Due to eleven causes, plagues come

Synopsis

Rabbi Aba lists the eleven causes of plagues that he was taught about in the Mishnah. The first of these causes is idol worship, and he equates being "in disorder" with leprosy. He also talks about the second cause, that is cursing the Holy Name.

Curse Evil Eyes Holy Name Idolatry Incest Mishnah Plagues

385. While traveling, Rabbi Aba said, We have already learned that, due to eleven causes, plagues come about to people. They are due to idol worship, cursing the Holy Name, incest, theft, the evil tongue, bearing false testimony, a judge who is crooked in a trial, swearing falsely, one who encroaches on his friend's boundary rights, one who contemplates evil thoughts and ideas, and one who instigates quarrels between brothers. Some say also due to the evil eye, and we were taught all this in the Mishnah.

385. עַד דַּהֲווֹ אָזְלֵי, אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, הָא תָּנֵינָן, עַל חַד סְרֵי מִלִּין נִגְעִין אַתְיָין עַל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא. וְאִלֵּין אִינּוּן: עַל עֲ"ז. וְעַל קִלְּלַת הַשֵּׁם. וְעַל גִּלוּי עֲרָיוֹת. וְעַל גְּנֵיבָה. וְעַל לָשׁוֹן הָרָע. וְעַל עֵדוּת שָׁקֶר. וְעַל דַּיָּינָא דִּמְקַלְקֵל יַת דִּינָא. וְעַל שְׁבוּעַת שָׁוְא. וְעַל דְּעָאל בִּתְחוּמָא דְּחַבְרֵיהּ. וְעַל דִּמְחַשֵּׁב מַחֲשָׁבִין בִּישִׁין. וְעַל דִּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים. וְאִית דְּאַמְרֵי, אַף עַל עֵינָא בִּישָׁא. וְכֻלְּהוּ תָּנֵינָן בְּמַתְנִיתָא.

Aaron Curse Hair Hands Head Lepers Leprosy Moses Philistines Plagues Priests Samuel

386. Idol worship: How do we know THAT DUE TO THAT CAUSE PLAGUES COME? Because it is written: "And when Moses saw that the people were in disorder; for Aaron had made them disorderly" (Shemot 32:25). What is the meaning of, "were in disorder?" It means that they were inflicted with leprosy. It is written here, "were in disorder (Heb. paru'a)" and it is written there, "And the diseased man in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall grow long (Heb. paru'a)..." (Vayikra 13:45). JUST LIKE IT MEANS LEPROSY THERE, HERE TOO IT IS LEPROSY. About cursing the name of Hashem, HOW DO WE KNOW? It is because it is written: "This day will Hashem deliver you (Heb. yesagercha) into my hand" (I Shmuel 17:46), MEANING THE PHILISTINE WHO WAS REVILING AND CURSING THE NAME. It is written ABOUT THE LEPER: "And the priest shall shut him up (Heb. hisgiro)" (Vayikra 13:5). WE UNDERSTAND FROM THIS COMPARISON BY ANALOGY. JUST LIKE IT WAS REGARDING LEPROSY THERE, HERE TOO IT HAS TO DO WITH LEPROSY.

386. עֲ"ז מִנָּיִן. דִּכְתִּיב וַיַּרְא מֹשֶׁה אֶת הָעָם כִּי פָרוּעַ הוּא כִּי פְרָעֹה אַהֲרֹן. מַאי כִּי פָרוּעַ הוּא. דְּאַלְקוּ בְּצָרַעַת. כְּתִיב הָכִי כִּי פָרוּעַ הוּא, וּכְתִיב הָתָם, וְהַצָּרוּעַ אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ הַנֶּגַע בְּגָדָיו יִהְיוּ פְרוּמִים וְרֹאשׁוֹ יִהְיֶה פָרוּעַ. וְעַל קִלְּלַת הַשֵּׁם, דִּכְתִּיב הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְסַגֶּרְךָ יְיָ' בְּיָדִי, וּכְתִיב, וְהִסְגִּירוֹ הַכֹּהֵן.