The Diagnosis of Leprosy.

Just two months after Fanny Crosby was born ... in 1820 ... she became ill. The family doctor was out of town, and another man treated her. Later on he was exposed as a “quack” who was only pretending to be a doctor. This quack’s treatment was hot mustard poultices app … More

Diagnosis

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 (English Standard Version)


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