"She seeks wool, and flax"

Synopsis

We learn that the power of the plague that comes from a highest place has power over everything, both wool and linen.

Flax Garments Leprosy Likenesses Linen Plagues Torah Wool

168. Rabbi Yosi said, Why mention a woolen garment or linen garment? IT SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN PLAINLY OF A GARMENT. Rabbi Yitzchak said, THE VERSE TEACHES US THAT THE PLAGUE dwells everywhere and has power over everything, SINCE WOOL COMES FROM BINAH, AND LINEN FROM MALCHUT AND THE PLAGUE HAS POWER OVER BOTH. There is a likeness, as it is written, "She seeks wool, and flax" (Mishlei 31:13), WHICH TEACHES US THAT MALCHUT MAKES USE OF BOTH. For that reason IT TEACHES US HERE that the power of the plague that comes from a highest place has power over everything, NAMELY the two kinds, wool and linen. For that reason THE VERSE SAYS, "This is the Torah of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woolen or linen" (Vayikra 13:59).

168. א"ר יוֹסֵי, בֶּגֶד הַצֶּמֶר אוֹ הַפִּשְׁתִּים אֲמַאי. א"ר יִצְחָק, בְּכֺלָּא שַׁרְיָא, וּבְכֺלָּא שַׁלְטָא. וְאִית כְּגַוְונָא דָּא דִּכְתִּיב, דָּרְשָׁה צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים. וּבְגִּינֵי כַּךְ, שׁוּלְטָנֵיהּ דְּהַהוּא נֶגַע דְּנָפִיק מֵאֲתַר עִלָּאָה, דָּא שַׁלְטָא בְּכֺלָּא, בִּתְרֵי גַּוְונֵי, בְּצֶמֶר וּבְפִשְׁתִּים. וּבְגִין כַּךְ, זֺאת תּוֹרַת נֶגַע הַצָּרַעַת בֶּגֶד הַצֶּמֶר אוֹ הַפִּשְׁתִּים.