Midrash sa Job 14:4: Midrash Tanchuma, Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pesikta Rabbati & Bamidbar Rabbah

(Numb. 19:2:) “This is the statute of the Torah.” This text is related (to Job 14:4), “Who can produce something clean out of something unclean; is it not One?”³²English translations usually translate these last four words as NO ONE. [Who], for example, [produced] Abraham out of Terah, Hezekiah out of Ahaz, Josiah out of Amon, Mordecai out of Shimei, Israel out of the nations of the world, the world to come out of this world?³³Numb. R. 19:1; PRK, 4:1. [So] who did so? Who commanded so? And who decreed so? Is it not One? Is it not the Singular Being of the World? We have learned elsewhere (in Neg. 8:2),³⁴Cf. ibid. 8:3, 6-9. “If one has a bright spot the size of a bean, he is unclean”³⁵The traditional Mishnah text here does not specifically declare such a one unclean, although the uncleanness may be inferred, especially when the passage is read in connection with Lev. 13:2-3.; [yet] if it has burst out all over him, he is clean. Who did so? Who decreed so? Who commanded so? Is it not One? Is it not the Singular Being of the World? We have learned elsewhere (in Hul. 4:3), “In the case of the woman whose fetus died within her belly, if [a midwife] inserted her hand [into the womb] and touched it, the midwife is unclean for seven days, but the woman remains clean until the fetus comes forth. And so it is that while the dead person is in the house, the house is clean; when he comes forth from it, he makes it unclean.” Who did this? Is it not One? Is it not the Singular Being of the World? We have learned elsewhere (in Parah 4:4; Hul. 29b), “All who are occupied with the [rite of the red] cow from beginning to end render [their] clothes unclean, while the [cow] herself makes [what is unclean] clean.” Thus the Holy One, blessed be He, has said, “I have enacted a statute for you; I have issued a decree! So you are not authorized to transgress against my decree.”

Another interpretation (of Numb. 19:2): THIS IS THE STATUTE OF THE TORAH. This text is related (to Job 14:4): WHO CAN PRODUCE SOMETHING CLEAN OUT OF SOMETHING UNCLEAN? IS IT NOT <THE HOLY> ONE?⁴²English translations usually translate these last four words as NO ONE. <Who>, for example, <produced> Abraham out of Terah, Hezekiah out of Ahaz, Josiah out of Amon, Mordecai out of Shimei, Israel out of the nations of the world, [the world to come out of this world].⁴³Tanh., Numb. 6:3; Numb. R. 19:1; PRK, 4:1. So who did so? Who commanded so? And who decreed so? Was it not one being? Was it not the One Unequaled in the World (i.e., the Holy One)? We have learned elsewhere [(in Neg. 8:2):⁴⁴Cf. ibid. 8:3, 6-9. IF ONE HAS A BRIGHT SPOT THE SIZE OF A BEAN, he is unclean …⁴⁵The traditional Mishnah text here does not specifically declare such a one unclean, although the uncleanness may be inferred, especially when the passage is read in connection with Lev. 13:2-3.; IF IT HAS BURST OUT ALL OVER HIM, HE IS CLEAN. Who did so? Who decreed so? Who commanded so? Was it not the One Unequaled in the World? We have learned elsewhere] (in Hul. 4:3): IN THE CASE OF THE WOMAN WHOSE FETUS DIED WITHIN HER BELLY, IF {SHE} [A MIDWIFE] INSERTED HER HAND <INTO THE WOMB> AND TOUCHED IT, THE MIDWIFE IS UNCLEAN FOR SEVEN DAYS, BUT THE WOMAN REMAINS CLEAN UNTIL THE FETUS COMES FORTH. And so it is that while the dead person is in the house, the house is clean; when he comes forth from it, he makes it unclean. Who did this? Was it not the One Unequaled in the World? We have learned elsewhere (in Parah 4:4; Hul. 29b): ALL WHO ARE OCCUPIED WITH THE <RITE OF THE RED> COW FROM BEGINNING TO END RENDER <THEIR> CLOTHES UNCLEAN, while the <cow> herself makes <what is unclean> clean. Thus the Holy One has said: I have enacted a statute for you; I have issued a decree! So you are not authorized to transgress against my decree.

This is the animal that you shall eat: This is what the verse stated (Psalms 40:9), "To do Your will, my God, have I desired; and your Torah is in my innards." Happy is Israel, as He gave a commandment for each and every one [of their] limbs, as there are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a man. And therefore we say every day, "Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the World, who has created man with wisdom, and created in him many holes and many channels." The numerical equivalent of many channels (chalulim, chalulim) is two hundred and forty-eight - that is like the tally of limbs in a man. In the head, do not round the corner of your heads" (Leviticus 19:27). On the flesh, "A gash for a soul you shall not place into your flesh" (Leviticus 19:28). And also the commandment of circumcision, as it is stated (Genesis 17:11), "And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin." And further that He sealed his name, which is Sha-dai, into the Children of Israel - the shin in the noses, the dalet in the hand and the yod in the circumcision. The shin in the noses, so that they not accept nor derive benefit from that which is stolen; the dalet in the hand, so that the give and take (buying and selling) of a man be with propriety and not with theft; and the yod in the circumcision, so that a man not sin, etc."