Talmud Nazir (E)

Talmud - Mas. Nazir 17a
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 17a
We are dealing here with the case in which he left [the graveyard] and re-entered it.
1
 
    A [further] objection was raised by him [as follows]: The only difference between a person
ritually defiled who makes a nazirite vow, and a ritually clean nazirite who becomes unclean, is that
the former reckons his seventh day [of purification] as part of his period [of naziriteship], whereas
the latter does not reckon his seventh day [of purification] as part of his [new] period. If now you
assume that [the vow of the unclean person] does not take effect, how is [the seventh day] to be
counted [in his period]? — Mar b. R. Ashi said: Both [R. Johanan and Resh Lakish] agree that [the
vow] does take effect; where they differ is whether there is [to be a penalty of] stripes.
2
 R. Johanan is
of the opinion that since [the vow] takes effect, he suffers the penalty of stripes, but Resh Lakish is
of the opinion that there is no penalty of stripes, although [the vow] does take effect.
 
    R. Johanan raised an objection to Resh Lakish [from the following]: IF A MAN MAKES A
NAZIRITE VOW WHILST IN A GRAVEYARD, THEN EVEN IF HE SHOULD REMAIN
THERE FOR THIRTY DAYS, THESE ARE NOT RECKONED, AND HE DOES NOT HAVE TO
BRING THE SACRIFICE [PRESCRIBED] FOR RITUAL DEFILEMENT. [This implies, does it
not,] that it is only the sacrifice prescribed for ritual defilement that he does not have to bring, but he
does suffer stripes? — Strictly speaking, it should have stated that he does not receive stripes, but
since it was requisite in the subsequent clause to mention that where HE LEAVES [THE
GRAVEYARD] AND RE-ENTERS, THE [PERIOD] IS RECKONED, AND HE MUST BRING
THE SACRIFICE [PRESCRIBED] FOR DEFILEMENT, the initial clause, too, mentions that he
need not bring the sacrifice [prescribed] for ritual defilement.
3
 
    Come and hear: The only difference between a ritually defiled person who makes a nazirite-vow,
and a ritually clean nazirite who becomes unclean, is that the former reckons his seventh day [of
purification] as part of his period [of naziriteship], whereas the latter does not reckon his seventh day
as part of his period. [Does not this imply] that as regards stripes, they are on a par? — He
4
 replied:
Not so. Where they are on a par is as regards polling.
 
    [You aver, then,] that the latter receives stripes,
5
 but the former does not do so. Why is this not
mentioned? — The [Baraitha] is referring to that which is serviceable
6
 to him, not to that which is to
his detriment.
7
 
    Come and hear: Whosoever was ritually defiled and vowed to be a nazirite is forbidden to poll, or
to drink wine. If he should poll, or drink wine, or come into contact with the [human] dead, he is to
receive the forty stripes? This is undeed a refutation.
8
 
    Raba enquired: If a man vows to be a nazirite whilst in a graveyard, what is the law? Has he to be
[in the graveyard] a certain time
9
 for him to be liable to stripes, or not?
 
    What are the circumstances? If he was told not to make a nazirite vow, why should any length of
stay be necessary? What is the reason why no length of stay [in the graveyard] is necessary for the
[ritually clean] nazirite [to be liable to stripes]? It is because he was forewarned;
10
 and here too he
was forewarned!
____________________
(1) When he had become clean and repeated the vow.
(2) [For contracting defilement whilst making his vow in the graveyard.]
(3) Thus making the two clauses symmetrical in form.
(4) Resh Lakish.
(5) For defilement.

---

(6) To know when to commence the naziriteship.
(7) To receive stripes.
(8) Of Resh Lakish
(9) A minimum period. V. Shebu. 17a.
(10) Of the prohibition against defiling himself.
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 17b
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 17b
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 17b
We must suppose, therefore, that he entered [the graveyard] in a box, or a chest, or a portable turret,
1
and his fellow came and broke away the covering.
2
 [The question then arises] whether [the rule
requiring] a certain length of stay
3
 was only laid down with reference to [defilement within] the
Temple precincts, but not outside,
4
 or whether there is no distinction.
5
 The problem was unsolved.
 
    R. Ashi raised the following question: If a man vows to become a nazirite whilst in a graveyard, is
he required to poll or not? Is polling required only of a ritually clean nazirite who has contracted
ritual defilement, because he has defiled his consecration,
6
 and not of a ritually unclean person who
makes a nazirite vow, or is there no difference [between the two]? — Come and hear: IF A MAN
MAKES A NAZIRITE VOW WHILST IN A GRAVEYARD, THEN EVEN IF HE REMAINS
THERE FOR THIRTY DAYS, THESE ARE NOT RECKONED, AND HE DOES NOT HAVE TO
BRING THE SACRIFICE [PRESCRIBED] FOR RITUAL DEFILEMENT. [This implies, does it
not,] that it is only the sacrifice prescribed for ritual defilement that need not be brought, but that
polling is necessary! [That is not so.] The statement is made as a reason [for something else]. The
reason that he need not bring the sacrifice prescribed for ritual defilement is that polling is
unnecessary.
7
 
    Come and hear: The only difference between a ritually defiled person who makes a nazirite vow
and a ritually clean nazirite who contracts ritual defilement is that the former reckons his seventh day
[of purification] as part of his period [of naziriteship], whereas the latter does not reckon his seventh
day as part of his [new] period. Surely, then, as regards polling both are on the same footing? — No!
Where both are on the same footing is as regards stripes. In the case of polling, [you aver that] one
polls and the other does not. Then why not mention this? — The seventh day is mentioned, and
includes all observances dependent upon it.
8
 
    Come and hear: I am only told here
9
 that the period of his ritual defilement is not reckoned [in the
days of his naziriteship]. How do we know [that the same is true] of the period of declared leprosy?
10
This can be derived from an analogy [between the two]. Just as after the period of ritual defilement
he is required to poll and bring a sacrifice, so after the period of declared leprosy he is required to
poll and bring a sacrifice; and so just as the period of ritual defilement is not reckoned, the period of
declared leprosy ought not to be reckoned. — Not so! For in the case of the period of defilement, it
may he because this renders void the former reckoning
11
 that it is not reckoned, whereas the period
of declared leprosy does not render void the former reckoning,
12
 and therefore it should itself be
reckoned. — I will put the argument differently. Seeing that ‘a nazirite in a graveyard’,
13
 whose hair
is ripe for polling,
14
 does not count [the days spent in the graveyard as part of his naziriteship],
surely the period of declared leprosy, when his hair is not ripe for polling,
15
 should not be counted.
16
Now surely polling as a result of his defilement is meant?
17
 — No! the reference may be to polling
[after observing the nazirite vow] in ritual purity.
18
 This is indeed evident.
____________________
(1) And therefore did not con-tract uncleanness when in the graveyard, being in a separate place.
(2) After he had vowed to become a nazirite.
(3) Viz., sufficient for prostration. V. Shebu. 17a.
(4) To cases not connected with the Temple, e.g.. when a nazirite becomes unclean inside the graveyard.
(5) And therefore in the graveyard also a certain length of stay is required.

---