That is what is written: “The increase of his house will be exiled, poured out [nigarot] on the day of His wrath” (Job 20:28). They will be dragging [gorerin] it and taking it out. When? It is on the day that the Holy One blessed be He will arouse [sheyigareh] his wrath against that man.
How so? If a man says to another: ‘Lend me a kav of wheat,’ and he says: ‘I do not have.’ [He asks to borrow] a kav of barley, [and the man responds:] ‘I do not have.’ [He asks to borrow] a kav of dates, [and the man responds:] ‘I do not have.’ If a woman says to another: ‘Lend me a sifter,’ and she says: ‘I do not have.’ ‘Lend me a sieve,’ and she says: ‘I do not have.’ What does the Holy One blessed be He do?
He brings leprosy upon the house. When he takes all of his utensils out,6See Leviticus 14:36; when a house is struck by leprosy it must be cleared completely before the priest enters. the people see and say: ‘Would he not say that he has nothing? See how much wheat there is here, how much barley, how many dates there are here. The house has been deservedly cursed with these curses.’
Rabbi Yitzḥak ben Elazar cites it from this verse: “recessed [shekaarurot]” (Leviticus 14:37); the house has sunk [shaka] with these curses. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel: “When you will come to the land of Canaan.”