How is the examination of leprosy undertaken?19The verse states that the priest examines the afflicted individual in “the entire view of the eyes of the priest” (Leviticus 13:12). It is understood from this verse that the priest looks only at parts of the body that are visible when the individual is unclothed, but in a normal pose. The man is examined [as he stands], like one who is hoeing20With his legs spread. or like one who is harvesting olives;21With his hands upraised. like one hoeing for the concealed area and like one harvesting olives, for the armpits.
The woman, like one weaving, or like one nursing her child under the breast; like one weaving wool, for the right armpit. Rabbi Yehuda says: Like one spinning flax for the left arm. Just as it is examined for leprosy, so it is examined for shaving.22The leper must have all the hair on his body on the seventh day of his purification process. It is taught: A person may examine any leprosy other than his own leprosy; Rabbi Meir says: Not even the leprosy of his relatives.23Mishna Nega’im 2:5.
Who examined Miriam’s leprosy? If you say Moses examined it, a non-priest does not examine leprosy. If you say Aaron examined it, a relative does not examine leprosy. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I am the priest, I quarantine her, I deem her ritually pure.’
That is what is written: “The people did not travel until Miriam was readmitted” (Numbers 12:15). If so, the people were with the Divine Presence and the Divine Presence was waiting for her. Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina: Moses was greatly troubled by this matter: ‘Is this commensurate with the honor due my brother Aaron, for him to be examining leprosy?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Does he not benefit from it twenty-four priestly gifts?’
The parable says: One who eats hearts of palm will be wounded by the tree trunk.24It will scratch him as he works to obtain the heart of palm.