The Diagnosis of Leprosy.

Topic: Diagnosis
Passage: Leviticus 13:47–59

June 22, 2022

Commentary

Leprosy is a big item in this chapter. Concerning this plague we may observe that it is considered more of an uncleanness than of a disease and therefore was not so much a problem for physicians as it was for the priests. It was a plague inflicted by the hand of God and did not come from natural sources as other diseases and therefore was managed according to a divine law. It seems to have been reserved as a particular scourge  for the sinners of those times and places.

If a greenish or reddish spot appeared anywhere on any of your clothing or on anything made of leather, you must let the priest examine the clothing or the leather (vv. 47-50). He would put it aside for seven days, and if the mildew had spread in that time, he would say, “This is unclean because the mildew has spread (vv. 51-52).” Then he will burn the clothing or the piece of leather. If the priest discovers that the mildew hasn’t spread, he will tell you to wash the clothing or leather and put it aside for another seven days, after which he will examine it again (vv. 53-55).

If the spot hasn’t spread, but is still greenish or reddish, the clothing or leather is unclean and must be burned. But if the spot has faded after being washed, he will tear away the spot (v. 56). Later, if the spot reappears elsewhere on the clothing or the leather, you must burn it (v. 57). Even if the spot completely disappears after being washed, it must be washed again before it is clean (v. 58). These are the rules for deciding if clothing is clean or unclean after a spot appears on it (v. 59).

Application

Leprosy was not itself a sin, but was a reproach to a persons name and cut him off from others.

Leviticus 13:47– 59 (NET)

47 “When a garment has a diseased infection in it, whether a wool or linen garment, 48 or in the warp or woof of the linen or the wool, or in leather or anything made of leather, 49 if the infection in the garment or leather or warp or woof or any article of leather is yellowish green or reddish, it is a diseased infection and it must be shown to the priest. 50 The priest is to examine and then quarantine the article with the infection for seven days. 51 He must then examine the infection on the seventh day. If the infection has spread in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in the leather—whatever the article into which the leather was made —the infection is a malignant disease. It is unclean. 52 He must burn the garment or the warp or the woof, whether wool or linen, or any article of leather which has the infection in it. Because it is a malignant disease it must be burned up in the fire. 53 But if the priest examines it and the infection has not spread in the garment or in the warp or in the woof or in any article of leather, 54 the priest is to command that they wash whatever has the infection and quarantine it for another seven days. 55 The priest must then examine it after the infection has been washed out, and if the infection has not changed its appearance even though the infection has not spread, it is unclean. You must burn it up in the fire. It is a fungus, whether on the back side or front side of the article. 56 But if the priest has examined it and the infection has faded after it has been washed, he is to tear it out of the garment or the leather or the warp or the woof. 57 Then if it still appears again in the garment or the warp or the woof, or in any article of leather, it is an outbreak. Whatever has the infection in it you must burn up in the fire. 58 But the garment or the warp or the woof or any article of leather which you wash and infection disappears from it is to be washed a second time and it will be clean.”

59 This is the law of the diseased infection in the garment of wool or linen, or the warp or woof, or any article of leather, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.