Leviticus

Leviticus 13:1-8

Then God spoke to Moses and Aaron giving them the guidelines for these skin conditions.  The designation as 'leprous' is more of a general term or category than a reference to leprosy we know of as Hansen's disease.

The sore was to be examined by a priest.  The scriptures don't tell us where or how this is done.  If this person thought they were unclean, they wouldn't enter the tabernacle.  This may have been a meeting at the door of the tabernacle.  The rabbis provided details:

"They [the priests] may not inspect skin disease in the early morning or in the evening or within the house or on a cloudy day, for then the dull white would appear bright white; or at midday, for then the bright white would appear dull white. When should they inspect, then? At the third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, or ninth hour. So R. Meir. R. Judah says: At the fourth, fifth, eighth, or ninth hour."   [ Milgrom, J. (2004). A Continental Commentary: Leviticus: a book of ritual and ethics (p. 130). Fortress Press.]

 Otherwise, it would be a priest outside of the tabernacle, not wearing his garments. 

• Hair turning white, appears deeper than skin – Unclean.
• Hair not white, bright spot is white, doesn't appear deeper – Isolate 7 days.
  • Priest re-examines on 7th day; no change – another 7 days
  • Re-examined on 14^th day; faded, not spread – wash cloths, clean
    • Unclean if it has spread.

The decision of the priest was made to protect the holiness of the temple and ritual purity of the people.  There is no indication these skin diseases were contagious.  We can see God's grace and provision to make a way to be delivered from these impurities.  The priest declared one unclean as a result of the sore.  The 'uncleanness' may be the result of life in a fallen world.  However, it was still the 'unclean' person's responsibility to get it examined and determine path to becoming clean again.

Leviticus 13:9-11

In this case:

• The swelling is white, the hair is white with a raw spot.
• It is old, a more chronic condition.
• He is unclean, but does not require idolation.

Leviticus 13:12-17

If all the skin on the body is affected by the skin condition, from head to toe, the man is pronounced clean, as long as the skin is white and there is no raw or open sore.  If an open sore develops, he would return to the priest and would be pronounced unclean until the sore healed up. 

Leviticus 13:18-23

If a boil heals and then develops into a skin condition, that person should go to the priest.  If it is deeper than the skin, and the hair turned white, he is unclean; if either of these is not present, then the patient is isolated for 7 days.  If it spreads at all, he is unclean.  If it didn't change or spread, it is considered part of the healing process of the boil. 

Leviticus 13:24-28

If the bright spot of a burn turns white and has hair that is white and is deeper than the skin, the person is unclean.  If there is no white hair and it doesn't spread it is just the burn healing. 

Leviticus 13:29-37

This section talks about sores on the head of face.  This is speaking of Favus, a type of ringworm that affects the scalp.  If its more than skin deep and has a yellow hair, he is pronounced unclean.  If it's not deeper than the skin and there's no black hair, the patient would isolate for 7 days.  If there is no yellow hair present, the will shave himself and isolate 7 more days.  If it hasn't spread and is not deeper, than he will be clean.  He must wash his clothes.  If the scale spreads all over then the man is declared unclean.  If nothing changes on the scale and a black hair grows in in it, he is clean. 

Leviticus 13:38-39

Bright spots is one word.  It doesn't seem to fit with 'dull' white.  It seems to be a shiny white spot with dull, undefined edges.  The 'white spot' diagnosis is unknown.  It must be some benign skin disorder.

Leviticus 13:40-46

Hair loss is no cause for alarm.  Being bald wasn't a problem, other than the skin disorders were certainly more visible.  A reddish-white sore is the indication of a breakout on the bald head.  He will be examined and diagnosed unclean.  The one diagnosed a leper must take action to insure others know this.  He would appear as one in mourning:

1. His clothes would be torn.
   1. Consistent with weeping and mourning.
2. His head would be uncovered.
   1. A display of shame.  To have the head covered was reference of God.
3. He would cover his mouth.
   1. They believed even his breath could contaminate.
4. He would cry, "Unclean! Unclean!" to warn others from getting too close.
5. He would dwell alone in his dwelling outside the camp.
   1. Some think these camps were most likely in the vicinity of the graveyard, an area that was already unclean. 

Leviticus 13:47-59

A leprous plague in a garment would show up as greenish or reddish spots in the garment.  The warp and the woof speaks of the woven garment; the warp is vertical, the woof horizontal.  The priest would make a judgment about the garment, isolating it for 7 days.  If it has spread, it is active and deemed unclean.  The garment was to be burned in the fire. 

If it hadn't spread after 7 days, the garment could be washed and isolated another 7 days.  If the plague remains the same color, it is active and must be burned in the fire.  The plague is characterized as 'eating away' at the garment.    

If the plague fades after washing, it was to be torn from the garment.  It is then to be washed.  If it gone from the garment, then it must be washed again and it will be clean. 

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