1 Our Father, we receive Your Words and hide Your commandments with us; 2 we incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our hearts to understanding; 3 We cry after knowledge and lift up our voices for understanding; 4 we seek it as silver; and search for it as for hidden treasures; 5 We declare that we shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Declaration of Proverbs 2:1-5
Leviticus 14:33-57 (NASB)1
33 The LORD further spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying: 34 "When you enter the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a mark of leprosy on a house in the land of your possession, 35 then the one who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, 'Something like a mark of leprosy has become visible to me in the house.' 36 "The priest shall then command that they empty the house before the priest goes in to look at the mark, so that everything in the house need not become unclean; and afterward the priest shall go in to look at the house. 37 "So he shall look at the mark, and if the mark on the walls of the house has greenish or reddish depressions and appears deeper than the surface, 38 then the priest shall come out of the house, to the doorway, and quarantine the house for seven days. 39 "The priest shall return on the seventh day and make an inspection. If the mark has indeed spread in the walls of the house, 40 then the priest shall order them to tear out the stones with the mark in them and throw them away at an unclean place outside the city. 41 "He shall have the house scraped all around inside, and they shall dump the plaster that they scrape off at an unclean place outside the city. 42 "Then they shall take other stones and replace those stones, and he shall take other plaster and replaster the house. 43 "If, however, the mark breaks out again in the house after he has torn out the stones and scraped the house, and after it has been replastered, 44 then the priest shall come in and make an inspection. If he sees that the mark has indeed spread in the house, it is a malignant mark in the house; it is unclean. 45 "He shall therefore tear down the house, its stones, and its timbers, and all the plaster of the house, and he shall take them outside the city to an unclean place.
46 "Moreover, whoever goes into the house during the time that he has quarantined it, becomes unclean until evening. 47 "Likewise, whoever lies down in the house shall wash his clothes, and whoever eats in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 "If, on the other hand, the priest comes in and makes an inspection and the mark has not indeed spread in the house after the house has been replastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean because the mark has not reappeared. 49 "To cleanse the house then, he shall take two birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop, 50 and he shall slaughter the one bird in an earthenware vessel over running water. 51 "Then he shall take the cedar wood and the hyssop and the scarlet string, with the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird as well as in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 "He shall thus cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the running water, along with the live bird and with the cedar wood and with the hyssop and with the scarlet string. 53 "However, he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean." 54 This is the law for any mark of leprosy -even for a scale, 55 and for the leprous garment or house, 56 and for a swelling, and for a scab, and for a bright spot - 57 to teach when they are unclean and when they are clean. This is the law of leprosy.
46 "Moreover, whoever goes into the house during the time that he has quarantined it, becomes unclean until evening. 47 "Likewise, whoever lies down in the house shall wash his clothes, and whoever eats in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 "If, on the other hand, the priest comes in and makes an inspection and the mark has not indeed spread in the house after the house has been replastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean because the mark has not reappeared. 49 "To cleanse the house then, he shall take two birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop, 50 and he shall slaughter the one bird in an earthenware vessel over running water. 51 "Then he shall take the cedar wood and the hyssop and the scarlet string, with the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird as well as in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 "He shall thus cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the running water, along with the live bird and with the cedar wood and with the hyssop and with the scarlet string. 53 "However, he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it will be clean." 54 This is the law for any mark of leprosy -even for a scale, 55 and for the leprous garment or house, 56 and for a swelling, and for a scab, and for a bright spot - 57 to teach when they are unclean and when they are clean. This is the law of leprosy.
This Bible ferret is so happy today to see sunshine and an opportunity for the land to dry. The river that we crossed yesterday to go into the village for the cooking gig was remarkably lower than it was two days ago. It's kind of awesome and not in a good way, to see how the river will swell over those banks and start creeping up on the backs of our parcels of land here. We get a preview, I suppose, of what it looks like in other parts of the continent, with the coastal surge in a hurricane. We were in on the Atlantic coast in Brevard County in Florida on vacation one year when there was very severe weather. There's a huge difference between the storm surge on the beaches and our river here. The river creeps, but the surf was alive and angry! The surge there was anything but creeping. It came up threatening, smashing and so alive with motion and sound as it pounded on the seawall. It was as if the sea was enraged at some insult and taking it out on the land. It was a family vacation on March break. We had fantastic sunny weather the day we arrived and the morning that we flew out to return home. The rest of the week was rain and unsettled weather! It wasn't the weather I would have ordered, but as I did some cross stitch handwork and watched the storm surge out the window of our temporary residence, I was so content that my place of employment couldn't reach me there to book extra shifts.
33 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house: 36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house... Leviticus 14:33-36.
So what are some of the things we learned about this strange sort of Biblical “leprosy” so far?
34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague in a house… Leviticus 14:34.
This indicates future and certainties like “when” you come into the land of Canaan, not “if you come into the land”. While they were in the wilderness they lived in tents but when they entered the land of promise and the hordes under the judgment of God were gone, they would utilize the dwellings and Israel would simply move in after some inspection and cleaning. Gill stated that the presence of the leprosy in the structure of the house was on account of some sin or sins committed by those original owners. And this is entirely possible, since we know that sin corrupts the man and everything he touches around him. If we were a group in real time today discussing this, there would be some of us who could attest to entering houses or places where we couldn’t identify why, but we just sensed something not right. We might say that the place “gave us the creeps” and we were very glad to make an exit.
48 And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 50 And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: 51 And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: 53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean. Leviticus 14:48-53.
So here we see again the ritual of the two birds with the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop repeated when the 'plague of the house' is pronounced 'clean'. Matthew Henry commented:
“The leprosy in a house is as unaccountable as the leprosy in a garment; but, if we see not what natural causes of it can be assigned, we may resolve it into the power of the God of nature, who here says, I put the leprosy in a house (Le 14:34), as his curse is said to enter into a house, and consume it with the timber and stones thereof, Zec 5:4. Now, 1. It is supposed that even in Canaan itself, the land of promise, their houses might be infected with a leprosy. Though it was a holy land, this would not secure them from this plague, while the inhabitants were many of them so unholy. Thus a place and a name in the visible church will not secure wicked people from God's judgments. 2. It is likewise taken for granted that the owner of the house will make the priest acquainted with it, as soon as he sees the least cause to suspect the leprosy in his house: It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house, Le 14:35. Sin, where that reigns in a house, is a plague there, as it is in a heart. And masters of families should be aware and afraid of the first appearance of gross sin in their families, and put away the iniquity, whatever it is, far from their tabernacles, Job 22:23.”
The other thing about Israel moving into the permanent dwellings was that the houses would have been witness to the idolatrous and superstitious acts of the previous inhabitants because the renovation that had to occur to remove walls and such would reveal the hiding places of idols buried there. How could Israel live in such structures that were literally cursed because of these idols. Under the thresholds and floors and places in the walls the heathen were fond of burying their fetishes and idols and even the bones or skulls of dead relatives. These peoples were steeped in the practices of human sacrifice, ancestral worship and “holy” prostitution. Therefore, it was important for Israel to consider those things which Yahweh told them through Moses, “when ye be come into the land of Canaan”.
It makes me wonder just how much of our illness and scourge of mold in houses today is a direct or indirect judgment on the sins of our society and our nations. This consideration comes under the spiritual discernment of spiritual warfare. Men prefer to ‘normalize” these things with the express aim to hide the fact that these things are judgments of the God Whose covenant has been repeatedly trodden upon by Israel and mankind in general. Perhaps this idea is at the heart of that argument between the two elders in my youth that I overheard because I was nearby getting my coat to leave the building. One person was saying that illness is a judgment from God while the other was discouraging this belief. I suppose that we could and should apply prayer to the matter if we're searching for the answers to particular incidences of illness or even disaster. Engaging in Torah ensures that we have a firm base of knowledge as to “clean” and “unclean”. It’s good to know and seriously consider when we live in a society that has all but abandoned these important notions.
53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean. Leviticus 14:53.
Adam Clarke, in his commentary adds to our understanding:
“He shall let go the living bird - This might as well be called the scape-bird; as the goat, in Leviticus 16, is called the scape-goat. The rites are similar in both cases, and probably had nearly the same meaning. We have already taken occasion to observe (see the end of the preceding chapter at Le 13:58 (note)) that the leprosy was strongly emblematical of sin... Reader, such was the leprosy, its destructive nature and consequences, and the means of removing it; such is the spiritual evil represented by it, such its consequences, and such the means by which alone it can be removed. The disease of sin, inflicted by the devil, can only be cured by the power of God.”
So, we conclude that the leprosy bears a very strong similarity to sin. This “law of leprosy” is in our face. How can we discount the dichotomy of 'unclean' and 'clean' when The LIVING God has said it in black and white clearly in our field of vision in Torah?
57 To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy. Leviticus 14:57.
The ritual that pronounces that God has intervened and healed is the 'scape'-animal. Is this an allusion to the Passover ritual of Barabbas and Yeshua/Jesus? We've passed into the first month of God's year, and on the tenth day of this first month on the Hebrew calendar. In this next two weeks we shall remember that first Passover that redeemed Israel from slavery to Egypt. At the very same time we memorialize and celebrate the redemption from mankind's slavery to sin. It is one of God's 'appointed times'. We need to take it seriously. Adam Clarke will close with two questions for our consideration today, to heed to the 'altar call' on our lives:
33 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house: 36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house... Leviticus 14:33-36.
So what are some of the things we learned about this strange sort of Biblical “leprosy” so far?
- It’s a judgment from God
- It must be dealt with by the priest, who must diagnose it and then prescribe the appropriate action, whether that be quarantine for a final diagnosis or the decision to permanently remove the person from the society
- There was no cure—it was entirely upon the mercy of The LORD that the condition could be reversed.
- The priest was needed to pronounce the cure and to integrate the person back into society
- The ritual sacrifices included for celebration of the cure, and the reintegration into society was the guilt and sin offerings.
- By virtue of the fact that there was a guilt offering required, meant that, the condition was a consequence of offenses committed against God and/or others, for example: evil speaking.
34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague in a house… Leviticus 14:34.
This indicates future and certainties like “when” you come into the land of Canaan, not “if you come into the land”. While they were in the wilderness they lived in tents but when they entered the land of promise and the hordes under the judgment of God were gone, they would utilize the dwellings and Israel would simply move in after some inspection and cleaning. Gill stated that the presence of the leprosy in the structure of the house was on account of some sin or sins committed by those original owners. And this is entirely possible, since we know that sin corrupts the man and everything he touches around him. If we were a group in real time today discussing this, there would be some of us who could attest to entering houses or places where we couldn’t identify why, but we just sensed something not right. We might say that the place “gave us the creeps” and we were very glad to make an exit.
48 And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 50 And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: 51 And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: 53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean. Leviticus 14:48-53.
So here we see again the ritual of the two birds with the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop repeated when the 'plague of the house' is pronounced 'clean'. Matthew Henry commented:
“The leprosy in a house is as unaccountable as the leprosy in a garment; but, if we see not what natural causes of it can be assigned, we may resolve it into the power of the God of nature, who here says, I put the leprosy in a house (Le 14:34), as his curse is said to enter into a house, and consume it with the timber and stones thereof, Zec 5:4. Now, 1. It is supposed that even in Canaan itself, the land of promise, their houses might be infected with a leprosy. Though it was a holy land, this would not secure them from this plague, while the inhabitants were many of them so unholy. Thus a place and a name in the visible church will not secure wicked people from God's judgments. 2. It is likewise taken for granted that the owner of the house will make the priest acquainted with it, as soon as he sees the least cause to suspect the leprosy in his house: It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house, Le 14:35. Sin, where that reigns in a house, is a plague there, as it is in a heart. And masters of families should be aware and afraid of the first appearance of gross sin in their families, and put away the iniquity, whatever it is, far from their tabernacles, Job 22:23.”
The other thing about Israel moving into the permanent dwellings was that the houses would have been witness to the idolatrous and superstitious acts of the previous inhabitants because the renovation that had to occur to remove walls and such would reveal the hiding places of idols buried there. How could Israel live in such structures that were literally cursed because of these idols. Under the thresholds and floors and places in the walls the heathen were fond of burying their fetishes and idols and even the bones or skulls of dead relatives. These peoples were steeped in the practices of human sacrifice, ancestral worship and “holy” prostitution. Therefore, it was important for Israel to consider those things which Yahweh told them through Moses, “when ye be come into the land of Canaan”.
It makes me wonder just how much of our illness and scourge of mold in houses today is a direct or indirect judgment on the sins of our society and our nations. This consideration comes under the spiritual discernment of spiritual warfare. Men prefer to ‘normalize” these things with the express aim to hide the fact that these things are judgments of the God Whose covenant has been repeatedly trodden upon by Israel and mankind in general. Perhaps this idea is at the heart of that argument between the two elders in my youth that I overheard because I was nearby getting my coat to leave the building. One person was saying that illness is a judgment from God while the other was discouraging this belief. I suppose that we could and should apply prayer to the matter if we're searching for the answers to particular incidences of illness or even disaster. Engaging in Torah ensures that we have a firm base of knowledge as to “clean” and “unclean”. It’s good to know and seriously consider when we live in a society that has all but abandoned these important notions.
53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean. Leviticus 14:53.
Adam Clarke, in his commentary adds to our understanding:
“He shall let go the living bird - This might as well be called the scape-bird; as the goat, in Leviticus 16, is called the scape-goat. The rites are similar in both cases, and probably had nearly the same meaning. We have already taken occasion to observe (see the end of the preceding chapter at Le 13:58 (note)) that the leprosy was strongly emblematical of sin... Reader, such was the leprosy, its destructive nature and consequences, and the means of removing it; such is the spiritual evil represented by it, such its consequences, and such the means by which alone it can be removed. The disease of sin, inflicted by the devil, can only be cured by the power of God.”
So, we conclude that the leprosy bears a very strong similarity to sin. This “law of leprosy” is in our face. How can we discount the dichotomy of 'unclean' and 'clean' when The LIVING God has said it in black and white clearly in our field of vision in Torah?
57 To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy. Leviticus 14:57.
The ritual that pronounces that God has intervened and healed is the 'scape'-animal. Is this an allusion to the Passover ritual of Barabbas and Yeshua/Jesus? We've passed into the first month of God's year, and on the tenth day of this first month on the Hebrew calendar. In this next two weeks we shall remember that first Passover that redeemed Israel from slavery to Egypt. At the very same time we memorialize and celebrate the redemption from mankind's slavery to sin. It is one of God's 'appointed times'. We need to take it seriously. Adam Clarke will close with two questions for our consideration today, to heed to the 'altar call' on our lives:
Art thou young, and only entering into the ways of the world and sin? Stop! bad habits are more easily conquered to-day than they will be tomorrow.
Art thou stricken in years, and rooted in transgression? How kind is thy Maker to have preserved thee alive so long! Turn from thy transgressions, humble thy soul before him, confess thine iniquity and implore forgiveness. Seek, and thou shalt find. Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world!”
1 NASB www.lockman.org for daily reading and KJV in commentary unless otherwise specified
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