Levítico 13

Levítico 13

Spurgeon - Leviticus 13:13 (Morning and Evening) "Behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague." - Leviticus 13:13 --- Strange enough this regulation appears, yet there was wisdom in it, for the throwing out of the disease proved that the constitution was sound. This evening it may be well for us to see the typical teaching of so singular a rule. We, too, are lepers, and may read the law of the leper as applicable to ourselves. When a man sees himself to be altogether lost and ruined, covered all over with the defilement of sin, and in no part free from pollution; when he disclaims all righteousness of his own, and pleads guilty before the Lord, then he is clean through the blood of Jesus, and the grace of God. Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed iniquity is the true leprosy; but when sin is seen and felt, it has received its deathblow, and the Lord looks with eyes of mercy upon the soul afflicted with it. Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness, or more hopeful than contrition. We must confess that we are “nothing else but sin,” for no confession short of this will be the whole truth; and if the Holy Spirit be at work with us, convincing us of sin, there will be no difficulty about making such an acknowledgment —it will spring spontaneously from our lips. What comfort does the text afford to truly awakened sinners: the very circumstance which so grievously discouraged them is here turned into a sign and symptom of a hopeful state! Stripping comes before clothing; digging out the foundation is the first thing in building—and a thorough sense of sin is one of the earliest works of grace in the heart. O thou poor leprous sinner, utterly destitute of a sound spot, take heart from the text, and come as thou art to Jesus— “For let our debts be what they may, however great or small, As soon as we have nought to pay, our Lord forgives us all. ’Tis perfect poverty alone that sets the soul at large: While we can call one mite our own, we have no full discharge.” C H Spurgeon - Leviticus 13:13a (Morning and Evening) - "Behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague." - Leviticus 13:13 -- Strange enough this regulation appears, yet there was wisdom in it, for the throwing out of the disease proved that the constitution was sound. This morning it may be well for us to see the typical teaching of so singular a rule. We, too, are lepers, and may read the law of the leper as applicable to ourselves. When a man sees himself to be altogether lost and ruined, covered all over with the defilement of sin, and no part free from pollution; when he disclaims all righteousness of his own, and pleads guilty before the Lord, then is he clean through the blood of Jesus, and the grace of God. Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed iniquity is the true leprosy, but when sin is seen and felt it has received its death blow, and the Lord looks with eyes of mercy upon the soul afflicted with it. Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness, or more hopeful than contrition. We must confess that we are "nothing else but sin," for no confession short of this will be the whole truth, and if the Holy Spirit be at work with us, convincing us of sin, there will be no difficulty about making such an acknowledgment-it will spring spontaneously from our lips. What comfort does the text afford to those under a deep sense of sin! Sin mourned and confessed, however black and foul, shall never shut a man out from the Lord Jesus. Whosoever cometh unto him, he will in no wise cast out. Though dishonest as the thief, though unchaste as the woman who was a sinner, though fierce as Saul of Tarsus, though cruel as Manasseh, though rebellious as the prodigal, the great heart of love will look upon the man who feels himself to have no soundness in him, and will pronounce him clean, when he trusts in Jesus crucified. Come to him, then, poor heavy-laden sinner, Come needy, come guilty, come loathsome and bare; You can't come too filthy-come just as you are. F B Meyer (Our Daily Homily) Leviticus 13:13 Behold if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean. At first sight this seems a very extraordinary provision. When the leprosy was beginning to show itself, and whilst the marks were hardly distinguishable, the poor patient was treated as unclean; but, when it was fully developed, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, the priest pronounced the leper clean. As long as we palliate and excuse our sins, and dream that there is much in us which is noble and lovely, we are not fit subjects for God’s saving grace. But when we take our place as helpless and undone, without one plea or one redeeming trait, we are in the position in which the free grace of God can have its blessed way with us. We must come to an end of ourselves, and fall prostrate, in the very helplessness of our despair, in the very dust at our Saviors feet; we must confess that from the crown of our head to the sole of our foot we are full of need and sin — then we are nearest Christ, and in a fit condition to be richly blest, and made the channel of blessing to others. Would you rise? then you must humble yourself before God. God’s thrones are approached, not by steps up to them, but by steps down to them. It is the publican who beats his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me the sinner,” that goes down justified to his house. It is when sin abounds, that grace much more abounds. He that humbleth himself shall be exalted. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15). Leviticus 13:14 But whenever raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean. when. Ge 2:17. raw flesh. Lev 13:10 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:14-15 - If, however, one or more open, raw sores were on the person’s body in addition to the whiteness that covered his whole body, it was a sign that the disease was tsaraath. A priest was to declare the person so affected to be unclean (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) See notes by Andrew Bonar above George Bush on Lev 13:14-17 - But when raw flesh appeareth in him, &c. That is, sound flesh, Gr. χρως ζων, living flesh. If patches of sound or natural flesh appeared intermingled with the white scurf or scales, the presumption was, that the genuine leprosy was upon him, which was to be thus distinguished from that cutaneous eruption mentioned above. Still even this sign might be fallacious, as the sound parts of the skin, or the ‘raw flesh,’ might ere long become white like the rest, and then the proof would be decisive that it was not leprosy, and the priest was to pronounce him clean (Leviticus 13 Commentary) Leviticus 13:15 "The priest shall look at the raw flesh, and he shall pronounce him unclean; the raw flesh is unclean, it is leprosy . raw flesh. Nu 22:34 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:16 "Or if the raw flesh turns again and is changed to white , then he shall come to the priest, Lev 13:16. turn again. Ro 7:14-24. Gal 1:14-16. Phil 3:6-8. 1 Ti 1:13-15 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:16-17 - On the other hand, if the raw sore should heal over and become white like the rest of the affected person’s body, it was a sign that the sore was caused by something other than tsaraath. The determination that he had tsaraath was mistaken. He was to be declared clean. Evidently this man did not have to go through the cleansing process described in chapter 14. He had never really had leprosy or been unclean, though the priest had thought he was. (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:17 and the priest shall look at him, and behold, if the infection has turned to white , then the priest shall pronounce clean him who has the infection; he is clean. Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:18 "When the body has a boil on its skin and it is healed, a boil. Ex 9:9. 15:26. 2Kings 20:7. 2 Ch 16:12. Job 2:7. Ps 38:3-7. Isaiah 38:21 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:18-20 - Evidently the scar left by a boil was a common place for tsaraath to attack. A careful watch was to be kept on a scar left by a boil or a carbuncle. A suspicious sign of tsaraath in the scar of a boil was a swelling of pinkish color. Should that condition appear, the person was to be taken to a priest. If the priest should find that the spot appeared to penetrate below the skin and the hair growing in the spot had turned white, he was to declare the person unclean. Such a condition was an indication of tsaraath. (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) Andrew Bonar (on Lev 13:18-23) (Spurgeon called his notes on Leviticus "Very precious.") THE BOIL Old ulcers were to be carefully watched, lest they became means of the infection more easily insinuating itself into the person. If the healed ulcer have any mark like a white rising or bright spot, wherein the hair is turned white, then corruption is at work below the skin. As in former cases, however, if there was no sign apparent of its spreading, there must be seven days, probation. The spreading would show that the blood was much vitiated. Israel were thus taught to watch against new sins, after old ones were healed; or, more especially, the danger of coming near infection after being once delivered from the vicious atmosphere. Pardoned men must be jealous men. “Avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass away.” It taught, also, that marks, or remnants of former sins, may remain, though the leprosy be not there. Remains of an old peevish temper, of a proud, haughty demeanor, of a hasty judgment, of a taste for some earthly things, may exist in a pardoned man. They are remnants—scars—of an old wound. But if these indicate a tendency to spread, or show that they are “deeper than the skin,” then the leprosy is there—the man, in spite of other appearances, is really an unforgiven, unsaved man. (Leviticus 13 The Leprosy - Indwelling Sin - Its Horrid Features) George Bush on Lev 13:18-23 - The flesh also in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, &c. Chal. ‘The man also in whose skin,’ &c. In this and the following verses, the writer treats of those cases of leprosy that rose from old ulcers that had once been healed. Such cicatrized sores might break out afresh and prove a real leprosy. A person with any sore or disposition to contagion, was more likely to catch the infection from contact with the diseased person, than he was whose skin was whole and sound, and his habits good. The requisite rules of discrimination in such cases, are here given. In the place of the boil. In the place where the boil formerly broke out, but seemed afterwards to be healed. The original word for ‘boil’ is שחין she’hin, the explanation of which see in the Note on Ex. 9:9. (Leviticus 13 Commentary) Leviticus 13:19 and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling or a reddish-white, bright spot, then it shall be shown to the priest Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:20 and the priest shall look, and behold, if it appears to be lower than the skin, and the hair on it has turned white , then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is the infection of leprosy , it has broken out in the boil. in sight. See on Lev 13:3. Mt 12:45. Jn 5:14. 2Pe 2:20 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:21 "But if the priest looks at it, and behold, there are no white hairs in it and it is not lower than the skin and is faded, then the priest shall isolate him for seven days; shut him. 1Co 5:5 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:21-23 -If the priest examined the swollen spot that appeared in the scar of a boil and found that it did not penetrate deeper than the skin and that the hair in it was not white, the priest was to shut him up for seven days for observation. If, at the end of seven days, the swelling had spread, it was a sign that the malady was tsaraath; and the priest was to declare him unclean. However, if spot had not spread, it was a sign that the swelling was not tsaraath but an inflammation of the scar. The man was to be pronounced clean. (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:22 and if it spreads farther on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infection. an infection. i.e. The plague of the leprosy. Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:23 "But if the bright spot remains in its place and does not spread, it is only the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. stay. Ge 38:26. 2Sa 12:13. 2Chr 19:2, 3. Job 34:31, 32. 40:4, 5. Pr 28:13. Mt 26:75. 2 Co 2:7. Gal 6:1. 1 Peter 4:2, 3 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:24 "Or if the body sustains in its skin a burn by fire, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or white, hot burning. Heb. a burning of fire. Isaiah 3:24. Heb 12:5, 11. 1Peter 4:12. This is supposed to state the case of such as had been hurt by fire; which would leave a scar, in which the leprosy might appear, and which was to be distinguished by the rules here given Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:24-28 -A second condition in which it was common for tsaraath to occur was in the scar of a burn. A sign that tsaraath might have been starting in the scar was that the scar had a shiny appearance and was pinkish or white in color. If those two conditions existed, the person was to be taken to the priest, and the priest was to look for two additional signs. If the hair in the spot has turned white and the spot appeared to be deeper than the skin, the person had tsaraath. The priest was to declare the person unclean. However, if the hair in the spot was not white and it did not penetrate deeper than the skin but instead it had gained more of its natural color, then the person’s condition was questionable. The priest was to shut the person up for seven days for observation. After seven days, the priest was to examine the person again. Then if he should find that the swelling had spread, it was a sign of tsaraath. The man was unclean. But, if the swelling had stayed the same and not spread and if its white color was less obvious, the malady was not tsaraath. Instead, the problem was an inflammation of the burn scar. The person was clean. (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) Andrew Bonar (on Lev 13:24-28) (Spurgeon called his notes on Leviticus "Very precious.") THE HOT BURNING - For ver. 24 see note on ver. 19. The meaning of the expression “hot burning” is rather obscure. Some think it was an erysipelas; others that it was a hurt caused by the falling of some hot iron on the spot. The rules to be observed in examining it are the same as above. God is still the same holy, jealous God, but also the same long-suffering God—waiting calmly till the sin be undoubted, not swift to take advantage of mere symptoms. O! how ungodlike it is “to make a man an offender for a word!” We seem, also, to be taught another lesson here, viz., that in all keen suffering there is a tendency to sin. In all diseases that made the flesh raw, there was a tendency to leprosy. A time of suffering, of whatever sort be the suffering, should be a time of vigilance on our part, lest it end in sin. Many things provoke, many things gall and irritate, many things tend to make us selfish, and so to lead us to forget God. Again: the staying of the symptoms was to be taken favorably. In this we see our God again—ready to forgive. If Ahab put on sackcloth, then the Lord turns away from immediate vengeance. If Nineveh repent, and “the bright spot is somewhat dark,” then the Lord pronounces them clean. If Ephesus lose her “first love,” there is a “bright spot;” but as yet there is no “white hair on the bright spot,” and possibly it may not be “lower than the skin;” therefore, Ephesus is shut up seven days, with the warning, “Remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Rev. 2:5.) (Leviticus 13 The Leprosy - Indwelling Sin - Its Horrid Features) George Bush on Lev 13:24-28 - Distinction of Leprosy, when occasioned by a former Burning - vv 24–28. In the skin whereof there is a hot burning. Heb. מכות אש mikvath ësh; burning of fire. The case alluded to is probably one where a burning coal, or hot iron, or something of that nature had fallen upon the flesh and caused an inflammation that might easily give rise to leprosy if a predisposition to it already existed. Horsley, however, supposes the ‘hot burning’ was an erysipelas or St. Anthony’s fire. What ever it were, the case was to be determined by the rules here given. (Leviticus 13 Commentary) Leviticus 13:25 then the priest shall look at it. And if the hair in the bright spot has turned white and it appears to be deeper than the skin, it is leprosy ; it has broken out in the burn. Therefore, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infection of leprosy . turned white. Lev 13:4, 18-20 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:26 "But if the priest looks at it, and indeed, there is no white hair in the bright spot and it is no deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall isolate him for seven days; then the priest. Lev 13:4, 5, 23 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:27 and the priest shall look at him on the seventh day. If it spreads farther in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infection of leprosy . it is the plague of leprosy. See on Lev 13:2 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:28 "But if the bright spot remains in its place and has not spread in the skin, but is dim, it is the swelling from the burn; and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is only the scar of the burn. And if. Ps 38:3-7, 11. Je 3:12-14. 8:4-6. Rev 2:5 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:29 "Now if a man or woman has an infection on the head or on the beard, upon the head or. 1 K 8:38. 12:28. 2 Ch 6:29. Ps 53:4. Isaiah 1:5. 5:20. 9:15. Mi 3:11. Mt 6:23. 13:14, 15. Jn 16:2, 3. Ac 22:3, 4. 26:9, 10. 2 Co 4:3, 4. 11:3. Col 2:18. 2Th 2:11, 12. Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:29-37 - Tsaraath might break out on the skin under the hair on a man’s or a woman’s head or under a man’s beard. Jehovah used a different word to describe the disease in this verse, which is translated above as “itch.” The use of the word “itch” does not indicate that a different disease is under question here. It means that itching of the swollen spot was another possible symptom for the illness. The word comes from a root that means “to pull down” or “to break down.” It probably means an itch that causes the person to scratch and tear the skin away. Though the affected spot might itch, itching was not a means of determining if the spot was tsaraath. The same signs mentioned above were to be looked for in determining whether or not the malady was really tsaraath. If the spot penetrated deeper than the skin and the hair in it had lightened in color, the person had tsaraath. In this case, the hair was expected to be yellowish instead of white. In other words, where the hair was thicker, all of the pigment in the hair might not have been lost, leaving it faded and yellowish but not completely white. Another sign of tsaraath was that some of the hair would fall out of the affected spot, making the hair thinner. If the signs of tsaraath were present, the person had tsaraath of the head or beard. He was unclean. If, on the other hand, the signs of tsaraath were not definitely present, the same procedure of shutting up the person for observation for a second seven-day period was to be followed. An additional provision was made that, if the case was still doubtful after the first week, the hair was to be shaved from around the spot but not on the spot, to make observation easier and the determination more accurate. If at the end of the second seven-day period the eruption had not spread and the sore had not penetrated deeper than the skin, the priest was to declare the person clean. He or she was only required to wash his clothes, and he was free to return to a normal life. However, if the eruption should spread after the person was declared clean, then the priest was to examine the person again. If indeed the eruption had spread, no further evidence was needed. The priest was to declare the person unclean. And if at the end of the second seven day period the eruption had not spread and color had returned to the hair, the eruption was to be judged healed, and the priest was to declare the person to be clean. (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) Andrew Bonar (on Lev 13:29-34) (Spurgeon called his notes on Leviticus "Very precious.") DISEASE IN THE HEAD, OR IN THE BEARD - Leprosy might begin, not only in the skin, but even under the hair of the head, or in the beard. Sin may originate in most unlooked-for ways and places, and must be watched against everywhere. The head and the beard are the proper seat of honor, or of what is seemly and lovely to look upon. When the hair became “yellow” corruption was at work, changing the bushy hair into lank tufts, and the healthy color into a yellow paleness. Herein the change of external aspect, produced by sin, is declared. But as it was possible that the hair might really be drawing its nourishment from the vitality of the body, notwithstanding this unfavorable symptom, there is to be caution shown. The inner parts may be sound; this may be only a scall on the head, and not a leprosy. Again we see the character of our God. 1. How holy is he! The first rising of evil is watched and pointed at with hatred. 2. How loving is he! He deals most tenderly with the suspected man. 3. How just is he! It must be noonday clearness ere he pronounces sentence; all doubt is gone! (Leviticus 13 The Leprosy - Indwelling Sin - Its Horrid Features) George Bush on Lev 13:29-37 - Distinction of Leprosy from Dry-scall - vv 29–37. It is a dry-scall. Heb. נתק nëthek. Gr. θραυσμα εστι, it is a broken sore. The original comes from the root נתק nâthak, to pluck, tear, or draw off, and is the name of a disease peculiar to the head or beard, so called from the hairs being drawn off from the place where it broke out, and leaving a morbid baldness in its stead. The Hebrews describe it thus: ‘The plague of the head or beard, is when the hair that is on them falleth off by the roots, and the place of the hair remaineth bare; and this is that which is called ‘nethek.’ ’ (Leviticus 13 Commentary) Leviticus 13:30 then the priest shall look at the infection, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and there is thin yellowish hair in it, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a scale, it is leprosy of the head or of the beard. scale. Lev 13:34-37. Lev 14:54. leprosy. Je 14:7-9. Ho 11:7, 8. 14:4 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:31 "But if the priest looks at the infection of the scale, and indeed, it appears to be no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person with the scaly infection for seven days. plague. Ge 34:29. seven days. Lev 13:4-6 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:32 "On the seventh day the priest shall look at the infection, and if the scale has not spread and no yellowish hair has grown in it, and the appearance of the scale is no deeper than the skin, yellow hair. Lev 13:30. Mt 23:5. Lk 18:9-12. Ro 2:23 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:33 then he shall shave himself, but he shall not shave the scale; and the priest shall isolate the person with the scale seven more days. be shaven. 1 Peter 5:6 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:34 "Then on the seventh day the priest shall look at the scale, and if the scale has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; and he shall wash his clothes and be clean. the seventh. 1 John 4:1. Jude 1:22. Rev 2:2. be not. Lev 13:23. and he shall. See on Lev 13:6 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:35 "But if the scale spreads farther in the skin after his cleansing, spread much. Lev 13:7, 27. 2 Ti 2:16, 17. 3:13. Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Andrew Bonar (on Lev 13:29-34) (Spurgeon called his notes on Leviticus "Very precious.") DISEASE IN THE HEAD, OR IN THE BEARD - The examination is never allowed to go into other hands than the priest’s, whose skill, and experience, and compassion fitted him best for the work. Oh, how sweet to know that “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the son.” (John 5:22.) He leaves us to be judged by no new standard, but just by that same standard whereby Jesus judged when on earth. Therefore, we may be assured that for every sin that the Judge will bring to light in us, there is a remedy in the blood of his own atonement. The unchecked spread of the disease proves him a leper. So does the unchecked flow of sin prove a man a child of hell! you need not to insist on “the yellow hair”—the outward indications—if the man’s heart be as before, he is unclean! “For he that is born of God sinneth not.” We have a God ready to bless! If the “hair be black,” and “the scall at a stay”—the conduct changed and the heart cleansed—then there is no waiting, no suspense of seven days; but, on the contrary immediate, acquittal. No man, who was clean, was to be kept in uncertainty of his cleanness; and no man, when cleansed from every symptom, to be detained in a probationary state. We see the very features of the Lord’s merciful haste to the sinner. Immediate pardon—full and present assurance—restoration to his love and favor on the spot—liberty that hour.(Leviticus 13 The Leprosy - Indwelling Sin - Its Horrid Features) Leviticus 13:36 then the priest shall look at him, and if the scale has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellowish hair; he is unclean. Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:37 "If in his sight the scale has remained, however, and black hair has grown in it, the scale has healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. the priest. Jn 5:22 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:38 "When a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body, even white bright spots, Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:38-39 - Tsaraath also could occur in a part of the skin that grew no hair. In that case, the only symptom for determining the presence of tsaraath was a loss of color in the affected spot. If the spot was not fully white and still somewhat pigmented, the man did not have tsaraath. Instead he had the disease the Israelites called boshap, and he was clean. Boshap is a transliteration of the Hebrew name of a different disease, with which people of that day were familiar but the whose identity is not known today. . (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) Andrew Bonar (on Lev 13:38, 39) (Spurgeon called his notes on Leviticus "Very precious.") FRECKLED SPOTS NOT LEPROSY - These spots might be only a cutaneous eruption; but they were grounds of suspicion, because leprosy often begins in this form. But spots so small, not altering the color of the hair, appearing only on the neck and face, are only the sign of what they call “Bochak,” an eruption that passed away soon. The Lord as carefully guards against imputing to a man more than is due, as against letting a man escape from what is his due. He holds the balance even. “A God of truth and without iniquity”—he goeth neither to the right hand nor left.(Leviticus 13 The Leprosy - Indwelling Sin - Its Horrid Features) George Bush on Lev 13:38 - Distinction of Leprosy from the ‘Bohak’ or Freckled Spot -v38. If a man also or a woman. The species of leprosy here defined is distinguished from others by the term בהק bohak, from the Syriac ‘bohak,’ to be white or shining. The word is used to denote a cutaneous eruption, of which Niebuhr says, ‘I myself saw a case of the Bohak leprosy in a Jew at Mocha. The spots in this disease are of unequal size. They have no shining appearance; nor are they perceptibly elevated above the skin; and they do not change the color of the hair. Their color is an obscure white, or somewhat reddish. The rest of the skin of this patient was blacker than that of the people of the country is in general; but the spots were not so white as the skin of an European, when not sun-burnt. The spots, in this species of leprosy, do not appear on the hands, nor about the navel, but on the neck and face; not, however, on that part of the head where the hair grows very thick. They gradually spread, and continue sometimes only about two months; but in some cases, indeed, as long as two years, and then disappear, by degrees, of them, selves. This disorder is neither infectious nor hereditary, nor does it occasion any inconvenience.’ (Leviticus 13 Commentary) Leviticus 13:39 then the priest shall look, and if the bright spots on the skin of their bodies are a faint white, it is eczema that has broken out on the skin; he is clean. if the bright. Eccl 7:20. Ro 7:22-25. James 3:2 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:40 "Now if a man loses the hair of his head, he is bald; he is clean. hair is fallen off his head. Heb. head is pilled. Lev 13:41. Song 5:11. Ro 6:12, 19. 8:10. Gal 4:13. bald. Lev 21:5. 2Kings 2:23. Ezra 9:3. Job 1:20. Isaiah 3:24. 15:2. 22:12. Je 7:29. 16:6. 47:5. Ezek 7:18. 27:31. 29:18. Am 8:10. Mic 1:16 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:40-44 - Tsaraath might also break out on a bald head. These verses first emphasize that baldness by itself did not make a man unclean. Why it needed to be stressed that baldness in and of itself did not make a person unclean is not fully clear. Perhaps baldness at that time was considered in some sense to be shameful or disgraceful. 2 Kings 2:23 may indicate that the Hebrews did have that attitude toward baldness. The rule that baldness did not make a person unclean applied whether the baldness was in the back side of his head or in the front side of his head. The Hebrew language has two words for baldness, one for baldness in the front of the head and the other for baldness in the back of the head. Both words are used in this passage. In the case of a bald head, the color of the hair could not be used to determine if the malady was tsaraatj. Two criteria were to be used: the color of the skin was pinkish, and the appearance was like tsaraath in regular skin. The priest was to make his judgment on the basis of his familiarity with the appearance of tsaraath in other parts of the body. If the signs of tsaraath in a bald head were present, the priest was to declare the person unclean. (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) Andrew Bonar (on Lev 13:40-44) (Spurgeon called his notes on Leviticus "Very precious.") BALDNESS - The falling off of hair from the forehead indicated some decay; yet it might not be any more than on the surface. The Great Physician knows what are not indications of deep corruption, as well as what are. Ceasing from some busy undertaking may, at one time, be no proof of any real decay of inward love; whereas, at other times, it may be the outward discovery of what was long going on within secretly. When the disciples all fled, this was “the hair of the forehead” decayed; yet still there was no “white, reddish sore.” When, however, the many, in John 6:66, went back and walked no more with Jesus, this falling off of hair that looked fair before, brought into view the leprosy that had been working its way behind this concealment. When John Mark left Paul and Barnabas, there was a call for the physician examining. Paul suspected a hidden leprosy. It turned out that there was none. When Simon Magus offered money to Peter, “his bald head and forehead” too plainly revealed “the rising of the sore, white, reddish.” (Leviticus 13 The Leprosy - Indwelling Sin - Its Horrid Features) Leviticus 13:41 "If his head becomes bald at the front and sides, he is bald on the forehead; he is clean. Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:42 "But if on the bald head or the bald forehead, there occurs a reddish-white infection, it is leprosy breaking out on his bald head or on his bald forehead. forehead. 2 Ch 26:16-20 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:43 "Then the priest shall look at him; and if the swelling of the infection is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above Leviticus 13:44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his infection is on his head. utterly unclean. Job 36:14. Mt 6:23. 2 Pet 2:1, 2. 2John 8-10. his plague. Isaiah 1:5. head. 2Co 10:5 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above