ציטירנדיקער פּירוש אויף תהילים 9:19

ויהי מתיו מספר, “and may his numbered ones be part of the whole nation.” The word ואל in the first half of this verse must also be understood as applying to this second half, i.e. “and may his numbers never cease.” We find a similar construction in Proverbs 30,3 ולא למדתי חכמה ודעת קדושים אדע, where the meaning is not: “and I did not learn wisdom and I will have knowledge of holy ones,” but the meaning is (as if the word לא had been repeated) “and I have not learned wisdom and (therefore) I do not have knowledge of holy ones.” Yet another example of such a construction is found Psalms 9,19 כי לא לנצח ישכח אביון תקות ענוים תאבד לעד. If one were not to read the word לא, “not,” as also applying to the second half of the verse, not only would the second half of the verse contradict the first half, but the meaning of the whole verse would be: “for not always will the destitute be forgotten, the hope of the poor will be lost for ever.” Clearly, this is not the psalmist’s meaning, but he means: “neither the destitute will be forgotten forever, nor the poor.” [The author quotes a few more such examples. Ed.]

ועל כל העדה יקצוף, “and He will display His anger at the whole community if you observe mourning.” This commandment was applicable only on that day when these pallbearers removed the bodies of Nadav and Avihu from the sacred precincts where they had been struck down by heavenly fire. We find a similar construction in Psalms 9,19: “the hope of the humble beggars will not always be disappointed.”An alternate commentary: “if you were to observe mourning now, G-d will demonstrate His anger by not accepting the sacrifices you offer Him this day.”

ושפלה איננה מן העור והיא כהה, “and it does not appear to be lower than the skin surrounding it;” why did the Torah have to write the words: והיא כהה, “and it has diminished in intensity?” The reason is because we have had that same expression used when the priest made his second examination. (verse 6) Some commentators understand this expression as referring to the word: איננה; we find a similar construction in Psalms 9,19: תקות ענוים תאבד לעד, “the hope of the afflicted will not forever be lost.” [This line must not be understood as a positive statement, instead as a plaintive question or reassurance that “of course this hope will not be lost forever. “ Ed.] The verse should therefore be understood as follows: “even though the symptom of the affected skin does not appear lower than that surrounding it, but the intensity of the discoloration has not diminished, this is sufficient reason for the priest to place the person in isolation, even if the hair in that area has not turned white; in other words, if the intensity of the discoloration did diminish, it is clear that the person afflicted will be declared ritually pure.