Commentary for Pesachim 133:2

אמר אביי אי הכי לימא נמי יאמר זב וטמאי מתים ואל יאמר מצורע ואני אומר זב משתלח מצורע לא כ"ש אלא יש לך שעה שמצורעין משתלחין ואין זבין וטמאי מתים משתלחין ואיזה זה פסח הבא בטומאה

Said Abaye, If so, let us also argue: 'Let [Scripture] state a zab and those who are unclean by the dead, and let it not state a leper, and I would argue, If a zab is sent out, how much the more a leper; but [the fact that a leper is stated intimates] there is a time when lepers are sent out, whereas zabin and those who are unclean by the dead are not sent out, and when is that? It is [when] the Passover comes in uncleanness'? And should you say. That indeed is so-surely we learned: The Passover which comes in uncleanness, zabin and zaboth, menstruant women and women in childbirth must not eat thereof, yet if they ate, they are not liable [to kareth]? Rather, said Abaye. After all, [it is derived] from the first verse; [and as to the question raised, the reply is]. If so, let the Divine Law write, 'If any man of you shall be unclean'; what is the purpose of 'by reason of a dead body'? And should you say, this [phrase] 'by reason of a dead body' comes for this [purpose, viz..] only he who is unclean by reason of a dead body is relegated to the second Passover, but not other unclean [persons], surely' it was taught: You might think that only those who are unclean by the dead and he who was on a distant journey keep the second Passover; whence do we know [to include] zabin and lepers and those who had intercourse with menstruant women? Therefore it is stated, 'any man'. Then what is the purpose of [the phrase] 'by reason of a dead body' which the Divine Law wrote? But this is what [Scripture] states: A man [i.e.. an individual] is relegated to the second Passover, whereas a community is not relegated to the second Passover, but they keep [the first Passover] in uncleanness. And when do the community keep [the first Passover] in uncleanness? When [they are] unclean by reason of the dead; but in the case of other forms of uncleanness, they do not keep [it thus].

Explore commentary for Pesachim 133:2. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.