Parashat Tazria-Metzorah Part 2

Tazria-Metzora |  תצריע - מצורע 

“She conceives” - “Diseased One”

Part 2

A daily Torah study by Loren Abraham
Download Parashat Tazria-Metzora Study Guide

Torah: Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33

Haftarah: II Kings 4:42 - 5:19; II Kings 7:3 - 7:20 

Suggested: Matt 11:2-6; Luke 7:18-19; Luke 17:11-19

In each day of this study we will focus on a theme or themes from the corresponding reading or aliyah. Here is the full list of aliyot for this portion:

Daily Readings

     1: Lev. 12:1-13:23 Childbirth and Tzara'at 
2: Lev. 13:24-39 Tzara'at on scalp or beard
3: Lev. 13:40-54 Tzara'at in fabric
4: Lev. 13:55-14:20 Purification of the metzora
5: Lev. 14:21-32 The needy metzora 
6: Lev. 14:33-15:15 Buildings with tzara'at
7: Lev. 15:16-33 Normal discharges

Introduction

In part one we learned that leprosy - Tzara'at – in some sense, collectively, represents all human disease and deterioration because it visually displays the process of corruption and decay in our mortal flesh. Every illness and disease can in that sense therefore be understood as biblical leprosy - Tzara'at. Disease spreads through our bodies. It grows within us, weakens us, and sometimes kills us. If it does not, some other process of decay will. Biblical leprosy - Tzara'at - is a vivid look at our inevitable mortal end.


Video: Parshat Tazria: Skin Care Tips from the Torah by BimBam

Can it be then that the condition of Tzara'at is actually symbolic not only the entire spectrum of disease and sickness – but the fallen condition of man? After all when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, their condition went from being immortal to mortal, from being in perfect health to being in a state of perpetual declining health, moving inexorably toward death. It is also this condition that might explain the seemingly arcane purity regulations regarding normal seminal and menstrual discharges, which are not really sinful in and of themselves, but are associated with the cycle of life and death which resulted from the sin in the garden. The healing and purification of the diseased person, the metzorah, then becomes symbolic of redemption and the process is inextricably associated with the offerings that must be brought once the healing has taken plac. And only on the eighth day, the day of rebirth, of new beginnings, is the redemption fully actualized. There are two important things we learn from the many Gospel accounts of Yeshua's healing of the metzorah:

1. He was never unwilling to become unclean through contact with the metzorah even though it was not necessary for contact to be made. He willingly took up their uncleanness and their infirmities.
2. He willingly became contaminated by contact with a corpse in order to raise someone back to life from death. 

The entire story related in these two parashot encapsulates the gospel message.  The male child circumcised on the eighth day signifies man created in God's image, who falls into sin and disease, must be healed and undergo a rebirth by immersion. But ultimately purification can only be achieved by the shedding of innocent blood, the blood of Messiah, who became sin so that we might be purified, died so that we might live, bore our infirmities so that by his stripes we might be healed. He became unclean so that we might be clean, became mortal that we might be made immortal. 

Summary of the second aliyah  

Day 2: Lev 13:24-39   Burns that become Tzara'at and Tzara'at on head or beard
In the second reading, we learn about more features of tzara'at - skin disease - and the process of examination for tzara'at that develops from burns on the skin and on the head or beard and the required chata'at - purification offerings.

Lev 12:18-44       Leprosy of the scalp or beard

Lev 13:18-44 Leprosy of the scalp or beard 
The Torah goes on to discuss several hypothetical scenarios. For example, Tzara'at could break out in a boil, or in the wound caused by a burn. It might appear on one's scalp in the midst of one's hair or on one's face in the beard. When it appears in the hair, the afflicted person was directed to shave off all their hair except for the hair in the affected area. This may have allowed the priest to determine if the infection had spread. In another example, Tzara'at might appear on the scalp of a Man who had become bald. In every case, the same process is followed. If the priest examining the afflicted person declares leprosy is present, that person is then declared to be unclean and one who is diseased – a metzorah. If the diagnosis is uncertain, the person is quarantined for seven days. Then after seven days, if the infection has spread, then the afflicted person is declared unclean – a metzorah. If the infection has not spread, the afflicted person is declared clean and allowed to immerse and rejoin the community.

Tomorrow we will examine the condition of disease in fabric and clothing - how it is diagnosed, what is to be done about it and why it is important.

Go to Parashat Tazria-Metzora Part Three
Download Parashat Tazria-Metzora Study Guide