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Why does Onkelos translate the same Hebrew word as both "white" and "quarantined" when describing Miriam's tzaraas? The shiur develops a yesod that tzaraas requires formal kohein declaration to create halakhic status. Onkelos holds that Aharon functioned as a qualified kohein despite being a relative, transforming Miriam from merely having white skin to being halakhically quarantined.
The shiur analyzes a striking inconsistency in Onkelos's translation of the word "metzora'at" in the account of Miriam's affliction with tzaraas. When the Torah (תורה) first describes Miriam as "metzora'at," Onkelos translates this as "white like snow." However, just a few words later when the same term appears, Onkelos renders it as "quarantined." Rashi (רש"י) explains that Aharon prayed for Miriam's healing because, as her brother, he was a relative (karov) and therefore disqualified from making the halakhic determination of tzaraas. According to this view, since a relative cannot declare someone a metzora, Aharon could not fulfill the kohein's role in this case.
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Parshas Beha'aloscha - Miriam's tzaraas
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