Talmud Nazir (E)

(11) I.e., but no others.
(12) Although he becomes unclean by touching the stone, he need not poll; cf. Shab. 82b.
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 53b
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 53b
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 53b
[We see that] only if there is a half-kab of bones [must the nazirite poll], but not if there is a quarter
[-kab] of bones. What are the circumstances? For if we assert that there are amongst them bones of a
barley-corn in size, then we can give as the reason [that the nazirite must poll, the presence of] a
barley-corn's bulk of bone? — The reference is to where [the bone] was crushed into powder.
 
    OR ANY LIMB [SEVERED] FROM A CORPSE OR ANY LIMB [SEVERED] FROM A
LIVING BODY THAT IS STILL PROPERLY COVERED WITH FLESH: What are the
consequences if sufficient flesh is not attached [and a nazirite is defiled by touching or carrying such
a bone]?
1
 — R. Johanan said that the nazirite is not required to poll because of them. Resh Lakish
said that the nazirite must poll because of them. R. Johanan said that the nazirite is not required to
poll because of them, for it says in the first [Mishnah]
2
 only ANY LIMB [SEVERED] FROM A
CORPSE OR ANY LIMB [SEVERED] FROM A LIVING BODY THAT IS STILL PROPERLY
COVERED WITH FLESH, [implying] ‘but not otherwise’; whilst Resh Lakish said that he must
poll, since this case is not mentioned in the subsequent [Mishnah].
3
 [To the argument of Resh
Lakish] R. Johanan will reply that whatever can be inferred from the rule [of our Mishnah] is not
mentioned in the subsequent [Mishnah]. But what of the half-kab of bones [mentioned in our
Mishnah] which implies that only half a kab of bones [can defile] but not a quarter [kab] of bones,
and yet the subsequent [Mishnah] mentions [explicitly] that a quarter [-kab] of bones [do not defile]?
— In that instance were a quarter [-kab] of bones not [mentioned]. I should have thought that he
need not [poll] even [if defiled] through contact with it or carrying it, and so the Mishnah had to
mention the [case of a] quarter [-kab] of bones [in order to teach] that it is only for overshadowing
them that the nazirite is not required to poll.
4
 
    But what of the half-log of blood [mentioned in our Mishnah], from which it may be inferred that
only [if the nazirite is defiled by ‘overshadowing’] a half-log of blood, [is he required to poll] but not
by a quarter [-log] of blood, and yet the subsequent [Mishnah] mentions [explicitly that] a quarter
[-log] of blood [does not defile]? — In that case, the purpose [of mentioning it in the next Mishnah]
is to dissent from the view of R. Akiba, for R. Akiba has stated that a quarter [-log] of blood coming
from two corpses conveys defilement by overshadowing.
5
 
    How are we to picture this limb [severed] from a corpse? For if it has a bone of a barley-corn's
bulk, what is R. Johanan's reason [for saying that a nazirite need not poll if he touches it], whilst if it
has not a bone of a barley-corn's bulk, what is Resh Lakish's reason [for saying that the nazirite must
poll if he touches it]? — Resh Lakish will reply that in point of fact it has not a bone of a
barley-corn's bulk, and in spite of this, the All-Merciful has included it [amongst the things which
cause defilement]. For it has been taught; [The verse,] And whosoever in the open field toucheth one
that is slain with a sword, or one that dieth of himself [....shall be unclean seven days,
6
 has the
following significance]. In the open field’ refers to one who overshadows a corpse. ‘One that is
slain’
7
 refers to a limb [severed] from a living body which is in such condition that [if attached to the
body] it could have been restored. ‘A sword’ signifies that this is of the same [degree of defilement]
8
as the slain body. ‘Or one that dieth of himself’ refers to a limb severed from a corpse. ‘Or a bone of
a man’ refers to a quarter [-kab] of bones. ‘Or a grave’ refers to a close grave;
9
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(1) It is assumed that the bone has not the bulk of a barley-corn.
(2) Supra 49b.
(3) Infra 54a, where the kinds of defilement for which the nazirite need not poll are enumerated.
(4) But be must poll if he touches it or carries it.

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(5) Supra 38a; 49b. And so we are told that a nazirite is not required to poll for defilement conveyed by a quarter-log of
blood. [Asheri and others omit ‘for R. Akiba . . . by overshadowing’, the reference being to R. Akiba's view’ given infra
56b that a nazir must poll for coming in contact with a quarter-log of blood.]
(6) Num. XIX, 16.
(7) Lit., ‘that which is severed’.
(8) If used to slay a person.
(9) I.e., one in which there is no hollow space of a handbreadth between the corpse and the roof of the grave.
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 54a
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 54a
Talmud - Mas. Nazir 54a
for a Master said that defilement breaks through [the ground] and ascends, and breaks through [the
ground] and descends.
1
 [Thus far defilement by ‘overshadowing’ has been discussed,] whilst as
regards [defilement by] contact, Rab Judah said that it has been taught: [The verse]. And upon him
that touched the bone, or the slain
2
 [etc.] [has the following significance]. ‘The bone’ refers to a
barley-corn's bulk of bone. ‘Or the slain’ refers to a limb severed from a living body which is not in
such condition that [if attached to the body] it could have been restored. ‘Or the dead’ refers to a
limb severed from a corpse. ‘Or the grave’ refers, said Resh Lakish, to the grave, [of those buried]
before the revelation [at Sinai].
3
 
    Now what is meant by ‘a limb [severed] from a corpse’? For if it has a bone of a barley-corn's
bulk, it is [covered by the rule concerning] one who touches a bone! We must therefore suppose that
it has not a bone of a barley-corn's bulk, and in spite of this the All-Merciful Law has included it
[amongst the things whose contact defiles].
 
    R. Johanan, on the other hand, will say that in point of fact [the limb severed from a corpse] has [a
barley-corn's bulk of bone] in it, and if [the verse] is unnecessary for teaching [that the limb defiles
by] contact,
4
 you can use it to teach
5
 [that it defiles through] carrying.
6
 
    AND BE SPRINKLED ON THE THIRD AND SEVENTH DAYS AND IT MAKES VOID etc.:
The question was propounded: When the Mishnah teaches UNTIL HE HAS BECOME CLEAN,
does it refer to the seventh day, meaning until after sunset, so that the author is R. Eliezer,
7
 or does it
perhaps refer to the eighth day, the words UNTIL HE HAS BECOME CLEAN, meaning until he has
brought his sacrifices, so that it gives the view of the Rabbis? — Judge
8
 from the following. Since it
teaches in the subsequent [Mishnah] that he commences to count immediately [after purification],
9
 it
follows that UNTIL HE HAS BECOME CLEAN in the first [Mishnah]
10
 means, until he has
brought his sacrifices, and the ruling is that of the Rabbis who assert that naziriteship after
purification does not operate until the eighth day.
 
    MISHNAH. BUT FOR [DEFILEMENT CAUSED BY] SEKA KOTH [OVERHANGING
BOUGHS]
11
 OR PERA'OTH [PROTRUDING BRICKS]
12
 OR A [FIELD THAT IS A] BETH
PERAS,
13
 OR LAND OF THE GENTILES
14
 OR THE GOLEL [COVERING STONE] OR DOFEK
[SIDE STONES] OF A TOMB,
15
 OR A QUARTER [-LOG] OF BLOOD, OR A TENT [IN WHICH
IS A CORPSE],
16
 OR A QUARTER [-KAB] OF BONES, OR UTENSILS THAT HAVE BEEN IN
CONTACT WITH A CORPSE, OR [THE DEFILEMENT OF A LEPER'S] TALE OF DAYS
17
 OR
HIS PERIOD OF DECLARED LEPROSY;
18
 FOR ALL THESE THE NAZIRITE IS NOT
REQUIRED TO POLL. HE MUST, HOWEVER, BE SPRINKLED ON THE THIRD AND
SEVENTH [DAYS],
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(1) So that any one walking above or beneath such a grave is accounted as ‘overshadowing’ it and becomes unclean. Cf.
Oh. VII. 1.
(2) Num. XIX, 18.
(3)  Lit., ‘before the Word’. I.e., the bodies of Israelites buried before the revelation, though they do not defile by

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