Whereabouts on the Mitaher does the Kohen sprinkle the blood?
Sifra #1: On the back of the hand. 1
Targum Yonasan and Sifra #2: On the Mitaher's forehead. 2
Why does the Torah write "Vehizah al ha'Mitaher min ha'Tzara'as ... ", and not simply "Vehizah alav"?
Sifra: To Darshen "ha'Mitaher min ha'Tzara'as Ta'un Sheva Haza'os, ve'Ein Tamei Meis Ta'un Sheva Haza'os', 1
Oznayim la'Torah: Because the current Taharah only purifies the Mitaher from his Tzara'as
Why does the Torah insert the Taharah both here (following the sprinkling) and in Pasuk 8 (after the shaving)?
Seforno: In the current Pasuk, the Kohen purifies him from P'ri'ah and P'rimah. 1 Regarding Pasuk 8, refer to 14:8:2:1.
Sifra: To teach us that it is only the things that relate directly to the body of the Mitaher that are crucial to the Taharah of the Mitaher, but not the sending away of the bird or washing his garments. 2
What do they do with the dead bird?
Targum Yonasan: The Kohen buries the dead bird in the presence of the 'Mitaher'. 1
Kidushin 57a & b: "Kol Tzipor Tehorah Tochelu" includes the live bird. "V'Zeh Asher Lo Sochlu" (Devarim 14:11, 14:12) includes the dead bird. We do not say oppositely, for the Torah would not command to send the live bird to be a stumbling-block 2 (one who finds it would assume that he may eat it).
Since it is Asur be'Hana'ah (Peirush Yonasan, citing Rashi).
Refer to 14:7:2.1:1*. Hadar Zekenim (53): A Chacham said that when its colleagues see that it is different (bloody), they kill it - "Nachalasi Li ha'Ayit
What if the live bird returns?
Targum Yonasan: If the live bird returns, it may be eaten. 1 If it does return however - on the same day - it is a sign that the Tzara'as is destined to return. 2
Tosefta, Perek 8: If the bird returns, he must send it away again
Why does the Kohen Shecht one bird and send away the other one?
Moshav Zekeinim (on Pasuk 4) and Ba'al ha'Turim: Sending away the one bird is a sign that the Tzara'as will 'fly away' from him. The Shechted bird is a sign that if he does Teshuvah, the Tzara'as will not return, and the one that is sent away that, if he does not, it will return. 1
Moshav Zekenim: He sends it to the field, to hint that he should engage in Torah, which is Hefker like a field.
Moshav Zekenim (4, citing R. Eliezer of Garmaiza): The birds hint to the Yetzer Tov and Yetzer ha'Ra. The Torah teaches how to rule over them. He slaughters one (the Yetzer ha'Ra) over a Kli Cheres. Man is compared to a Kli Cheres; once it is broken, it cannot be fixed. Through this he kills and lowers the Yetzer ha'Ra. He slaughters it over Mayim Chayim, i.e. Torah; if this disgusting one (Yetzer ha'Ra) encounters you, drag him to the Beis Midrash.
Kli Yakar (4, DH v'Ta'am), Me'am Lo'ez (21): There are two kinds of speech. One is forbidden, e.g. Leshon ha'Ra. This must be slaughtered (eradicated). The other is a Mitzvah - Torah and Tefilah. This must be joined to cedar, crimson thread and hyssop, i.e. humility 2 ; even in Torah, one's heart must be broken. We sprinkle on him using the live bird and the blood of the dead bird, for he must repent for his past and fix his future.
Moshav Zekeinim (On Pasuk 5): In case you say that, once the Tzara'as goes away it will never return - look at the bird that was sent away; because if you continue to speak Lashon ha'Ra, the bird will return and so will the Tzara'as! Refer to 14:7:2.1:1..
Me'am Lo'ez: Cedar is tall; there is a hint that if he was haughty, he must lower himself like hyssop (refer to 14:4:2:1,4; refer also to 13:18:151:2).
What are the implications of "Al-P'nei ha'Sadeh"?
Why does the sprinkle on the Mitaher seven times?
Moshav Zekenim: [This hints that] he should engage in the seven Chumashim, according to the opinion that Parshas"va'Yhi bi'Nso'a ha'Aron
