Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Leviticus 13:5/רמב"ן על ויקרא י״ג:ה׳
אוְהִנֵּה הַנֶּגַע עָמַד בְּעֵינָיו בְּמַרְאֵהוּ וּבְשִׁעוּרוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹן, לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על ויקרא י"ג:ה'). וְכָמוֹהוּ "וְעֵינוֹ כְּעֵין הַבְּדֹלַח" (במדבר יא ז), וְכֵן "כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא" (יחזקאל א כב). אֲבָל בְּתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים (להלן פסוק לז) שָׁנִינוּ, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא בְּעֵינֵי עַצְמוֹ, בְּעֵינֵי תַּלְמִידוֹ מִנַּיִן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר (שם) "וְאִם בְּעֵינָיו עָמַד הַנֶּתֶק" (ויקרא י"ג:ל"ז). אִם כֵּן פֵּרוּשׁוֹ וְאִם בְּעֵינֵי הַכֹּהֵן הַנִּזְכָּר עָמַד הַנֶּגַע, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁעָמַד עַל עָמְדוֹ, לֹא שִׁנָּה אֶת מְקוֹמוֹ וְלֹא פָּשָׂה לְמַרְאֵה עֵינֵי הַכֹּהֵן. וְלָשׁוֹן מֻרְגָּל בְּדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים כָּךְ "נִרְאֶה בְּעֵינַי", וְכֵן "וְעַתָּה תִּיקַר נַפְשִׁי בְּעֵינֶיךָ" (מלכים ב א יד), בְּדַעְתְּךָ וּבְמַחְשַׁבְתְּךָ. וְיִרְמֹז הַכָּתוּב כִּי לְפִי מַרְאִית עֵינָיו יִשְׁפֹּט בַּפִּשְׂיוֹן, אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לִמְדֹּד אֶת הַנֶּגַע:
1AND THE PRIEST SHALL LOOK AT HIM ON THE SEVENTH DAY, AND BEHOLD, IF THE PLAGUE STAY ‘B’EINAV.’ “This means in its original color and size.”85 is “in his eyes,” i.e., the eyes of the priest examining the plague. Ramban will further on stress this literal meaning of the word. This is Rashi’s language. Similarly, ‘v’eino’ (and the appearance thereof) was as the appearance of bdellium;86 and so also, ‘k’ein’ (like the color of) the crystal ice.87 as meaning “its appearance,” thus making the sense of the verse to be: and, behold, if the plague stay ‘in its appearance.’But in the Torath Kohanim we have been taught as follows:88 “[From the expression here] I know only that the plague so appeared [i.e., in its original size] in his own [i.e., the priest’s] eyes. Whence do I know that the same law applies if it so appeared in the eyes of his pupil? Scripture therefore says [in Verse 37]. But if the scall stay ‘b’einav.’” Now if so, the meaning of the verse here would be: “and if the plague is at a stay in the sight of the aforementioned priest,” namely that it has remained as it was, neither having changed its place nor having spread in the skin, wheresoever the priest looks [then he shall shut him up for another seven days]. The usage [of the term a’yin (eye)] is often found in the words of the Sages.89 (Sages) is evidently used by Ramban here not in the strict sense of the term, as referring to the Sages of the Talmud, as I have not found this expression in Talmudic literature. It must then be a reference to the later scholars in whose writings this expression abounds. Thus: “So it appears in my eyes.” So also you find [in Scripture]: O man of G-d, I pray thee, let my life be precious ‘b’einecha’ (in thy sight],90 meaning, in your opinion and thought. Thus the verse here alludes to the principle that the priest in examining whether the plague has extended in the skin need only judge it as he sees it, but it is not necessary that [he base his decision] upon measuring the plague.