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Numbers 5:2 - Purify the camp's holiness

Numbers 5:2 - במדבר 5:2

Hebrew Text

צַו אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וִישַׁלְּחוּ מִן־הַמַּחֲנֶה כָּל־צָרוּעַ וְכָל־זָב וְכֹל טָמֵא לָנָפֶשׁ׃

English Translation

Command the children of Yisra᾽el, that they put out of the camp everyone with żara῾at, and everyone that has an issue, and whoever is defiled by the dead:

Transliteration

Tzav et-bnei Yisrael veyashlechu min-hamachane kol-tzaru'a vekhol-zav vekhol tamei lanefesh.

Hebrew Leining Text

צַ֚ו אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וִֽישַׁלְּחוּ֙ מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה כׇּל־צָר֖וּעַ וְכׇל־זָ֑ב וְכֹ֖ל טָמֵ֥א לָנָֽפֶשׁ׃
צַ֚ו אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וִֽישַׁלְּחוּ֙ מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה כׇּל־צָר֖וּעַ וְכׇל־זָ֑ב וְכֹ֖ל טָמֵ֥א לָנָֽפֶשׁ׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context and Overview

The verse (Bamidbar 5:2) commands Bnei Yisrael to remove individuals afflicted with tzara'at (a spiritual affliction often mistranslated as leprosy), those with a zav (abnormal bodily discharge), and those who are tamei la'nefesh (ritually impure due to contact with a corpse) from the camp. This directive emphasizes the sanctity of the Israelite camp, particularly when the Divine Presence (Shechinah) dwells among them.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Bamidbar 5:2) explains that this commandment applies specifically to the three camps of Israel in the wilderness:

  • Machaneh Shechinah (Camp of the Divine Presence) – The area around the Mishkan, from which all ritually impure individuals were excluded.
  • Machaneh Leviyah (Camp of the Levites) – Those with tzara'at or zav were excluded, but those tamei due to a corpse were permitted.
  • Machaneh Yisrael (Camp of Israel) – Only those with tzara'at were excluded, while zavim and those tamei due to a corpse were permitted.

Rashi further notes that this separation was necessary to maintain the holiness of the camp, as impurity distances one from the Divine Presence.

Rambam's Perspective

In Hilchot Tumat Tzara'at (10:6), Rambam elaborates that the exclusion of the metzora (person afflicted with tzara'at) serves as both a spiritual and communal measure. Since tzara'at is traditionally associated with sins like lashon hara (evil speech), isolation encourages repentance and prevents negative influence on the community.

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 7:5) connects this verse to the broader theme of purity in the Israelite camp. It teaches that just as physical impurities must be removed, so too must moral and spiritual impurities be addressed to maintain a sacred environment. The exclusion is not merely punitive but serves as a means of tikkun (rectification) for the individual and the community.

Practical Implications

While these laws primarily applied in the wilderness and during the Temple era, the underlying principles remain relevant:

  • The importance of maintaining spiritual and moral purity in communal spaces.
  • The concept that certain transgressions (like lashon hara) create a spiritual barrier requiring repentance.
  • The idea that holiness requires separation from defilement, both physically and ethically.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Pesachim 67a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the laws of ritual impurity and the exclusion of certain individuals from the camp.
📖 Moed Katan 15a
The verse is cited in the context of discussing the laws of leprosy and the separation of the impure from the community.
📖 Niddah 13b
The verse is mentioned in a discussion about the categories of impurity and their implications for communal life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Numbers 5:2 mean?
A: Numbers 5:2 commands the Israelites to remove individuals with tzara'at (a spiritual skin affliction), those with a bodily discharge (zav), and those who are ritually impure due to contact with a dead body from the camp. This was to maintain the sanctity and purity of the Israelite camp, especially since the Divine Presence (Shechinah) dwelled among them (Rashi on Numbers 5:2).
Q: Why is removing impure people from the camp important?
A: Removing those who were ritually impure was essential because impurity (tumah) affects the spiritual atmosphere of the community. The camp of Israel was considered a holy place where the Mishkan (Tabernacle) stood, and impurity could not coexist with the Divine Presence. The Rambam (Hilchot Tum'at Tzara'at) explains that this separation also served as a reminder of the importance of spiritual and physical purity.
Q: What can we learn from Numbers 5:2 today?
A: While we no longer have the Mishkan or the same laws of ritual purity, this verse teaches us the importance of maintaining holiness in our communities. Just as the Israelites were careful about spiritual purity, we should strive to create an environment conducive to holiness by distancing ourselves from negative influences (Midrash Tanchuma, Metzora 3).
Q: Does tzara'at (leprosy) in the Torah refer to a medical condition?
A: No, tzara'at in the Torah is not simply a medical condition but a spiritual affliction often caused by sins such as lashon hara (evil speech) or arrogance (Arachin 16a). The removal from the camp was both a physical separation and a spiritual rectification process, requiring repentance and purification (Rambam, Hilchot Tum'at Tzara'at 16:10).
Q: How were people with tzara'at or other impurities allowed back into the camp?
A: Those with tzara'at had to undergo a purification process involving a kohen (priest), sacrifices, and immersion in a mikveh (Leviticus 14). Similarly, a zav (one with a discharge) or someone impure from contact with the dead had to wait a set time, immerse, and sometimes bring offerings before reentering (Rashi on Leviticus 15:13, Numbers 19:11-12).