The Hebrew term for "blemish" ( or ) seems to have originally meant a "black spot" (compare Gesenius-Buhl, "Handwörterbuch," s.v. ). It denotes anything abnormal or deviating from a given standard, whether physical, moral, or ritualistic. Biblical legislation makes certain kinds of blemishes a ground of disqualification of animals for sacrifice, and of priests for the performance of the priestly functions. It moreover prescribes qualifications for certain inanimate things that come upon the altar, the absence of which qualifications constitutes a blemish, or disqualification. Some of the blemishes are constitutional; others are transitory. All the physical blemishes in animals and priests are external bodily defects.
The later Halakah, however, considers blemishes in priests with regard also to the priestly blessing pronounced in temple and synagogue; in Levites with regard to their service in the Temple; in persons in general with regard to the vitiating effect of such blemishes on the marriage-contract; and, finally, internal ones in animals.
Blemishes in Animals.The laws of "ṭerefah" are also applicable to fowl; but the seventy-three blemishes are not. If, however, the fowl have a marked defect—as a blind eye, an atrophied wing, the loss of a leg—it is disqualified on the general principle that a sacrifice must be "perfect" (Maimonides, ib. iii.).
The disqualifications in meal-offerings, oblations, incense, and altar-wood are: Levitical uncleanness, which in this case extends even to incense and wood; spoiled condition, or change from natural state; lack of prescribed ingredients, or presence of leaven and honey; lack of required fineness in materials; wine left uncovered; produce of the first three years ( ), or of the new harvest before the first fruits are offered; produce grown in a field with mixed seed ( ), or untithed ("Yad," Issure ha-Mizbeaḥ, v., vi.).
Expert examiners were appointed to investigate blemishes, who were paid out of the Temple funds (Ket. 106a), but for the inspection of first-born animals they took a fee also from their owners ("Yad," Bekorot).
Blemishes in Priests.In the Second Temple a special chamber was set apart in the court in which the Great Sanhedrin examined all priests. Those who were declared to be unfit for the sacred office put on black garments, wrapped themselves in a black cloak, and went away in silence, to be subsequently employed for such services as selecting wood for the altar. Those found perfectly qualified put on white garments and a white cloak, and at once joined their brethren to assist in the sacred functions. They gave to their friends a feast, which they opened with this benediction: "Blessed be the Lord because no blemish has been found in the seed of Aaron the priest, and blessed be He because He has chosen Aaron and his sons to stand and to serve before the Lord in His most holy sanctuary" (Mid. ii. 5, v. 4).
The blemishes disqualifying Levites from performing their official functions were only two: transgression of the prescribed age limits and loss of voice (Ḥul. 24a).
With reference to blemishes invalidating the marriage-contract, or yielding a sufficient ground for divorce, man and woman are treated unequally. In regard to woman, all the bodily defects considered blemishes in priests apply also to her, and, besides, several other blemishes are added, such as make intercourse with her unbearable to the husband. In the case of man, however, only a few blemishes are mentioned (Ket. vii. 7-10, 75a-77; "Yad," Ishut, vii.; compare "Eben ha-'Ezer," 39).
Blemish, or "mum," in rabbinical literature assumed also a spiritual meaning. "Whosoever is proud has a blemish," says R. Ashi with reference to Bar Kappara's homily on Ps. lxviii. 17 [16]. He explains the passage, "Why leap ye, ye high hills?" as follows: "Why do you enter into a dispute with the hill God desireth to dwell on? Since you are all swollen with pride" (the word "gabnunim" being taken as identical with "gibben" ["crook-backed," Lev. xxi. 20]), "that is, since you have a blemish which unfits you to be God's mount, while Mount Sinai is humble and has therefore been chosen by God as His seat of revelation" (Meg. 29a). Abraham before his circumcision was not altogether without blemish. Circumcision fitted him for his high mission as father of the priest-people (Gen. R. xlvi.).
Hence the ethical maxim (B. M. 59b), "Mum shebak al tomar le-ḥabrak" (Do not accuse thy fellow-men of the blemish that you have). Another maxim is, "Do not cast a blemish on thyself" (Pes. 112b).
The court of justice must be free from physical as well as from moral blemish, for it is said (Song of Songs iv. 7): "Thou art fair, my love; there is no blemish ["spot," A. V.] in thee" (Yeb. 101b). A common Hebrew adage is: "Kol haposel bemumo posel" (He who finds faults in others is influenced by the blemish in himself, Ḳid. 70b).
Categories: [Jewish encyclopedia 1906]