Levítico 13

Levítico 13

Morgan - Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible - Lev. 13:10 The priest shall look. -- Even until to-day leprosy is so dire a disease that it completely baffles the skill of the physician. Much may be done to alleviate the distress which it causes, but there is no cure for it. In countries where sanitary laws obtain, it is almost eliminated, but that is done by removing causes, not by curing those suffering from it. In Eastern countries, and under the conditions obtaining in many of them, it is still prevalent. In these laws it is dealt with at great length comparatively, and that undoubtedly because of its dire nature. We cannot wonder that it became, and still continues to be, the very symbol of sin. It is a disease in the blood itself, which is the life; its manifestations are most terrible and loathsome; and—as we have said—it is incurable. In these two chapters we have the laws for dealing with it; and in the brief words, "The priest shall look," we have revealed the utmost that could be done for those suffering from it. The whole fact may thus be stated, that the only thing that the priest could do, was to discover whether or no the disease was actual leprosy. If it were not, then there might be a period of separation, and presently a restoration to the community. If it were leprosy, nothing could be done other than to separate the sufferer completely from others. In the light of these considerations, we remember that there came in the fulness of time One Who could not only look at, but touch the leper—One Who could cure. That is also the story of His dealing with sin. Leviticus 13:11 it is a chronic leprosy on the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; he shall not isolate him, for he is unclean. old leprosy. Mt 8:2-4. Lk 5:14 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above NET Note on chronic - The term rendered here “chronic” is a Niphal participle meaning “grown old” (HALOT 448 s.v. II ישׁן nif.2). The idea is that this is an old enduring skin disease that keeps on developing or recurring. NET Note on the skin of his body - Heb “in the skin of his flesh” as opposed to the head or the beard (Lev 13:29; cf. Lev 13:2 above). Pronounce unclean (verb) (02930)(tame) means to become unclean, make unclean and this context to pronounce unclean. Unclean (adjective) (02931)(tame) describes that which is ceremonially or ritually impure or defiled. The Lxx translates this adjective with the Greek adjective akathartos, which in the present context speaks of that which would make a man unfit from being in God's presence. Akathartos and the noun akatharsia, refer to the whole realm of uncleanness, ranging from menstruation to moral pollution through wrongdoing Vine adds that "uncleanness is a state of being. The leper was compelled to announce his uncleanness wherever he went (Lev 13:45); however, even here there is a religious overtone, in that his uncleanness was ritual. Hence, it is more appropriate to recognize that the second usage is most basic. Tame in the religio-cultic sense is a technical term denoting a state of being ceremonially unfit." NET Note on pronounce him unclean - Instead of just the normal quarantine isolation, this condition calls for the more drastic and enduring response stated in Lev 13:45–46. Raw flesh, of course, sometimes oozes blood to one degree or another, and blood flows are by nature impure (see, e.g., Lev 12 and 15; cf. J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 191). Leviticus 13:12 "If the leprosy breaks out farther on the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of him who has the infection from his head even to his feet, as far as the priest can see, cover all. 1 K 8:33. Job 40:4. 42:6. Isaiah 64:6. Jn 16:8, 9. Ro 7:14. 1 Ti 1:15. 1 J 1:8-10 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Leon Hyatt on Lev 13:12-13 - If the person brought to the priest had a condition in which his skin had turned white all over his body, he did not have tsaraath. That condition was a symptom of a different disease. It is said that a disease exists in the Middle East that causes a white scaliness of the skin all over, which soon peels off and leaves fresh, whole skin. That disease is not tsaraath. Obviously tsaraath did not affect the skin all over the whole body. (Message 16 - Leviticus 13:1-59) Andrew Bonar (on Lev 13:12-17) (Spurgeon called his notes on Leviticus "Very precious.") Some think a reference is made to this verse (ver. 12) in Isaiah 1:5, “from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it.” If there be, the reference is to the entireness of the outward, visible spread of corruption in the land, in Isaiah’s days. At first sight it seems strange, to ordain that the man should be reckoned clean, if the leprosy were out upon him, and covered him wholly. The reason, however, may be, first, naturally; secondly, moral. If natural; then it is either because the leprosy is not so infectious when it has thus come all out on the body, the hard dry scurf not being likely to spread infection, whereas the ichor of raw flesh would have this effect; or, because it really is not a proper leprosy if it so come out—it is a salt humor cast out by the strength of the man’s constitution, and is not deep-seated. It is rather a relief to the constitution; even as when measles or small-pox come out to the surface of the body, recovery is hopeful. If it was for a moral reason; then it seems meant to teach that the Lord has a deep abhorrence of a corrupt nature—deeper far than merely of corrupt actions. We are ever ready to take home the guilt of evil deeds, but to palliate the evil of a depraved heart. But the Lord reverses the case. His severest judgment is reserved for inward depravity. He hates Sodom’s lewdness and open vice; but he hates yet more Bethsaida’s heart of unbelief wherein, as on a couch, all Sodom’s vice could softly repose within its inner chamber. And yet more. Is it not when a soul is fully sensible of entire corruption, as Isa. 1:5, that salvation is nearest? A complete Saviour for a complete sinner? If there appeared any “raw flesh,” then the man is unclean. For this indicates inward disease—not on the surface only. It is working into the flesh. But if the “raw flesh” turn and be “changed into white,” then it is plain that the disease is not gone inwards; it is playing on the skin only. Let him stand, therefore, as clean. Perhaps, the case of a pardoned man may be referred to again in this type. His iniquity comes all out to view, when it is thrown into the fountain opened; and the inner source of it is checked. The seat of corruption has been removed. But if, after the appearance of pardon, the man turn aside to folly (if “raw flesh” appear), he is to be counted unclean. If, however, this turning aside to folly be checked, if this backsliding be healed, then it is like the “raw flesh” turning “into white”—it evidences that his nature is sound—it has not returned to its state of thorough depravity.(Leviticus 13 The Leprosy - Indwelling Sin - Its Horrid Features) George Bush - If a leprosy break out abroad, &c. The precept in this case appears singular. Why should the partial leper be pronounced unclean, while the person totally covered with the disease was to be pronounced clean? The true answer perhaps is, that it was owing to a different species or a different stage of the disease; the partial being infectious, the total not. The fact moreover that the disease was driven out to the surface argued a sound and healthy state of the system in general. Yet it is but proper to remark, that Patrick takes entirely a different view of the drift of this passage. He supposes that which is here called ‘leprosy’ was not truly such, but another disease having so strong a resemblance to the leprosy, as to prompt the writer to give it the same denomination. But the difference lay in the fact, that in this quasi-leprosy the skin was entirely covered by one continuous scurf, whereas in the true leprosy, the spots or scabs did not run together in the manner here intimated, but gave a sort of scaly appearance to the body. This universal eruption from head to foot, however loathsome to the eye, might still be harmless in itself, and perhaps a relief to the morbid internal condition of the body, as in the case of measles and small-pox. The man, therefore, under these circumstances was to be pronounced clean. Shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague. Heb. טחר את הנגע tâhar eth hannâga, shall clean the plague; i. e. shall pronounce clean him that hath the plague, as rightly rendered in the English translation. See above the Note on v. 3.(Leviticus 13 Commentary) Leviticus 13:13 then the priest shall look, and behold, if the leprosy has covered all his body, he shall pronounce clean him who has the infection; it has all turned white and he is clean. covered all. 2 Sa 12:13. Job 33:27, 28. 40:4. 42:6. Isaiah 6:5. Lk 5:8, 12. 15:21. 18:13. 23:41. Ro 7:18. turned white. Nu 12:10. plague. Ge 34:29. he is clean. Isaiah 64:6. Jn 9:41 Leviticus Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries See notes by Andrew Bonar above C H