[זאת תהיה תורת המצורע. מי שהוא מדבר לשון הרע בחבירו הצרעת באה עליו, מנין את למד ממרים], ראה מה כתיב במרים, ותדבר מרים ואהרן במשה (במדבר יב א), לפיכך ויפן אהרן אל מרים והנה [מרים] מצורעת כשלג (שם שם י), מה כתיב שם, זכור את אשר עשה ה' אלהיך למרים (דברים כד ט), ומה דברה במשה, אמרה נטל משה אשה, והוא בטל מפריה ורביה, מה עשה להן הקב"ה, נגלה עליהן, והיו צריכין טבילה, שנאמר ויאמר ה' פתאום אל משה ואל אהרן ואל מרים (במדבר יב ד), מהו פתאום, שנגלה אליהם והיו צריכין למים פתאום, אמר להם וכך היו צריכין למים, ואני מדבר עמכם, מיד לקתה מרים בצרעת, שנאמר והנה מרים מצורעת כשלג (שם שם י), והלא דברים קל וחומר, ומה מרים שלא דברי כי אם באחיה חביבה שלא בפניו, ולא נתכוונה אלא להחזירו לאשתו, כך, המספר לשון הרע על חבירו על אחת כמה וכמה, מה כתיב למעלה מן הענין השמר בנגע הצרעת (דברים כד ח), ואף אהרן שהיה כהן גדול נגעה בו ידו של הקב"ה, שנאמר ויחר אף ה' בם (במדבר יב ט), באהרן ובמרים, אלא שאהרן נתרפא מיד, ומרים לאחר [שבעת] ימים, [שנאמר] ותסגר מרים [מחוץ למחנה] שבעת ימים (במדבר יב טו), הוי זאת תהיה תורת המצורע, המוציא רע שמצא רע. [(Lev. 14:2:) THIS SHALL BE THE LAW OF THE LEPER. Whoever speaks slander concerning his fellow will have leprosy come upon him. From where have you learned it? From Miriam.] See what is written about Miriam (in Numb. 12:1): THEN MIRIAM AND AARON SPOKE AGAINST MOSES. Therefore (in vs. 10): THEN AARON TURNED UNTO MIRIAM, AND THERE WAS [MIRIAM] WITH LEPROSY LIKE THE SNOW.17The Masoretic Text reverses these two clauses in this verse. What is written elsewhere (in Deut. 24:9)? REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD YOUR GOD DID TO MIRIAM. And what did she say against Moses? She said: Moses took (natal) a wife but ceased (batel) from being fruitful and multiplying.18See Sifre, Numb. 12:1 (99:2–3), which identifies the Cushite woman of Numb. 12:1 with Zipporah, for details. What did the Holy One do to them? He appeared to them, and they needed an immersion. Thus it is stated (in Numb. 12:4): THEN THE LORD SUDDENLY SPOKE UNTO MOSES, UNTO AARON, AND UNTO MIRIAM. What is the meaning of SUDDENLY? That when he appeared unto them, they had need for water SUDDENLY. He spoke to them, and thus they had need for water.19Cf. Rashi on Numb. 12:4, who explains that they had need for water because the Holy One had appeared to them suddenly while they were unclean due to marital relations. And I am speaking with you. Immediately Miriam became stricken with leprosy, as stated (in Numb. 12:10): AND THERE WAS [MIRIAM] WITH LEPROSY LIKE THE SNOW. Moreover, are not < these > words an argument a fortiori (qal wahomer)? For if Miriam had this happen, when she only spoke against her beloved brother when he was absent20I.e., she spoke privately to Aaron with no desire to be hostile to Moses. Cf. Sifre, Numb. 12:1 (99:2). and was only intending to return him to his wife, how much the more so in the case of one who utters slander against his colleague? What is written above on the matter (in Deut. 24:8)? TAKE CARE WITH THE PLAGUE OF LEPROSY < TO WATCH DILIGENTLY AND DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES SHALL TEACH…. > So the hand of the Holy One also afflicted Aaron with it, when he was high priest. Thus it is stated (in Numb. 12:9): AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST THEM, < i.e. > against Aaron and against Miriam. Aaron, however, was healed immediately; but Miriam, after seven days, as stated (in Numb. 12:15): SO MIRIAM WAS SHUT UP [OUTSIDE OF THE CAMP] FOR SEVEN DAYS. Ergo (in Lev. 14:2): THIS SHALL BE THE LAW OF THE LEPER (metsora'). The one who proclaims evil (motsi' ra') is the one who finds evil (motse' ra').