכֹּר אָדָם פּוֹעֵל עָצֵל וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ מִשָּׁלֵם, לָזֶה מַחֲזִיקִין לוֹ טוֹבָה. אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה כֵּן לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים! אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב פּוֹעֲלִים עֲצֵלִים. כְּשֶׁתִּתֵּן לָנוּ שְׂכָרֵינוּ מִשָּׁלֵם וְתִרְפָּאֵנוּ, בְּוַדַּאי יִהְיוּ הַכֹּל מְקַלְּסִין וּמְבָרְכִין אוֹתְךָ״.

Rabbi José said: If a man hire a workman who is zealous, and (when) he discharges him should he give him his wages in full; what favour does he give him? But if he hire a workman who is lazy, (when) he discharges him should he give him his wages in full, verily he is giving him a real favour. Likewise spake Solomon before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the worlds! Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were zealous workmen. Thou gavest to them wages in full, of their own (earnings) Thou didst give them. But we are lazy workmen, and when Thou wilt give us our wages in full, and wilt heal us; verily, every one will praise Thee and bless (Thee).

תַּם וְנִשְׁלַם, תְּהִלָּה לָעוֹזֵר. אָמֵן.

It is finished. Praise be to God!