Introduction
‘The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease. When the priest examines that person, he shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean. If the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine them, and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to isolate them for another seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine them again, and if the sore has faded and has not spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them clean; it is only a rash. They must wash their clothes, and they will be clean. But if the rash does spread in their skin after they have shown themselves to the priest to be pronounced clean, they must appear before the priest again. The priest is to examine that person, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease. When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest. The priest is to examine them, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, it is a chronic skin disease and the priest shall pronounce them unclean. He is not to isolate them, because they are already unclean.’ Leviticus 13:1-11
LAWS ABOUT DEFILING SKIN DISEASES
The skin disease described here is leprosy and it shows itself in six different ways, a scab, Leviticus 13:2-8, a spot on the flesh after a boil, Leviticus 13:12-23, a burn, Leviticus 13:24-28, a rash in the hair or beard, Leviticus 13:29-37, spots on the skin, Leviticus 13:38-39, and a sore on a man’s bald head, Leviticus 13:42-44.
You will notice in Leviticus 13:1-28, four different cases of suspected leprosy are described, the first is described in Leviticus 13:1-8, the second is described in Leviticus 13:9-17, the third is described in Leviticus 13:18-23, and the fourth is described in Leviticus 13:24-28.
LEPROSY
The term ‘leprosy’ which includes the words leper, lepers, leprosy, leprous occurs sixty-eight times in the Bible, fifty-five times in the Old Testament, ‘tsara’ath’ and thirteen times in the New Testament, ‘lepros’, ‘lepra’. In the Old Testament, the instances of leprosy most likely meant a variety of infectious skin diseases, and even mould and mildew on clothing and walls. In the New Testament, it seems to mean an infectious skin disease. The disease itself was considered by some as some kind of sin but not necessarily a specific sin relating to the leper themselves.
A SCAB
The LORD tells Moses and Aaron when anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, and so, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest, Leviticus 13:1.
It was the priest’s duty, acting on behalf of God, to determine if a person had leprosy or not, Leviticus 13:2-3. If the hair in the sore had turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease, Leviticus 13:4 / Exodus 4:6.
The Pulpit Commentary, says the following.
‘This is the first symptom, and the most noticeable as the commencement of the disease. The hair around the spot loses its colour and becomes thin and weak, the separate hairs being hardly stronger or individually thicker than down. The second symptom is when the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh; that is, below the upper skin, or cuticle, and in the real cutis. These two symptoms distinguish real leprosy from other affections which at first bear a similar appearance.’
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This dreadful disorder has its name leprosy, from the Greek, it means a scale, because in this disease the body was often covered with thin white scales, so as to give it the appearance of snow. Hence it is said of the hand of Moses, Exodus 4:6, that it was leprous as snow; and of Miriam, Numbers 12:10, that she became leprous, as white as snow; and of Gehazi, 2 Kings 5:27, that, being judicially struck with the disease of Naaman, he went out from Elisha’s presence a leper as white as snow, Exodus 4:6.’
When the priest examines that person, they will pronounce them ceremonially unclean, Leviticus 13:4. If the shiny spot on the skin is white but doesn’t appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it hasn’t turned white, the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days, Leviticus 13:5. On the seventh day the priest is to examine them again and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and hasn’t spread in the skin, he is to isolate them for another seven days, Leviticus 13:6.
On the seventh day the priest is to examine them again, and if the sore has faded and hasn’t spread in the skin, the priest is to pronounce them clean because it’s only a rash, Leviticus 13:6 / Leviticus 13:45-49 / Leviticus 14:1-32 / Luke 5:14. However, they need to wash their clothes, and they will be clean, Leviticus 13:6 / Leviticus 13:34 / Mark 1:40-45.
But if the rash does spread in their skin after they have shown themselves to the priest to be pronounced clean, they must appear before the priest once again, Leviticus 13:7. The priest is to examine that person, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce them unclean because it’s a defiling skin disease, Leviticus 13:8.
When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest, Leviticus 13:9. The priest is to examine them, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, it is a chronic skin disease and the priest is to pronounce them unclean, Leviticus 13:10-11. However, the priest isn’t to isolate them, because they are already unclean, Leviticus 13:11.
The Pulpit Commentary, says the following.
‘When the characteristic white spot and white hair are present (if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white), and if a third symptom be present—if there be quick raw flesh in the rising, that is, if there be an ulcer underneath the white scab, there is to be no delay, as in the previous case, but judgment is to be passed at once. The priest shall pronounce him unclean and shall not shut him up: for he is manifestly unclean.’
A SPOT ON THE FLESH AFTER A BOIL
‘If the disease breaks out all over their skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the affected person from head to foot, the priest is to examine them, and if the disease has covered their whole body, he shall pronounce them clean. Since it has all turned white, they are clean. But whenever raw flesh appears on them, they will be unclean. When the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce them unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; they have a defiling disease. If the raw flesh changes and turns white, they must go to the priest. The priest is to examine them, and if the sores have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the affected person clean; then they will be clean. When someone has a boil on their skin and it heals, and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, they must present themselves to the priest. The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce that person unclean. It is a defiling skin disease that has broken out where the boil was. But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days. If it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling disease. But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.’ Leviticus 13:12-23
If the disease breaks out all over their skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the affected person from head to foot, then the priest is to examine them, and if the disease has covered their whole body, the priests is to pronounce them clean, Leviticus 13:12-13. Because it has all turned white, they are clean, Leviticus 13:13, however, whenever raw flesh appears on them, they will be unclean, Leviticus 13:14. When the priest sees the raw flesh, he is to pronounce them unclean, Leviticus 13:15. The raw flesh is unclean and they have a defiling disease, Leviticus 13:15 / Job 2:7 / Deuteronomy 28:27 / Deuteronomy 28:35.
If the raw flesh changes and turns white, they must go to the priest, Leviticus 13:16. The priest is to examine them, and if the sores have turned white, the priest is to pronounce the affected person clean and then they will be clean, Leviticus 13:17.
When someone has a boil on their skin and it heals, and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or reddish-white spot appears, they must present themselves to the priest, Leviticus 13:18-19. The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, then the priest is to pronounce that person unclean, because it’s a defiling skin disease that has broken out where the boil was, Leviticus 13:20.
However, if when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days, Leviticus 13:21. If it is spreading in the skin, then the priest is to pronounce them unclean because it is a defiling disease, Leviticus 13:22. However, if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce them clean, Leviticus 13:23.
The Pulpit Commentary, says the following.
‘A reappearing ulcer is to be regarded as leprous, if it has the characteristic marks of leprosy; that is, if it be below the cuticle, and the hairs round it turned white. If it has not these marks, it has to be watched for seven days, and if in that time it does not spread, it is to be declared a burning boil, or rather an ulcerous scar, in which case the priest shall pronounce him clean.’
A BURN
‘When someone has a burn on their skin and a reddish-white or white spot appears in the raw flesh of the burn, the priest is to examine the spot, and if the hair in it has turned white, and it appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease. But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and if it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine that person, and if it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease. If, however, the spot is unchanged and has not spread in the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce them clean; it is only a scar from the burn.’ Leviticus 13:24-28
When someone has a burn on their skin and a reddish-white or white spot appears in the raw flesh of the burn, the priest is to examine the spot, and if the hair in it has turned white, and it appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest is to pronounce them unclean because it is a defiling skin disease, Leviticus 13:24-25.
If the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and if it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days, Leviticus 13:26. On the seventh day the priest is to examine that person, and if it is spreading in the skin, then the priest is to pronounce them unclean because it is a defiling skin disease, Leviticus 13:27. If, however, the spot is unchanged and has not spread in the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest is to pronounce them clean because it is only a scar from the burn, Leviticus 13:28.
Remember the priests weren’t doctors as we understand doctors today, but God gave them enough insight to recognise what leprosy looked like.
We can only imagine the fear that the Israelites must have felt every time a boil or burn appeared on their bodies. It must have been devastating for those who were declared unclean because they had to dress as mourners, Leviticus 10:6 / Leviticus 21:10 / Ezekiel 24:17 / Micah 3:7. They also had to live outside the camp, isolated from their friends and family, 2 Kings 7:3 / 2 Kings 15:5 / Luke 17:12, they also had to cry out, ‘unclean! unclean!’ when anyone was passing by them, Leviticus 13:45.
A RASH IN THE HAIR OR BEARD
‘If a man or woman has a sore on their head or chin, the priest is to examine the sore, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest shall pronounce them unclean; it is a defiling skin disease on the head or chin. But if, when the priest examines the sore, it does not seem to be more than skin deep and there is no black hair in it, then the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it and it does not appear to be more than skin deep, then the man or woman must shave themselves, except for the affected area, and the priest is to keep them isolated another seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it has not spread in the skin and appears to be no more than skin deep, the priest shall pronounce them clean. They must wash their clothes, and they will be clean. But if the sore does spread in the skin after they are pronounced clean, the priest is to examine them, and if he finds that the sore has spread in the skin, he does not need to look for yellow hair; they are unclean. If, however, the sore is unchanged so far as the priest can see, and if black hair has grown in it, the affected person is healed. They are clean, and the priest shall pronounce them clean.’ Leviticus 13:29-37
If a man or woman has a sore on their head or chin, then the priest is to examine the sore, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest is to pronounce them unclean because it is a defiling skin disease on the head or chin, Leviticus 13:29-30. If, when the priest examines the sore, it doesn’t seem to be more than skin deep and there is no black hair in it, then the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days, Leviticus 13:31.
On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it and it doesn’t appear to be more than skin deep, then the man or woman must shave themselves, except for the affected area, and the priest is to keep them isolated another seven days, Leviticus 13:32-33.
On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if it hasn’t spread in the skin and appears to be no more than skin deep, then the priest is to pronounce them clean, Leviticus 13:34, However, they must wash their clothes, and they will be clean, Leviticus 13:34 / Leviticus 13:6 / Mark 1:40-45.
If the sore does spread in the skin after they are pronounced clean, then the priest is to examine them, and if he finds that the sore has spread in the skin, he doesn’t need to look for yellow hair because they are unclean, Leviticus 13:35-36. If, however, the sore is unchanged so far as the priest can see, and if black hair has grown in it, the affected person is healed, Leviticus 13:37. They are clean, and the priest is to pronounce them clean, Leviticus 13:37.
A SORE ON A MAN’S BALD HEAD
‘When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; they are clean. ‘A man who has lost his hair and is bald is clean. If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean. But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is a defiling disease breaking out on his head or forehead. The priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on his head or forehead is reddish-white like a defiling skin disease, the man is diseased and is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of the sore on his head.’ Leviticus 13:38-44
The falling off of the hair, Leviticus 13:40, when the baldness commences in the back part of the head, Leviticus 13:41, is another symptom which creates a suspicion of leprosy but it was not itself a decisive sign unless taken in connection with other signs, such as a ‘sore of a reddish-white colour’, Leviticus 13:42-43.
When we read these verses, we read that not all the usual signs of leprosy meant that the person actually had leprosy. Nevertheless, the person still had to present themselves to the priests for the final verdict, in this case the priest is to pronounce him unclean, because of the sore on his head, Leviticus 13:44.
‘Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease, they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.’ Leviticus 13:45-46
Notice again that if a person was judged to have leprosy, they were to be isolated from everyone else, their clothes were to be torn, their hair wasn’t allowed to grow long and their upper lip was to be covered, Leviticus 13:45. We can imagine that it wouldn’t be difficult to recognise someone who had leprosy in those days.
Not all leprosy was infectious, but this leprosy certainly was, hence why the leper had to cry out ‘unclean! unclean’, Leviticus 13:45, whenever anyone walked near them, this must have been humiliating on so many levels.
North, in his commentary, says the following.
‘What of those who were declared unclean? Their lot was tragic indeed. They were compelled to dress as mourners, Leviticus 10:6 / Leviticus 21:10 / Ezekiel 24:17 / Micah 3:7, and to dwell apart from all human habitation, 2 Kings 7:3 / 2 Kings 15:5 / Luke 17:12, and to warn any person passing by through chance by crying ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ Like the Pariah in India, they were untouchable.’
Notice they must live alone outside the camp, Leviticus 13:46.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Not every place outside the camp was unclean; there were clean places outside the camp, Leviticus 4:12). However the unclean person was to live in an unclean area outside the camp. The idea was that he or she could not come close to God who resided in the tabernacle at the centre of the camp.’
LAWS ABOUT DEFILING MOULDS
‘As for any fabric that is spoiled with a defiling mould—any woollen or linen clothing, any woven or knitted material of linen or wool, any leather or anything made of leather—if the affected area in the fabric, the leather, the woven or knitted material, or any leather article, is greenish or reddish, it is a defiling mould and must be shown to the priest. The priest is to examine the affected area and isolate the article for seven days. On the seventh day he is to examine it, and if the mould has spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather, whatever its use, it is a persistent defiling mould; the article is unclean. He must burn the fabric, the woven or knitted material of wool or linen, or any leather article that has been spoiled; because the defiling mould is persistent, the article must be burned. ‘But if, when the priest examines it, the mould has not spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather article, he shall order that the spoiled article be washed. Then he is to isolate it for another seven days. After the article has been washed, the priest is to examine it again, and if the mould has not changed its appearance, even though it has not spread, it is unclean. Burn it, no matter which side of the fabric has been spoiled. If, when the priest examines it, the mould has faded after the article has been washed, he is to tear the spoiled part out of the fabric, the leather, or the woven or knitted material. But if it reappears in the fabric, in the woven or knitted material, or in the leather article, it is a spreading mould; whatever has the mould must be burned. Any fabric, woven or knitted material, or any leather article that has been washed and is rid of the mould, must be washed again. Then it will be clean.’ Leviticus 13:47-59
In Leviticus 13:45-46 we read if anyone had leprosy they were to go into isolation, Leviticus 13:46, they were to separate themselves from others in the community, in these verses we read about various kinds of clothing material. What we’re reading about here is the danger of infection from infected clothing. In our modern society where clothes are thrown away for any reason, we must remember that clothing was very valuable in Bible times, people weren’t as well off as we are today and they certainly didn’t have any bargain stores to go to and buy cheap clothes, they made their own.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the clothing, Leviticus 13:47.
‘The clothing, referring to the ordinary dress of the Israelites in the wilderness; namely, a linen tunic with a fringe, Numbers 15:38, and a woollen cloak or blanket thrown on in colder weather.’
Any material with a defiling mould, either woollen or linen clothing, woven or knitted material of linen or wool, leather or anything made of leather, if the affected area in the fabric, the leather, the woven or knitted material, or any leather article, is greenish or reddish, it is a defiling mould, must be shown to the priest, Leviticus 13:47-49. If any kind of mould was found in any of the listed garments, then the garment was to be removed and isolated for seven days, Leviticus 13:50.
On the seventh day the priest is to examine it, and if the mould has spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather, whatever its use, it is a persistent defiling mould and so, the article is unclean, Leviticus 13:51.
Any item of material which had become contaminated with mould, had to be burned, Leviticus 13:52 / Leviticus 13:57. If the mould spread further on the garment, then it was unclean and to be burned but if the mould didn’t spread after the seven days, it was to be washed and put aside for another seven days, Leviticus 13:53-54.
After the article has been washed, the priest is to examine it again, and if the mould hasn’t changed its appearance, even though it has not spread, it is unclean and it is to be burned, no matter which side of the fabric has been spoiled, Leviticus 13:55. If the infected areas didn’t change in colour, then only the affected areas were to be removed and burned, Leviticus 13:56.
If the moulded area had changed colour, then those areas were to be cut from the garment, but if the moulded area had spread after the second seven days, then the whole garment was to be burned, Leviticus 13:57. If the mould disappeared after the garment was washed, then the garment was washed again and pronounced clean, Leviticus 13:58.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘According to the Jews the first washing was to put away the plague, the second to cleanse it.’
These are the regulations concerning defiling moulds in wool, linen clothing, woven, knitted material, or any leather article, for pronouncing them clean or unclean, Leviticus 13:59.
