Commentary for Avodah Zarah 74:9
דאורייתא מאי היא דכתיב (במדבר יט, יא) הנוגע במת לכל נפש אדם וטמא שבעת ימים וכתיב וכל אשר יגע בו הטמא יטמא וכתיב והנפש הנוגעת תטמא עד הערב הא כיצד
From where do we know this from the Torah? As it is written, “He that touches the dead body of any man shall be impure for seven days” (Numbers 19:11) and it is also written, And whatsoever the impure person touches shall be impure” (19:22) and it is written, “the soul that touches it shall be impure until evening” (ibid). How [are these texts] to be understood?
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
The rabbis use a discrepancy in the verses to prove that there is a difference between a case where the person is still in contact with the dead body (he transmits seven-day impurity) and a case where he is no longer in contact with the dead body (he transmit one-day impurity). The verse that says he shall be impure, which means seven days, refers to a person who touches another person who is still in contact with the dead body. And the verse that says that he is only impure until evening refers to one who is no longer in contact with a dead body.
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