Derasha 23 on Naso 6:09

Parashas Naso · Passuk 6:09

The Complete Passuk

וְכִֽי־יָמ֨וּת מֵ֤ת עָלָיו֙ בְּפֶ֣תַע פִּתְאֹ֔ם וְטִמֵּ֖א רֹ֣אשׁ נִזְר֑וֹ וְגִלַּ֤ח רֹאשׁוֹ֙ בְּי֣וֹם טׇהֳרָת֔וֹ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י יְגַלְּחֶֽנּוּ׃

If someone dies suddenly nearby,dnearby Cf. 19.14–16. defiling [a nazirite’s] consecrated hair, they shall shave their head at the time of becoming pure, shaving it on the seventh day.

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Source: Nazir 44b.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Nazir 44b
בפתע פתאום — תניא, פתע זה שוגג, פתאום זה מזיד.

English: “Suddenly (besheta petom)” — it was taught: “peta” is unintentional; “pitom” is intentional.

In context: The doubled language covers both accidental and deliberate contamination, each requiring the nazir to restart the count after purification.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

Chazal distinguish unintentional and intentional impurity that interrupts the naziriteship.