Derasha 78 on Vayikra 13:2

TT #78 · Parshas Tazria · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 2

The Complete Passuk

אָדָ֗ם כִּֽי־יִהְיֶ֤ה בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂרוֹ֙ שְׂאֵ֤ת אֽוֹ־סַפַּ֙חַת֙ א֣וֹ בַהֶ֔רֶת וְהָיָ֥ה בְעוֹר־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ לְנֶ֣גַע צָרָ֑עַת וְהוּבָא֙ אֶל־אַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן א֛וֹ אֶל־אַחַ֥ד מִבָּנָ֖יו הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃

English: When a person has on the skin of the body a swelling, a rash, or a discoloration, and it develops into a scaly affection on the skin of the body, it shall be reported to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.

Chabad.org — Chumash, English translation + Rashi for Vayikra 13:2

Source Citation

Torah Temimah cites Sifra (Toras Kohanim) for distinguishing which priests may examine skin afflictions.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sifra
"והובא אל אהרן הכהן" — אין לי אלא אהרן עצמו, מנין לרבות כהן אחר? תלמוד לומר "הכהן". מנין לרבות בעל מום? תלמוד לומר "מבניו". או יכול שאני מרבה חללים? תלמוד לומר "הכהנים" — יצאו חללים.

English: “He shall be brought to Aaron the priest”—this might mean Aaron himself alone; how do we include another priest? The text says “the priest.” How do we include a priest with a physical defect? It says “of his sons.” Could this include disqualified priests? The text says “the priests,” excluding them.

Type of Learning

Textual distinction

What Is Learned

“Of his sons” includes a priest with a physical defect; “the priests” excludes priests disqualified from service.