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Rabbi Isaac said: ‘This plague is called “reddish-white” (Lev. 13, 42); it is still a plague if the white is visible and the red has not disappeared. When, however, the whole has become white, mercy is present and judgement departs.’
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Rabbi Abba said: ‘Sometimes the Female is sullied by the sins of men and sometimes the Male, and the priest knew from which side the punishment came,
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and he also knew the sacrifices which ought to be brought, as it is written: “The sacrifices of Elohim (i.e. sacrifices to avert punishment) are a contrite spirit” (Ps. 51, 18).’
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R. Jose quoted the verse: “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come” (Ps. 65, 2). ‘This means, at the time when the body is in pain from sickness and blows, and therefore it says “all flesh” and not “all spirit”. Similarly it is written: “If there be a plague of leprosy in a man, he shall be brought unto the priest”, the “priest” referring to the Holy One, blessed be He, since on Him depends all purification and holiness.’