Soncino English Talmud
Nazir
Daf 48a
We have thus found the sanction for a High Priest. How is the same known of a nazirite? It has been taught: From the passage, All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall not come near to a [dead] body [nefesh], it might be concluded that even the body [nefesh] of an animal is intended, the word [nefesh] being used as in the verse, And he that smiteth [the nefesh of] a beast. Therefore Scripture says, 'he shall not come near to a dead body,' indicating that a human body [nefesh] is being referred to. R. Ishmael says: It is unnecessary [to argue in this manner]. Since it says, 'he shall not come', Scripture is referring to bodies which cause defilement merely on coming [under the same roof]. [Futher], for his father, or for his mother, he may not defile himself, but he may defile himself for a meth mizwah. But even if this [expression] did not occur, I could infer it as follows: Seeing that a High Priest whose consecration is permanent may defile himself for a meth mizwah, then surely a nazirite whose consecration is not permanent may defile himself? But this inference is not valid. For if it is true in the case of a High Priest, it may be because he is not required to offer a sacrifice as a consequence of his defilement, whereas a nazirite must offer a sacrifice as a consequence of his defilement, [and it might be objected that] since he must offer a sacrifice in consequence of his defilement, he may not defile himself for a meth mizwah. And so Scripture says, He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, [implying], 'but he may make himself unclean for a meth mizwah'. But perhaps [the correct inference is that] he may not defile himself for his father or for his mother, but he may defile himself for other corpses? This follows by an argument a fortiori. Seeing that a common priest who may defile himself for his kinsmen is forbidden to defile himself for other dead, then a nazirite who may not defile himself for kinsmen is surely forbidden to defile himself for other dead.
Sefaria
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