1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
2 This shall be the law H8451 of the leper H6879 in the day H3117 of his cleansing: H2893 He shall be brought H935 unto the priest: H3548
3 And the priest H3548 shall go forth H3318 out H2351 of the camp; H4264 and the priest H3548 shall look, H7200 and, behold, if the plague H5061 of leprosy H6883 be healed H7495 in the leper; H6879
4 Then shall the priest H3548 command H6680 to take H3947 for him that is to be cleansed H2891 two H8147 birds H6833 alive H2416 and clean, H2889 and cedar H730 wood, H6086 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and hyssop: H231
5 And the priest H3548 shall command H6680 that one H259 of the birds H6833 be killed H7819 in an earthen H2789 vessel H3627 over running H2416 water: H4325
6 As for the living H2416 bird, H6833 he shall take H3947 it, and the cedar H730 wood, H6086 and the scarlet, H8144 H8438 and the hyssop, H231 and shall dip H2881 them and the living H2416 bird H6833 in the blood H1818 of the bird H6833 that was killed H7819 over the running H2416 water: H4325
7 And he shall sprinkle H5137 upon him that is to be cleansed H2891 from the leprosy H6883 seven H7651 times, H6471 and shall pronounce him clean, H2891 and shall let the living H2416 bird H6833 loose H7971 into the open H6440 field. H7704
8 And he that is to be cleansed H2891 shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 and shave H1548 off all his hair, H8181 and wash H7364 himself in water, H4325 that he may be clean: H2891 and after H310 that he shall come H935 into the camp, H4264 and shall tarry H3427 abroad H2351 out of his tent H168 seven H7651 days. H3117
9 But it shall be on the seventh H7637 day, H3117 that he shall shave H1548 all his hair H8181 off his head H7218 and his beard H2206 and his eyebrows, H1354 H5869 even all his hair H8181 he shall shave H1548 off: and he shall wash H3526 his clothes, H899 also he shall wash H7364 his flesh H1320 in water, H4325 and he shall be clean. H2891
10 And on the eighth H8066 day H3117 he shall take H3947 two H8147 he lambs H3532 without blemish, H8549 and one H259 ewe lamb H3535 of the first H1323 year H8141 without blemish, H8549 and three H7969 tenth deals H6241 of fine flour H5560 for a meat offering, H4503 mingled H1101 with oil, H8081 and one H259 log H3849 of oil. H8081
11 And the priest H3548 that maketh him clean H2891 shall present H5975 the man H376 that is to be made clean, H2891 and those things, before H6440 the LORD, H3068 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation: H4150
12 And the priest H3548 shall take H3947 one H259 he lamb, H3532 and offer H7126 him for a trespass offering, H817 and the log H3849 of oil, H8081 and wave H5130 them for a wave offering H8573 before H6440 the LORD: H3068
13 And he shall slay H7819 the lamb H3532 in the place H4725 where he shall kill H7819 the sin offering H2403 and the burnt offering, H5930 in the holy H6944 place: H4725 for as the sin offering H2403 is the priest's, H3548 so is the trespass offering: H817 it is most H6944 holy: H6944
14 And the priest H3548 shall take H3947 some of the blood H1818 of the trespass offering, H817 and the priest H3548 shall put H5414 it upon the tip H8571 of the right H3233 ear H241 of him that is to be cleansed, H2891 and upon the thumb H931 of his right H3233 hand, H3027 and upon the great toe H931 of his right H3233 foot: H7272
15 And the priest H3548 shall take H3947 some of the log H3849 of oil, H8081 and pour H3332 it into the palm H3709 of his own H3548 left hand: H8042
16 And the priest H3548 shall dip H2881 his right H3233 finger H676 in the oil H8081 that is in his left H8042 hand, H3709 and shall sprinkle H5137 of the oil H8081 with his finger H676 seven H7651 times H6471 before H6440 the LORD: H3068
17 And of the rest H3499 of the oil H8081 that is in his hand H3709 shall the priest H3548 put H5414 upon the tip H8571 of the right H3233 ear H241 of him that is to be cleansed, H2891 and upon the thumb H931 of his right H3233 hand, H3027 and upon the great toe H931 of his right H3233 foot, H7272 upon the blood H1818 of the trespass offering: H817
18 And the remnant H3498 of the oil H8081 that is in the priest's H3548 hand H3709 he shall pour H5414 upon the head H7218 of him that is to be cleansed: H2891 and the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for him before H6440 the LORD. H3068
19 And the priest H3548 shall offer H6213 the sin offering, H2403 and make an atonement H3722 for him that is to be cleansed H2891 from his uncleanness; H2932 and afterward H310 he shall kill H7819 the burnt offering: H5930
20 And the priest H3548 shall offer H5927 the burnt offering H5930 and the meat offering H4503 upon the altar: H4196 and the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for him, and he shall be clean. H2891
21 And if he be poor, H1800 and cannot get H3027 H5381 so much; then he shall take H3947 one H259 lamb H3532 for a trespass offering H817 to be waved, H8573 to make an atonement H3722 for him, and one H259 tenth deal H6241 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering, H4503 and a log H3849 of oil; H8081
22 And two H8147 turtledoves, H8449 or two H8147 young H1121 pigeons, H3123 such as he is able to get; H3027 H5381 and the one H259 shall be a sin offering, H2403 and the other H259 a burnt offering. H5930
23 And he shall bring H935 them on the eighth H8066 day H3117 for his cleansing H2893 unto the priest, H3548 unto the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
24 And the priest H3548 shall take H3947 the lamb H3532 of the trespass offering, H817 and the log H3849 of oil, H8081 and the priest H3548 shall wave H5130 them for a wave offering H8573 before H6440 the LORD: H3068
25 And he shall kill H7819 the lamb H3532 of the trespass offering, H817 and the priest H3548 shall take H3947 some of the blood H1818 of the trespass offering, H817 and put H5414 it upon the tip H8571 of the right H3233 ear H241 of him that is to be cleansed, H2891 and upon the thumb H931 of his right H3233 hand, H3027 and upon the great toe H931 of his right H3233 foot: H7272
26 And the priest H3548 shall pour H3332 of the oil H8081 into the palm H3709 of his own H3548 left hand: H8042
27 And the priest H3548 shall sprinkle H5137 with his right H3233 finger H676 some of the oil H8081 that is in his left H8042 hand H3709 seven H7651 times H6471 before H6440 the LORD: H3068
28 And the priest H3548 shall put H5414 of the oil H8081 that is in his hand H3709 upon the tip H8571 of the right H3233 ear H241 of him that is to be cleansed, H2891 and upon the thumb H931 of his right H3233 hand, H3027 and upon the great toe H931 of his right H3233 foot, H7272 upon the place H4725 of the blood H1818 of the trespass offering: H817
29 And the rest H3498 of the oil H8081 that is in the priest's H3548 hand H3709 he shall put H5414 upon the head H7218 of him that is to be cleansed, H2891 to make an atonement H3722 for him before H6440 the LORD. H3068
30 And he shall offer H6213 the one H259 of the turtledoves, H8449 or of the young H1121 pigeons, H3123 such as H834 he can get; H3027 H5381
31 Even such as he H3027 is able to get, H5381 the one H259 for a sin offering, H2403 and the other H259 for a burnt offering, H5930 with the meat offering: H4503 and the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for him that is to be cleansed H2891 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
32 This is the law H8451 of him in whom is the plague H5061 of leprosy, H6883 whose hand H3027 is not able to get H5381 that which pertaineth to his cleansing. H2893
33 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses H4872 and unto Aaron, H175 saying, H559
34 When ye be come H935 into the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 which I give H5414 to you for a possession, H272 and I put H5414 the plague H5061 of leprosy H6883 in a house H1004 of the land H776 of your possession; H272
35 And he that owneth the house H1004 shall come H935 and tell H5046 the priest, H3548 saying, H559 It seemeth H7200 to me there is as it were a plague H5061 in the house: H1004
36 Then the priest H3548 shall command H6680 that they empty H6437 the house, H1004 before the priest H3548 go H935 into it to see H7200 the plague, H5061 that all that is in the house H1004 be not made unclean: H2930 and afterward H310 the priest H3548 shall go H935 in to see H7200 the house: H1004
37 And he shall look H7200 on the plague, H5061 and, behold, if the plague H5061 be in the walls H7023 of the house H1004 with hollow strakes, H8258 greenish H3422 or reddish, H125 which in sight H4758 are lower H8217 than H4480 the wall; H7023
38 Then the priest H3548 shall go H3318 out of the house H1004 to the door H6607 of the house, H1004 and shut H5462 up the house H1004 seven H7651 days: H3117
39 And the priest H3548 shall come again H7725 the seventh H7637 day, H3117 and shall look: H7200 and, behold, if the plague H5061 be spread H6581 in the walls H7023 of the house; H1004
40 Then the priest H3548 shall command H6680 that they take H2502 away the stones H68 in which H2004 the plague H5061 is, and they shall cast H7993 H853 them into an unclean H2931 place H4725 without H2351 the city: H5892
41 And he shall cause the house H1004 to be scraped H7106 within H1004 round about, H5439 and they shall pour H8210 out the dust H6083 that they scrape H7096 off without H2351 the city H5892 into an unclean H2931 place: H4725
42 And they shall take H3947 other H312 stones, H68 and put H935 them in the place H8478 of those stones; H68 and he shall take H3947 other H312 morter, H6083 and shall plaister H2902 the house. H1004
43 And if the plague H5061 come again, H7725 and break H6524 out in the house, H1004 after H310 that he hath taken H2502 away the stones, H68 and after H310 he hath scraped H7096 the house, H1004 and after H310 it is plaistered; H2902
44 Then the priest H3548 shall come H935 and look, H7200 and, behold, if the plague H5061 be spread H6581 in the house, H1004 it is a fretting H3992 leprosy H6883 in the house: H1004 it is unclean. H2931
45 And he shall break down H5422 the house, H1004 the stones H68 of it, and the timber H6086 thereof, and all the morter H6083 of the house; H1004 and he shall carry them forth H3318 out H2351 of the city H5892 into an unclean H2931 place. H4725
46 Moreover he that goeth H935 into the house H1004 all the while H3117 that it is shut H5462 up shall be unclean H2930 until the even. H6153
47 And he that lieth H7901 in the house H1004 shall wash H3526 his clothes; H899 and he that eateth H398 in the house H1004 shall wash H3526 his clothes. H899
48 And if the priest H3548 shall come in, H935 H935 and look H7200 upon it, and, behold, the plague H5061 hath not spread H6581 in the house, H1004 after H310 the house H1004 was plaistered: H2902 then the priest H3548 shall pronounce the house H1004 clean, H2891 because the plague H5061 is healed. H7495
49 And he shall take H3947 to cleanse H2398 the house H1004 two H8147 birds, H6833 and cedar H730 wood, H6086 and scarlet, H8144 H8438 and hyssop: H231
50 And he shall kill H7819 the one H259 of the birds H6833 in an earthen H2789 vessel H3627 over running H2416 water: H4325
51 And he shall take H3947 the cedar H730 wood, H6086 and the hyssop, H231 and the scarlet, H8144 H8438 and the living H2416 bird, H6833 and dip H2881 them in the blood H1818 of the slain H7819 bird, H6833 and in the running H2416 water, H4325 and sprinkle H5137 the house H1004 seven H7651 times: H6471
52 And he shall cleanse H2398 the house H1004 with the blood H1818 of the bird, H6833 and with the running H2416 water, H4325 and with the living H2416 bird, H6833 and with the cedar H730 wood, H6086 and with the hyssop, H231 and with the scarlet: H8144 H8438
53 But he shall let go H7971 the living H2416 bird H6833 out H2351 of the city H5892 into the open H6440 fields, H7704 and make an atonement H3722 for the house: H1004 and it shall be clean. H2891
54 This is the law H8451 for all manner of plague H5061 of leprosy, H6883 and scall, H5424
55 And for the leprosy H6883 of a garment, H899 and of a house, H1004
56 And for a rising, H7613 and for a scab, H5597 and for a bright spot: H934
57 To teach H3384 when H3117 it is unclean, H2931 and when H3117 it is clean: H2889 this is the law H8451 of leprosy. H6883
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Leviticus 14
Commentary on Leviticus 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
Le 14:1-57. The Rites and Sacrifices in Cleansing of the Leper.
2, 3. law of the leper in the day of his cleansing—Though quite convalescent, a leper was not allowed to return to society immediately and at his own will. The malignant character of his disease rendered the greatest precautions necessary to his re-admission among the people. One of the priests most skilled in the diagnostics of disease [Grotius], being deputed to attend such outcasts, the restored leper appeared before this official, and when after examination a certificate of health was given, the ceremonies here described were forthwith observed outside the camp.
4. two birds—literally, "sparrows." The Septuagint, however, renders the expression "little birds"; and it is evident that it is to be taken in this generic sense from their being specified as "clean"—a condition which would have been altogether superfluous to mention in reference to sparrows. In all the offerings prescribed in the law, Moses ordered only common and accessible birds; and hence we may presume that he points here to such birds as sparrows or pigeons, as in the desert it might have been very difficult to procure wild birds alive.
cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop—The cedar here meant was certainly not the famous tree of Lebanon, and it is generally supposed to have been the juniper, as several varieties of that shrub are found growing abundantly in the clefts and crevices of the Sinaitic mountains. A stick of this shrub was bound to a bunch of hyssop by a scarlet ribbon, and the living bird was to be so attached to it, that when they dipped the branches in the water, the tail of the bird might also be moistened, but not the head nor the wings, that it might not be impeded in its flight when let loose.
5-9. the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed … over running water—As the blood of a single bird would not have been sufficient to immerse the body of another bird, it was mingled with spring water to increase the quantity necessary for the appointed sprinklings, which were to be repeated seven times, denoting a complete purification. (See 2Ki 5:10; Ps 51:2; Mt 8:4; Lu 5:14). The living bird being then set free, in token of the leper's release from quarantine, the priest pronounced him clean; and this official declaration was made with all solemnity, in order that the mind of the leper might be duly impressed with a sense of the divine goodness, and that others might be satisfied they might safely hold intercourse with him. Several other purifications had to be gone through during a series of seven days, and the whole process had to be repeated on the seventh, ere he was allowed to re-enter the camp. The circumstance of a priest being employed seems to imply that instruction suitable to the newly recovered leper would be given, and that the symbolical ceremonies used in the process of cleansing leprosy would be explained. How far they were then understood we cannot tell. But we can trace some instructive analogies between the leprosy and the disease of sin, and between the rites observed in the process of cleansing leprosy and the provisions of the Gospel. The chief of these analogies is that as it was only when a leper exhibited a certain change of state that orders were given by the priest for a sacrifice, so a sinner must be in the exercise of faith and penitence ere the benefits of the gospel remedy can be enjoyed by him. The slain bird and the bird let loose are supposed to typify, the one the death, and the other the resurrection of Christ; while the sprinklings on him that had been leprous typified the requirements which led a believer to cleanse himself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and to perfect his holiness in the fear of the Lord.
10-20. on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe-lamb of the first year without blemish—The purification of the leper was not completed till at the end of seven days, after the ceremonial of the birds [Le 14:4-7] and during which, though permitted to come into the camp, he had to tarry abroad out of his tent [Le 14:8], from which he came daily to appear at the door of the tabernacle with the offerings required. He was presented before the Lord by the priest that made him clean. And hence it has always been reckoned among pious people the first duty of a patient newly restored from a long and dangerous sickness to repair to the church to offer his thanksgiving, where his body and soul, in order to be an acceptable offering, must be presented by our great Priest, whose blood alone makes any clean. The offering was to consist of two lambs, the one was to be a sin offering, and an ephah of fine flour (two pints equals one-tenth), and one log (half pint) of oil (Le 2:1). One of the lambs was for a trespass offering, which was necessary from the inherent sin of his nature or from his defilement of the camp by his leprosy previous to his expulsion; and it is remarkable that the blood of the trespass offering was applied exactly in the same particular manner to the extremities of the restored leper, as that of the ram in the consecration of the priests [Le 8:23]. The parts sprinkled with this blood were then anointed with oil—a ceremony which is supposed to have borne this spiritual import: that while the blood was a token of forgiveness, the oil was an emblem of healing—as the blood of Christ justifies, the influence of the Spirit sanctifies. Of the other two lambs the one was to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering, which had also the character of a thank offering for God's mercy in his restoration. And this was considered to make atonement "for him"; that is, it removed that ceremonial pollution which had excluded him from the enjoyment of religious ordinances, just as the atonement of Christ restores all who are cleansed through faith in His sacrifice to the privileges of the children of God.
21-32. if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb—a kind and considerate provision for an extension of the privilege to lepers of the poorer class. The blood of their smaller offering was to be applied in the same process of purification and they were as publicly and completely cleansed as those who brought a costlier offering (Ac 10:34).
34-48. leprosy in a house—This law was prospective, not to come into operation till the settlement of the Israelites in Canaan. The words, "I put the leprosy," has led many to think that this plague was a judicial infliction from heaven for the sins of the owner; while others do not regard it in this light, it being common in Scripture to represent God as doing that which He only permits in His providence to be done. Assuming it to have been a natural disease, a new difficulty arises as to whether we are to consider that the house had become infected by the contagion of leprous occupiers; or that the leprosy was in the house itself. It is evident that the latter was the true state of the case, from the furniture being removed out of it on the first suspicion of disease on the walls. Some have supposed that the name of leprosy was analogically applied to it by the Hebrews, as we speak of cancer in trees when they exhibit corrosive effects similar to what the disease so named produces on the human body; while others have pronounced it a mural efflorescence or species of mildew on the wall apt to be produced in very damp situations, and which was followed by effects so injurious to health as well as to the stability of a house, particularly in warm countries, as to demand the attention of a legislator. Moses enjoined the priests to follow the same course and during the same period of time for ascertaining the true character of this disease as in human leprosy. If found leprous, the infected parts were to be removed. If afterwards there appeared a risk of the contagion spreading, the house was to be destroyed altogether and the materials removed to a distance. The stones were probably rough, unhewn stones, built up without cement in the manner now frequently used in fences and plastered over, or else laid in mortar. The oldest examples of architecture are of this character. The very same thing has to be done still with houses infected with mural salt. The stones covered with the nitrous incrustation must be removed, and if the infected wall is suffered to remain, it must be plastered all over anew.
48-57. the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed—The precautions here described show that there is great danger in warm countries from the house leprosy, which was likely to be increased by the smallness and rude architecture of the houses in the early ages of the Israelitish history. As a house could not contract any impurity in the sight of God, the "atonement" which the priest was to make for it must either have a reference to the sins of its occupants or to the ceremonial process appointed for its purification, the very same as that observed for a leprous person. This solemn declaration that it was "clean," as well as the offering made on the occasion, was admirably calculated to make known the fact, to remove apprehension from the public mind, as well as relieve the owner from the aching suspicion of dwelling in an infected house.