Midrash su Levitico 14:6

6) (Vayikra 14:6) ("The living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet wool, and the hyssop, and he shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the slaughtered bird over the living water.") And whence is it derived that if the blood has been spilled, the bird for "sending" is to be allowed to die (and two new birds brought), or that if the bird for "sending" died, the blood is to be spilled out (and two new birds brought)? From "the living bird … and he shall dip them in the blood of the slaughtered bird" (whence it is derived that the two birds are mutually indispensable). "he shall take it": We are hereby taught that he separates it by itself. "and the cedar-wood and the scarlet-wool, and the hyssop": (they, too, [bound] by themselves). "and he shall dip": What is the intent of this? (i.e., why add "them and the living bird" instead of simply stating "and he shall dip in the blood of the slaughtered bird," and I would know that it refers to all of the aforementioned?) For I might think that since it (the living bird) was not together with them for binding, it should not be together with them for dipping; it must, therefore, be written "and he shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the slaughtered bird." The (living) bird was "returned" for dipping.

7) "the slaughtered bird" (hashchutah"): slaughtered through shechitah, and not through melikah ("pinching"). (What is the intent of this [of the apparently superfluous word "shechutah"])? I might think (without "hashchutah") that it follows that since the leper's amendment within (the sanctuary [viz. Vayikra 14:22]) is through birds, and his amendment outside (the sanctuary, i.e., our instance) is through birds — Just as his amendment within is through melikah, so his amendment outside is through melikah; it must, therefore be written "hashchutah," and not hamelukah." "the (blood of) the slaughtered bird over the living water (in the vessel)": not "the earthen vessel over the living water."

(Lev. 14:3:) AND THE PRIEST SHALL LOOK. This < priest > is Jeremiah, of whom it is stated (in Jer. 1:1): ONE OF THE PRIESTS THAT WERE IN ANATHOTH…. (Lev. 14:3, cont.:) AND BEHOLD, THE PLAGUE OF LEPROSY IS HEALED IN THE LEPER, when he had exiled them to Babylon. After they had gone into exile, Nebuchadnezzar said to them that they should bow down to the image, as stated (in Dan. 3:6): AND WHOEVER DOES NOT FALL DOWN AND PAY HOMAGE < SHALL IMMEDIATELY BE THROWN INTO A BURNING FIERY FURNACE >. They said to him (in vs. 18): WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GODS < NOR PAY HOMAGE TO THE IMAGE OF GOLD WHICH YOU HAVE SET UP >. What did he do? AND (according to Numb. 19:6) THE PRIEST SHALL TAKE CEDAR WOOD, CRIMSON STUFF, AND HYSSOP,³⁰This part of the verse is similar to Lev. 14:6, and follows the order of Lev. 14:6 in listing what the priest takes. In the Masoretic Text of Numb. 19:6 the order is CEDAR WOOD, HYSSOP, AND CRIMSON STUFF. i.e., Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, AND CAST THEM INTO THE MIDST OF THE BURNING HEIFER; for < Nebuchadnezzar > did cast them into the fire, as stated (in Dan. 3:21): AND THEY WERE CAST INTO THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE. The Holy One said to them: In this world on account of sins you have been afflicted, been purified, repented, and have < again > been afflicted. In the world to come I am the one who will cleanse you from on high. It is so stated (in Ezek. 36:25): I WILL SPRINKLE PURE WATER UPON YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE PURE; I WILL PURIFY YOU FROM ALL YOUR UNCLEANNESSES AND FROM ALL YOUR IDOLS.³¹Although priestly cleansings may not be effective, in the world to come the Holy One will personally render effective purification. See Lev. R. 15:9; PR 14:15.