Why does the Torah juxtapose the Parshah of Zavim to that of Nega'im?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because a Metzora is considered like dead 1 and Zivus occirs on a 'dead Eiver Tashmish)'.
Ba'al ha'Turim: Because Chavah was cursed with Zivus via the snake, which was smitten with Tzara'as.
Oznayim la'Torah: See Beha'aloscha, Bamidbar, 12:12.
What are the implications of "Daber el B'nei Yisrael"?
Nidah, 34a: It implies that Nochrim are not subject to Tum'as Zivus. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 1.
Why does the Torah add "Ve'amartem aleihem"?
Sifra: To incorporate Geirim and Avadim in Tum'as Zivus.
Oznayim la'Torah: The Torah inserts this here instead of "Leimor", to imprss upon Moshe and Aharon to teach Yisrael the Dinim of Zav, Zavah, Nidah and Ba'al-Keri, and not to pay attention to those who objest on the grounds that it is immodest to teach these things publicly, since it gives rise to immoral thoughts 1
See Oznayim la'Torah who elaborates.
Why does the Torah repeat the word "Ish"?
Nidah, 44a: To include a Katan who is one day old in the Din of Tum'as Zivus.
Oznayim la'Torah: To preclude a Zavah from the Din of Oneis. 1
Refer to 15:2:1:2 & 15:25:0.2:1.
Why does the Torah write "mi'Besaro" (rather than 'mimenu')?
Rashi #1: Refer to 15:2:2:1*.
Rashi #2 (in Chulin, 51b) and Seforno (citing Kerisos, 8b): To teach us that a Zav is only Tamei if the emission is caused by (a weakness in) the Amah, 1 but not by one of the seven external Onsin. 2
Nidah, 43a: Based on the 'Mem' in mi'Besaro", we learn that a Zav is only Tamei once the Zivus emerges from the body. 3
Which in turn, is generally caused by constantly indulging in and thinking about intimacy (Seforno).
Listed in Zavim, 2:2 - such as illness, food and drink, or jumping. Refer to 15:2:5.1:1 and note. See also Torah Temimah, note 4.
See Torah Temmah, note 5.
From whereabouts on the body must a man have an emission in order to be labeled a 'Zav'?
Rashi: From the same location where he is a 'Ba'al Keri - the Amah (the Eiver Tashmish). 1
From the 'Mem' in "mi'Besaro" we learn that it is only from one spot on the body (and not from wherever it emerges), and from a Zavah we learn that, just as a woman is Metamei be'Zivus (the more stringent Tum'ah which requires seven clean days and a Korban) from the same location as she is Metamei Nidus (the less stringent Tum'ah), so too is a Zav Metamei be'Zivus from the same location as he is Metamei be'Keri.
Why does the Torah add the (otherwise superfluous) word "Zovo"?
Rashi: To teach us that, not only is the Zav Tamei, but so is the Zivus that he emits. 1
See Sifsei Chachamim.
What is the difference between Zivus and Keri?
Rashi: Zivus is colorless, like the water of a barley-dough, and flows like the white of an egg that is formed without a male; whereas Keri is bound like the white of an egg that is formed from a male.
Why does the Torah mention 'Zivus' twice in this Pasuk ("Zav mi'Besaro" and "Zovo Tamei hu") and three times in the following Pasuk ("be'Zovo", "mi'Zovo" and "Zovo"), and call them both Tamei?
Rashi: To teach us that, although a man becomes a Zav after two sightings, 1 he only becomes a full-fledged Zav - who is obligated to bring a Korban, after three sightings.
Why does the Torah write "Zav" by the first sighting and "Zovo" by the second one?
Oznayim la'Torah: To teach us that his first sighting is like that of a regular Ba'al Keri and renders him Tamei under all circumstances. 1
Refer to 15:2:1:2** & 15:32:2;4.
What is "Tamei Hu" coming to preclude?
Nidah, 56a: It precludes a man who has a sighting of blood from his mouth or from his Amah from the Din of Tum'ah. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 7.
What is the reason for Tum'as Zov of a man?
Ramban (on Pasuk 11): Because it is a serious, contagious illness which comes on account of a man's sins. That is why he brings a Chatas to complete the atonement for his sins and an Olah to thank Hashem for healing him. 1
Seforno: It comes due to excessive intimacy and constantly thinking about intimacy, which explains why a Zav requires seven clean days - to remove such thoughts from his mind. 2
Why does he bring an Olah, and not a Todah? One who brings Todah usually must invite others in order to consume the animal and 36 large loaves in one day, to avoid Nosar. Perhaps this would be embarrassing for the Zav. (PF)
If he had thoughts [about intimacy in the last twenty-four hours], he does not become a Zav (Tosefta Zavim 2:6)! The Seforno must mean that previously he had excessive thoughts, and this leads to Zivus, even if he ceased having such thoughts for a day. (PF)
