Derasha 2 on Behaalosecha 8:7

Parashas Behaalosecha · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 7

The Complete Passuk

וְכֹֽה־תַעֲשֶׂ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְטַֽהֲרָ֔ם הַזֵּ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מֵ֣י חַטָּ֑את וְהֶעֱבִ֤ירוּ תַ֙עַר֙ עַל־כׇּל־בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְכִבְּס֥וּ בִגְדֵיהֶ֖ם וְהִטֶּהָֽרוּ׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah (Pesiqta / related): “על כל בשרם” excludes the hidden places (beit ha-setarim).

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְהֶעֱבִ֤ירוּ תַ֙עַר֙ עַל־כׇּל־בְּשָׂרָ֔ם — פְּרָט לְבֵית הַסְּתָרִים; עַל בְּשָׂרוֹ שֶׁבַּגִּלּוּי.

English: “And they shall pass a razor over all their flesh” — excluding the hidden places; over the flesh that is exposed.

Type of Learning

Gezerah / limitation of “kol basar” — the same language used for immersion is applied to the Levite shaving.

What Is Learned

Even a complete purification rite respects the distinction between exposed and private areas; the Torah’s language itself draws the boundary.