וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד הֲכֶ֣לֶב אָנֹ֔כִי כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה בָֽא־אֵלַ֖י בַּמַּקְל֑וֹת וַיְקַלֵּ֧ל הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֛י אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בֵּאלֹהָֽיו׃
Orang Filistin itu berkata kepada Daud, “Anjingkah aku, sehingga engkau datang kepadaku dengan tongkat?” Lalu orang Filistin itu mengutuk Daud demi allahnya.
Ruth Rabbah
“They raised their voices, and wept again. Orpa kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth cleaved to her” (Ruth 1:14).
“They raised [vatisena] their voices, and wept.” [The word vatisena appears in this verse] without an alef [indicating that] their strength was weakened,118The word is missing a letter to allude to the fact that their strength became lacking. as they were walking and weeping. Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Orpa walked forty paces with her mother-in-law [before leaving], and [therefore] her descendant’s [sentence] was in abeyance for forty days, as it is stated: “The Philistine approached morning and evening [and stood for forty days]” (I Samuel 17:16).119The midrash claims that the Philistine warrior Goliath was a descendant of Orpa. He challenged the Israelites for forty days until David confronted him and killed him. Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Orpa walked four mil with her mother-in-law, and four mighty men came from her, as it is stated: “These four were born to the giant [harafa]”120An allusion to Orpa. (II Samuel 21:22). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Throughout that night that Orpa took her leave from her mother-in-law, the nakedness of one hundred gentiles was intermingled with her; that is what is written: “He spoke with them…from the ranks [mima’arkhot] of the Philistines” (I Samuel 17:23) – mime’arot is written; from one hundred foreskins [me’a orlot] of gentiles that were inserted into her throughout the night. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: One dog, too, as it is written: “The Philistine said to David: Am I a dog?” (I Samuel 17:43).
“They raised [vatisena] their voices, and wept.” [The word vatisena appears in this verse] without an alef [indicating that] their strength was weakened,118The word is missing a letter to allude to the fact that their strength became lacking. as they were walking and weeping. Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Orpa walked forty paces with her mother-in-law [before leaving], and [therefore] her descendant’s [sentence] was in abeyance for forty days, as it is stated: “The Philistine approached morning and evening [and stood for forty days]” (I Samuel 17:16).119The midrash claims that the Philistine warrior Goliath was a descendant of Orpa. He challenged the Israelites for forty days until David confronted him and killed him. Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Orpa walked four mil with her mother-in-law, and four mighty men came from her, as it is stated: “These four were born to the giant [harafa]”120An allusion to Orpa. (II Samuel 21:22). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Throughout that night that Orpa took her leave from her mother-in-law, the nakedness of one hundred gentiles was intermingled with her; that is what is written: “He spoke with them…from the ranks [mima’arkhot] of the Philistines” (I Samuel 17:23) – mime’arot is written; from one hundred foreskins [me’a orlot] of gentiles that were inserted into her throughout the night. Rabbi Tanḥuma said: One dog, too, as it is written: “The Philistine said to David: Am I a dog?” (I Samuel 17:43).
Vayikra Rabbah
For ten matters leprosy comes: For idol worship, for forbidden sexual relations, for bloodshed, for desecration of the Name, for blaspheming of the Name, for one who robs the public, for one who steals what is not his, for the haughty, for slander, and for miserliness.
For idol worship – [this is derived] from [the precedent of] Israel, who bore false witness against the Holy One blessed be He and said regarding the calf: “This is your god, Israel” (Exodus 32:4). From where is it derived that they were afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “Moses saw the people, that it was exposed [farua]” (Exodus 32:25); that there was an outbreak of leprosy in their midst.7Regarding the leper it is written: “The hair of his head shall go loose [farua]” (Leviticus 13:45).
For forbidden sexual relations, from the daughters of Israel, as it is stated: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty [and they walk with outstretched necks and painted eyes, they walk with dainty steps and strut their feet]” (Isaiah 3:16).8They would attempt to attract attention in order to engage in forbidden sexual relations. From where is it derived that they were afflicted with leprosy? It is as it is stated: “The Lord will afflict the head of the daughters of Zion with scabs” (Isaiah 3:17).
For bloodshed, from Yoav, as it is stated: “It shall rest on the head of Yoav…[may there not be eliminated from the house of Yoav those who suffer from discharge and lepers]” (II Samuel 3:29).9Yoav, King David’s general, was punished for having engaged in unnecessary bloodshed. See, e.g., I Kings 2:32.
For desecration of the Name, from Geḥazi. “Geḥazi, the lad of…the man of God, said: [I will run after him and take something [me’uma] from him]” (II Kings 5:20). What is me’uma? It is from the blemish [min muma] that is in him. From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “The leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you” (II Kings 5:27).
For blaspheming of the name, from Goliath, as it is stated: “The Philistine cursed David by his gods” (I Samuel 17:43). From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “This day, the Lord will deliver you [yasgirekha] into my hand” (I Samuel 17:46), and the word for delivery stated here is nothing other than an expression of leprosy, as it is stated: “The priest shall quarantine him [vehisgiro]” (Leviticus 13:21).
For one who robs the public, from Shevna, who would derive benefit from consecrated property. From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “Behold, the Lord will rattle you a great rattling and He will wrap you up [veotekha ato]” (Isaiah 22:17). Veotekha ato is nothing other than leprosy, as it is stated: “And he shall cover [yateh] his upper lip” (Leviticus 13:45).
For one who steals what is not his, from Uziyahu,10He sought to usurp the high priesthood. See II Chronicles 26:16; Vayikra Rabba 16:1. as it is written: “King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death” (II Chronicles 26:21). For haughtiness, as it is written: “But with his strengthening, his heart grew arrogant, until it became corrupt, and he trespassed against the Lord his God” (II Chronicles 26:16).
For slander, from Miriam, as it is written: “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses” (Numbers 12:1). From where is it derived that she was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “The cloud withdrew from upon the Tent, [and behold, Miriam was leprous like snow]” (Numbers 12:10).
For miserliness, as it is stated: “The one to whom the house belongs [asher lo habayit] shall come” (Leviticus 14:35), one who designated his house for himself [lo] and does not wish to benefit others. Like what Rabbi Elazar said: “recessed [shekaarurot]” (Leviticus 14:37), the house has sunk [shaka] with these curses. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel: “When you will come to the land of Canaan.”
For idol worship – [this is derived] from [the precedent of] Israel, who bore false witness against the Holy One blessed be He and said regarding the calf: “This is your god, Israel” (Exodus 32:4). From where is it derived that they were afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “Moses saw the people, that it was exposed [farua]” (Exodus 32:25); that there was an outbreak of leprosy in their midst.7Regarding the leper it is written: “The hair of his head shall go loose [farua]” (Leviticus 13:45).
For forbidden sexual relations, from the daughters of Israel, as it is stated: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty [and they walk with outstretched necks and painted eyes, they walk with dainty steps and strut their feet]” (Isaiah 3:16).8They would attempt to attract attention in order to engage in forbidden sexual relations. From where is it derived that they were afflicted with leprosy? It is as it is stated: “The Lord will afflict the head of the daughters of Zion with scabs” (Isaiah 3:17).
For bloodshed, from Yoav, as it is stated: “It shall rest on the head of Yoav…[may there not be eliminated from the house of Yoav those who suffer from discharge and lepers]” (II Samuel 3:29).9Yoav, King David’s general, was punished for having engaged in unnecessary bloodshed. See, e.g., I Kings 2:32.
For desecration of the Name, from Geḥazi. “Geḥazi, the lad of…the man of God, said: [I will run after him and take something [me’uma] from him]” (II Kings 5:20). What is me’uma? It is from the blemish [min muma] that is in him. From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “The leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you” (II Kings 5:27).
For blaspheming of the name, from Goliath, as it is stated: “The Philistine cursed David by his gods” (I Samuel 17:43). From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “This day, the Lord will deliver you [yasgirekha] into my hand” (I Samuel 17:46), and the word for delivery stated here is nothing other than an expression of leprosy, as it is stated: “The priest shall quarantine him [vehisgiro]” (Leviticus 13:21).
For one who robs the public, from Shevna, who would derive benefit from consecrated property. From where is it derived that he was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “Behold, the Lord will rattle you a great rattling and He will wrap you up [veotekha ato]” (Isaiah 22:17). Veotekha ato is nothing other than leprosy, as it is stated: “And he shall cover [yateh] his upper lip” (Leviticus 13:45).
For one who steals what is not his, from Uziyahu,10He sought to usurp the high priesthood. See II Chronicles 26:16; Vayikra Rabba 16:1. as it is written: “King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death” (II Chronicles 26:21). For haughtiness, as it is written: “But with his strengthening, his heart grew arrogant, until it became corrupt, and he trespassed against the Lord his God” (II Chronicles 26:16).
For slander, from Miriam, as it is written: “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses” (Numbers 12:1). From where is it derived that she was afflicted with leprosy? As it is stated: “The cloud withdrew from upon the Tent, [and behold, Miriam was leprous like snow]” (Numbers 12:10).
For miserliness, as it is stated: “The one to whom the house belongs [asher lo habayit] shall come” (Leviticus 14:35), one who designated his house for himself [lo] and does not wish to benefit others. Like what Rabbi Elazar said: “recessed [shekaarurot]” (Leviticus 14:37), the house has sunk [shaka] with these curses. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel: “When you will come to the land of Canaan.”