Why Leprosy Strikes - Evil Speech and the Book of Words

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Metzora 2:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

[(Lev. 14:2:) THIS SHALL BE THE LAW OF THE LEPER.] Our Rabbis said: Plagues come upon a person only on account of the evil speech that goes out of his mouth. And the Holy Spirit cries out (Eccl. 5:5): "Do not let your mouth bring guilt upon your flesh" — to scourge your body; "[and do not say before the angel that it was an error]" (ibid.) — and do not say before the angel appointed over you, "It was unintentionally that I brought forth the word from my mouth," for every word that goes out of your mouth is written down in a book, whether good or evil, whether unintentional or deliberate. And how do we know that this is so? As it is said (Mal. 3:16): "Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, [and the LORD took note and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, etc.]." And likewise, with the measure of punishment, David said (Ps. 139:2): "You know my sitting down and my rising up, etc." And Job said (Job 13:27): "You trace out the roots of my feet." "Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?" (Eccl. 5:5) — these are the hands and the body, which are afflicted with plagues.

Themes

Divine JudgmentWritingDavidSolomonPlagues

Biblical References

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Apocalypse of AbrahamTen Plagues Fall Upon the Nations at the End of DaysWhile God was still speaking, Abraham suddenly found himself back upon the earth. "O Eternal, Mighty One," he said, "I am no longer in the glory in which I was Testament of SolomonDemons Build the Temple and Solomon Falls Through IdolatryThe thirty-sixth and final zodiac demon, Bianakith, confessed: "I lay waste houses and cause flesh to decay. But if a man writes certain holy names on the frontMidrash AggadahWhy the Murmurers at Taberah Sought a Pretext Against GodThe people walked three days from the mountain of the Lord, and on the road their hearts soured. Scripture calls them k'mit'onenim, "as murmurers", and the MaggMidrash AggadahWhy the Spies Died by the Plague for Slandering the LandWhy did the spies die at once, struck down by plague with no reprieve? Because, the sages teach, they had carried back a slander against the land, declaring thaMidrash AggadahWhy Israel Cried We Perish Behold We Are Lost After KorachAfter the earth had swallowed Korach and the fire had consumed his company, after the plague had been stayed by Aaron's incense, the people of Israel lifted up Midrash Tanchuma Buber, VayeraThe Cup of Wrath Prepared for Sodom Before CreationWhen the verse declares that the LORD rained fire upon Sodom, the Maggid hears an echo from the Psalms: "He will rain down upon the wicked snares, fire and brim