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Leviticus
Chapter Thirteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 13
In
this chapter an account is given of the various sorts of leprosy
and the rules
by which they were to be judged of
Leviticus 13:1 of
the bright spot and scab
Leviticus 13:4 of
the rising or swelling
Leviticus 13:9 of
the bile or hot ulcer
Leviticus 13:18 of
the hot burning or inflammation
Leviticus 13:24 of
the plague of the scall
Leviticus 13:29 of
bright spots or blisters
Leviticus 13:38 and
of shedding the hair
and baldness
Leviticus 13:40 of
what the leper was to do
and to be done unto
Leviticus 13:45 of
the leprosy in garments made of linen
woollen
or of skin
Leviticus 13:47.
Leviticus 13:1. And
the Lord
spoke to Moses and Aaron
saying:
YLT 1And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses
and unto
Aaron
saying
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron
.... Aaron is
addressed again
though left out in the preceding law
because the laws
concerning leprosy chiefly concerned the priests
whose business it was to
judge of it
and cleanse from it; and so Ben Gersom observes
mention is made
of Aaron here
because to him and his sons belonged the affair of leprosies
to
pronounce unclean or clean
to shut up or set free
and
as Aben Ezra says
according to his determination were all the plagues or strokes of a man
who
should be declared clean or unclean:
saying; as follows.
Leviticus 13:2.
2 “When a man has on the
skin of his body a swelling
a scab
or a bright spot
and it becomes on the
skin of his body like a leprous[a] sore
then
he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests.
YLT 2`When a man hath in the skin of his flesh a
rising
or scab
or bright spot
and it hath become in the skin of his flesh a
leprous plague
then he hath been brought in unto Aaron the priest
or unto one
of his sons the priests;
When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh
.... Rules are
here given
by which a leprosy might be judged of; which
as a disease
was
frequent in Egypt
where the Israelites had dwelt a long time
and from whence
they were just come; and is doubtless the reason
as learned men have observed
that several Heathen writers make the cause of their expulsion from Egypt
as
they choose to call it
though wrongly
their being infected with this distemper;
whereas it was the reverse
not they
but the Egyptians
were incident to itF26Est
elephas morbus-----gignitur Aegypto. Lucret. l. 6. ver. 1112. . Moreover
the
leprosy here spoken of seems not to be the same with that disease
or what we
now call so
though some have thought otherwise; it being rather an uncleanness
than a disease
and the business of a priest
and not a physician to attend
unto; and did not arise from natural causes
but was from the immediate hand of
God
and was inflicted on men for their sins
as the cases of Miriam
Gehazi
and Uzziah show; and who by complying with the rites and ceremonies hereafter
enjoined
their sins were pardoned
and they were cleansed; so that as their
case was extraordinary and supernatural
their cure and cleansing were as
remarkable: besides
this impurity being in garments and houses
shows it to be
something out of the ordinary way. And this law concerning it did not extend to
all men
only to the Israelites
and such as were in connection with them
such
as proselytes. It is saidF1Misn. Negaim
c. 3. sect. 1.
all are
defiled with the plague (of leprosy) except an idolater and a proselyte of the
gate; and the commentators sayF2Maimon. & Bartenora in ib.
even servants
and little ones though but a day old; that is
they are polluted
with it
and so come under this law. Now the place where this disorder appears
is "in the skin of the flesh"; that is
where there is a skin
and
that is seen; for there are some places
the Jewish writersF3Misn.
Negaim. c. 6. sect. 8. & Maimon. & Bartenora in ib. say
are not
reckoned the skin of the flesh
or where that is not seen
and such places are
excepted
and they are these; the inside of the eye
of the ear
and of the
nose: wrinkles in the neck
under the pap
and under the arm hole; the sole of
the foot
the nail
the head and beard: and this phrase
"in the skin of
his flesh"
is always particularly mentioned; and when there appeared in
it
a rising
scab
or bright spot; the scab that is placed
between the rising or swelling
and the bright spot
belongs to them both
and
is a kind of an accessory
or second to each of them: hence the Jews
distinguish the scab of the swelling
and the scab of the bright spot; so that
these make four in all
as they observeF4Misn. ib. c. 1. sect. 1. .
And to this agrees what Ben Gersom on this text remarks; the bright spot is
whose whiteness is as the snow; the rising or swelling is what is white
as the
pure wool of a lamb of a day old; the scab is what is inferior in whiteness to the
rising
and is as in the degree of the whiteness of the shell or film of an
egg; and this is the order of these appearances
the most white is the bright
spot
after that the rising
and after that the scab of the bright spot
and
after that the scab of the rising or swelling; and
lo
what is in whiteness
below the whiteness of this (the last) is not the plague of leprosy:
and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of
leprosy; either of the above appearances in the skin
having somewhat in
them similar to the leprosy
or which may justly raise a suspicion of it
though it is not clear and manifest:
then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest
or unto one of his
sons the priests; for
as Jarchi notes
there was no pollution nor purification of
the leprosy
but by the mouth or determination of a priest. And a good man that
was desirous
and made conscience of observing the laws of God
when he
observed anything of the above in him
and had any suspicion of his case
would
of himself go
and show himself to the priest; but if a man did not do this
and any of his neighbours observed the appearances on him
brought him to the
priest whether he would or not
according to the text:
he shall be brought: that is
as Aben Ezra
explains it
whether with or without his will; for he that sees in him one of
the signs
shall oblige him to come to the priest; and who observes
that by
Aaron the priest is meant
the priest anointed in his room; and by his sons the
priests
the common priests
who are found without the sanctuary; such as the
priests of Anathoth
but who were not of those that were rejected.
Leviticus 13:3.
3 The priest shall examine
the sore on the skin of the body; and if the hair on the sore has turned white
and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin of his body
it is
a leprous sore. Then the priest shall examine him
and pronounce him unclean.
YLT 3and the priest hath seen the plague in the
skin of the flesh
and the hair in the plague hath turned white
and the
appearance of the plague [is] deeper than the skin of his flesh -- it [is] a
plague of leprosy
and the priest hath seen him
and hath pronounced him
unclean.
And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh
.... Whether
it be a swelling
scab
or a bright spot that appears
and judge of it by the
following rules
and none but a priest might do this:
and when the hair in the plague is turned white; it arising in
a place where hair grows
and which hair is not naturally white
but of another
colour
but changed through the force of the plague; and there were to be two
hairs at least
which were at first black
but turned white; so Jarchi and Ben
Gersom: and these hairs
according to the MisnahF5Negaim
c. 4.
sect. 4.
must be white at bottom; if the root (or bottom) is black
and the
head (or top) white
he is clean; if the root white
and the head black
he is
defiled; for hairs turning white is a sign of a disorder
of weakness
of a
decay of nature
as may be observed in ancient persons:
and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his
flesh; appears plainly to view to be more than skin deep
to have
corroded and eat into the flesh below the skin:
it is a plague of leprosy; when these two signs
were observed
hair turned white
and the plague was more than skin deep
then
it was a plain case that it was the leprosy of which See Gill on Matthew 8:2
Matthew 8:3
Luke 5:12. This was
an emblem of sin
and the corruption of nature
which is an uncleanness
and
with which every man is defiled
and which renders him infectious
nauseous
and abominable; and of which he is only to be cured and cleansed by Christ
the
great High Priest
through his blood
which cleanses from all sin. The above
signs and marks of leprosy may be observed in this; the white hair denoting a
decay of strength
see Hosea 7:9 may be
seen in sinners
as in the leper
who are without moral and spiritual strength
to keep the law of God
to do anything that is spiritually good
to regenerate
renew
convert
and sanctify themselves
or to bring themselves out of the
state of pollution
bondage
and misery
in which they are; and
like the
leprosy
sin lies deep in man; it is in his flesh
in which dwells no good
thing
and in which there is no soundness; it does not lie merely in outward
actions
but it is in the heart
which is desperately wicked; for the inward
part of man is very wicked:
and the priest shall look on him
and pronounce him unclean; and so should
be obliged to rend his clothes
make bare his head
put a covering on his upper
lip
and cry
unclean
unclean; dwell alone without the camp
and at a proper
time bring the offering for his cleansing
and submit to the several rites and
ceremonies prescribed
Leviticus 13:45.
Leviticus 13:4.
4 But if the bright spot is
white on the skin of his body
and does not appear to be deeper than the
skin
and its hair has not turned white
then the priest shall isolate the
one who has the sore seven days.
YLT 4`And if the bright spot is white in the skin
of his flesh
and its appearance is not deeper than the skin
and its hair hath
not turned white
then hath the priest shut up [him who hath] the plague seven
days.
If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh
.... The
Targum of Jonathan is
white as chalk in the skin of his flesh; but other
Jewish writers make the whiteness of the bright spot to be the greatest of all
like that of snow; See Gill on Leviticus 13:2
and in sight be not deeper than the skin
and the hair
thereof be not turned white; though it be a bright spot
and be very white
yet these two marks not appearing
it cannot be judged a leprosy
at most it is
only suspicious: wherefore
then the priest
shall shut up him that hath the plague
seven days; in whom the bright spot is
and of whom there is a suspicion of
the plague of leprosy
but it is not certain; and therefore
in order to take
time
and get further knowledge
the person was to be shut up from all company
and conversation for the space of seven days; by which time it might be
supposed
as Ben Gersom observes
that the case and state of the leprosy (if it
was one) would be altered; and Aben Ezra remarks
that most diseases change or
alter on the seventh day.
Leviticus 13:5.
5 And the priest shall
examine him on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore appears to be as
it was
and the sore has not spread on the skin
then the priest shall
isolate him another seven days.
YLT 5`And the priest hath seen him on the seventh
day
and lo
the plague hath stood in his eyes
the plague hath not spread in
the skin
and the priest hath shut him up a second seven days.
And the priest shall look on him the seventh day
.... In the
day
and not in the night
as Maimonides
but not on the seventh day
if it
happened to be on the sabbathF6Misn. Negaim
c. 1. sect. 4.
then
it was put off till after it; and
according to the Jewish canonsF7Misn.
ib. c. 2. sect. 2.
they do not look upon plagues in the morning
nor in the
evening
nor in the middle of a house
nor on a cloudy day
nor at noon
but at
the fourth
fifth
eighth
and ninth hours:
and
behold
if the plague in his sight be at a stay; it appears to
the priest
according to the strictest view he can take of it
that it is in
the same state and condition it was
neither better nor worse:
and the plague spread not in
the skin: is not greater or larger than it was
though not less:
then the priest shall shut him up seven days more; such abundant
care was taken
lest after all it should prove a leprosy.
Leviticus 13:6.
6 Then the priest shall
examine him again on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore has faded
and
the sore has not spread on the skin
then the priest shall pronounce him clean;
it is only a scab
and he shall wash his clothes and be clean.
YLT 6`And the priest hath seen him on the second
seventh day
and lo
the plague is become weak
and the plague hath not spread
in the skin -- and the priest hath pronounced him clean
it [is] a scab
and he
hath washed his garments
and hath been clean.
And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day
.... On the
second seventh day
at the end of a fortnight from his being first presented to
him
and shut up:
and
behold
if the plague be somewhat dark; the spot be
not so bright
or so white as it was at first; though Aben Ezra observes
that
indeed many wise men say
that כהה is as חשך
signifying dark
and the testimony or proof they bring
is Genesis 27:1 but
according to my opinion
adds he
the word is the reverse of פשה
to spread; and the sense is
if the plague does not
spread itself in another place; and so some translators render it
"contracted"
or "contracts itself"F8כהה "contracta est"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator; "contraxerit sese"
some in Vatablus. : and this seems best
to agree with what follows:
and the plague spread not in the skin; but is as it
was when first viewed
after waiting fourteen days
and making observations on
it:
the priest shall pronounce him clean; that is
from
leprosy
otherwise there was an impure disorder on him
a scabious one:
it is but a scab; which is the name
Jarchi says
of a clean plague or stroke
that is
in comparison of the
leprosy
otherwise such cannot be said with any propriety to be clean. Ben
Gersom better explains it
it is a white scab
but not of the kind of leprosy
although it is found as the whiteness of the bright spot; but there are not
seen in it the signs of leprosy
the hair is not turned white
nor has the
plague increased:
and he shall wash his clothes
and be clean; for seeing he
was obliged to be shut up
as Jarchi observes
he is called unclean
and stood
in need of dipping
that is
his body and his clothes into water; so the people
of God
though they are justified by the righteousness of Christ
and are pronounced
clean through it
yet since they have their spots and scabs
they have need to
have their conversation garments continually washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Leviticus 13:7.
7 But if the scab should at
all spread over the skin
after he has been seen by the priest for his
cleansing
he shall be seen by the priest again.
YLT 7`And if the scab spread greatly in the skin
after his being seen by the priest for his cleansing
then he hath been seen a
second time by the priest;
But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin
.... Or
"in spreading spread"F11פשה תפשה "diffundendo diffuderit se"
Montanus
Drusius
Piscator. ; spreads
and proceeds to spread more and more:
after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing: even after he
had been viewed upon the first presentation of him to him
and after he had
been twice seen by him by the end of two weeks
in which he was shut up
and
after he had been pronounced clean
and had washed his clothes for his
purification:
he shall be seen of the priest again; either he
shall go to him of himself
or be brought to him
to be reviewed and pass under
afresh examination.
Leviticus 13:8.
8 And if the priest
sees that the scab has indeed spread on the skin
then the priest shall
pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.
YLT 8and the priest hath seen
and lo
the scab
hath spread in the skin
and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; it [is]
leprosy.
And if the priest see that
behold
the scab spreadeth in
the skin
.... Is not at a stay
as when he looked at it a second and third
time:
then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; a leprous
person; to be absolutely so
as Jarchi expresses it; and so obliged to the
birds (to bring birds for his cleansing)
and to shaving
and to the offering
spoken of in this section
as the same writer observes:
it is a leprosy: it is a clear and plain
case that it was one
and no doubt is to be made of it
it is a spreading
leprosy: as sin is; it spreads itself over all the powers and faculties of the
soul
and over all the members of the body; and it spreads more and more in every
stage of life
unless and until grace puts a stop to it.
Leviticus 13:9. 9 “When
the leprous sore is on a person
then he shall be brought to the priest.
YLT 9`When a plague of leprosy is in a man
then
he hath been brought in unto the priest
When the plague of leprosy is in a man
.... He has
all the signs of it
and it is pretty manifest both to himself and others that
it is upon him:
then he shall be brought unto the priest; by his
friends and neighbours
if he is not willing to come of himself: a sinner
insensible of the leprosy of sin
and of his unclean and miserable state
through it
has no will to come to Christ the great High Priest for cleansing;
but one that is sensible of it
and of Christ's ability to help and cleanse
him
will come freely and gladly
and importunately seek to him for it; though
indeed such an one is brought by powerful and efficacious grace to him
yet not
against
but with his full will; see John 5:40; compare
with this Matthew 8:1.
Leviticus 13:10. 10 And
the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the swelling on the
skin is white
and it has turned the hair white
and there is a
spot of raw flesh in the swelling
YLT 10and the priest hath seen
and lo
a white
rising in the skin
and it hath turned the hair white
and a quickening of raw
flesh [is] in the rising
--
And the priest shall see him
.... Look at him
and
closely and narrowly inspect and examine his case:
and
behold
if the rising be white in the skin; this is
another appearance of the leprosy; the preceding were a bright spot
and the
scab of it; but this a rising or white swelling in the skin
as white as pure
wool
as the Targum of Jonathan:
and it have turned the hair white; to the whiteness of an
egg shell
or the film of it
as the same Targum; that is
hath turned the hair
of another colour
into white which was before black:
and there be quick raw flesh in the rising
or swelling;
or "the quickening" or "quickness of live flesh"F12מהית בשר חי
"vivacitas carnis vivae"
Montanus
Vatablus. either such as we call
proud flesh
which looks raw and red; or sound flesh
live flesh being opposed
to that which is mortified and putrid; and so Jarchi renders it by
"saniment"
a French word for "soundness": and the
Septuagint version
in this and all other places where the word is used
renders it "sound": this clause may be considered disjunctively
as
by Gersom
"or there be quick raw flesh"; for either the hair turning
white
or quick raw flesh
one or the other
and one without the other was a
sign of leprosy
so Jarchi observes; even this is a sign of uncleanness
the
white hair without the quick flesh
and the quick flesh without the white hair:
this may seem strange that quick and sound flesh should be a sign of the
leprosy and its uncleanness; though it should be observed
it is such as is in
the rising or swelling: and in things spiritual
it is a bad sign when men are
proud of themselves and have confidence in the flesh; when in their own opinion
they are whole and sound
and need no physician; when they trust in themselves
that they are righteous
and boast of and have their dependence on their own
works; he appears to be in the best state and frame that cried out as David
did
that there is "no soundness in his flesh"
Psalm 38:3.
Leviticus 13:11. 11 it is an old
leprosy on the skin of his body. The priest shall pronounce him unclean
and
shall not isolate him
for he is unclean.
YLT 11an old leprosy it [is] in the skin of his
flesh
and the priest hath pronounced him unclean; he doth not shut him up
for
he [is] unclean.
It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh
.... An
inveterate one
of long standing and continuance
an obstinate one
not to be
cured by medicine; as this sort of leprosy was
and therefore the person was
sent not to a physician
but to the priest: the leprosy of sin is an old
disease
brought by man into the world with him
and continues with him from
his youth upwards
and nothing but the grace of God and blood of Christ can
remove it:
and the priest shall pronounce him unclean
and shall not shut him
up; there being no doubt at all of it being a leprosy
and of his
uncleanness
and therefore no need to shut him up for further examination
but
to turn him out of the camp till his purification was over:
for he is unclean; in a ceremonial sense
and was obliged to the law for cleansing
such as after given.
Leviticus 13:12. 12 “And
if leprosy breaks out all over the skin
and the leprosy covers all the skin of
the one who has the sore
from his head to his foot
wherever the priest
looks
YLT 12`And if the leprosy break out greatly in the
skin
and the leprosy hath covered all the skin of [him who hath] the plague
from his head even unto his feet
to all that appeareth to the eyes of the
priest
And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin
.... Or
if
flowering it flowersF13פרוח תפרח ανθουσα
εξανθηση
Sept. "florendo floruerit"
Montanus; so
Drusius & Tigurine version. ; the man that has it on him looks like a plant
or tree covered with white flowers
being spread all over him in white
swellings
bright spots or scabs
as it follows:
and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the
plague
from his head even to his foot; such an one as the leper
was that came to Christ for healing
said to be full of leprosy
Luke 5:12; and such
in a mystical sense is every sinner
whether sensible of it or not
even from
the Crown of the head to the sole of the foot
full of the wounds
bruises
and
putrefying sores of sin
Isaiah 1:6
wheresoever the priest looketh; that is
he cannot look
any where upon any part of him but he sees the signs of the leprosy on him; and
from whence the Jewish writers gather
that a priest that inspects leprous
persons ought to have a clear sight
and to have both his eyes
and that the
inspection should not be made in a dark house.
Leviticus 13:13. 13 then
the priest shall consider; and indeed if the leprosy has covered all his
body
he shall pronounce him clean who has the sore. It has all
turned white. He is clean.
YLT 13then hath the priest seen
and lo
the
leprosy hath covered all his flesh
and he hath pronounced [him who hath] the
plague clean; it hath all turned white; he [is] clean.
Then the priest shall consider
.... Look wistly upon it
and well weigh the matter in his own mind
that he may make a true judgment and
pronounce a right sentence:
and
behold
if the leprosy have covered all his flesh; from head to
foot
so that no quick
raw
or sound flesh appear in him:
he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague; not clean
from a leprosy he is covered with; but that he is free from pollution by it
and under no obligation to bring his offering
or to perform
or have performed
on him any of the rites and ceremonies used in cleansing of the leper:
it is all turned white; his skin and flesh with
white bright spots
scabs and swellings
and no raw and red flesh appears:
he is clean; in a ceremonial sense: this may seem
strange
that one that had a bright spot
or a white swelling
or a scab that
spreads
a single one of these
or here and there one
should be unclean
and
yet
if covered over with them
should be clean; the reason in nature is
because this shows a good healthful inward constitution
which throws out all
its ill humours externally
whereby health is preserved; as we see in persons
that have the measles or smallpox
or such like distempers
if they stick in
the skin
and only here and there one rises up in a tumour
and to an head
it
is a bad sign; but if they come out kindly and well
though they cover the
whole body
things are very promising: the mystical or spiritual meaning of
this is
that when a man sees himself to be a sinful creature
all over covered
with sin
and no part free
and disclaims all righteousness of his own to
justify him before God
but wholly trusts to
and depends upon the grace of God
for salvation
and the righteousness of Christ for his acceptance with God; he
becomes clean through the grace of God and the blood and righteousness of
Christ.
Leviticus 13:14. 14 But
when raw flesh appears on him
he shall be unclean.
YLT 14`And in the day of raw flesh being seen in
him he is unclean;
But when raw flesh appeareth in him
.... Between the white
spots
scabs
or swellings
or in the midst of them:
he shall be unclean; be pronounced unclean
and be subject to all the prescriptions of the law concerning lepers.
Leviticus 13:15. 15 And
the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him to be unclean; for
the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy.
YLT 15and the priest hath seen the raw flesh
and
hath pronounced him unclean; the raw flesh is unclean
it [is] leprosy.
And the priest shall see the raw flesh
.... Or when
he sees it
the person being brought to him to be viewed:
and pronounce him to be unclean; or shall pronounce him
to be unclean:
for the raw flesh is
unclean; made a man so in a ceremonial sense; See Gill on Leviticus 13:10
it is a leprosy; wherever any quick raw
flesh appears in a swelling.
Leviticus 13:16. 16 Or
if the raw flesh changes and turns white again
he shall come to the priest.
YLT 16Or when the raw flesh turneth back
and hath
been turned to white
then he hath come in unto the priest
Or if the raw flesh turn again
.... Changes its colour
from redness
which is in raw flesh:
and be changed unto white: and does not look ruddy
as flesh in common does
nor red and fiery
as raw and proud flesh
but is
white
of the same colour with the swelling or scab:
he shall come unto the priest; again
and show himself
even though he was before by him pronounced clean.
Leviticus 13:17. 17 And
the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the sore has turned white
then the priest shall pronounce him clean who has the sore. He is
clean.
YLT 17and the priest hath seen him
and lo
the
plague hath been turned to white
and the priest hath pronounced clean [him who
hath] the plague; he [is] clean.
And the priest shall see him
.... Review him
and
examine him thoroughly:
and
behold
if the plague be turned into white; the raw flesh
in the swelling
which looked red
is become white:
then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath
the plague; that was supposed to have the plague of leprosy; but upon a
review
and on this change of things
has not
he shall declare him free from
it:
he is clean; and under no obligation to the laws and
rites concerning it.
Leviticus 13:18. 18 “If
the body develops a boil in the skin
and it is healed
YLT 18`And when flesh hath in it
in its skin
an
ulcer
and it hath been healed
The flesh also
in which
even in the skin thereof
was a
boil
.... Or hot ulcer
by which
says MaimonidesF14In
Misn. Negaim
c. 6. sect. 8. you may understand any stroke by a stone
stick
or iron
or any other thing: and in the MisnahF15Ib. c. 9. sect. 1.
it is asked
what is an ulcer (or boil)? a stroke by wood
stone
pitch
or
hot water; all that is from the force of fire is an ulcer:
and is healed; by the use of medicine
and the part
in
all appearance
as well and as sound as ever.
Leviticus 13:19. 19 and
in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a bright spot
reddish-white
then it shall be shown to the priest;
YLT 19and there hath been in the place of the ulcer
a white rising
or a bright white spot
very red
then it hath been seen by the
priest
And in the place of the boil there be a white rising
.... In the
place where the boil was
a white swelling appears:
or a bright spot
white
and somewhat reddish; white and red
mixed
as the Targum of Jonathan; and so Aben Ezra interprets the word
"reddish"
of the bright spot being mixed of two colours
or part of
it so; and such a mixed colour of white and red
Gersom observes
is usual in a
swelling
and adds
we are taught how to judge of these appearances
according
to a tradition from Moses
which is this: take a cup full of milk
and put in
it two drops of blood
and the colour of it will be as the colour of the bright
spot
white and reddish; and if you put into it four drops
its colour will be
as the colour of the rising (or swelling) reddish; and if you put into it eight
drops
its colour will be as the colour of the scab of the bright spot
more
reddish; and if you put into it sixteen drops
its colour will be as the colour
of the scab of the swelling
very red: hence it appears
says he
that the
bright spot is whitest with its redness
and after that the swelling
and next
the scab of the bright spot
and then the scab of the swelling; but BochartF16Hierozoic.
par. 2. l. 5. c. 6. col. 689. is of opinion that the word is wrongly rendered
"reddish"
which
he thinks
contradicts the account of the bright
spot being white
and especially as the word for "reddish" has its
radicals doubled
which always increase the signification; and therefore if the
word bears the sense of redness
it should be rendered "exceeding
red"
which would be quite contrary to the spot being white at all;
wherefore from the use of the word in the Arabic language
which signifies
white
bright
and glittering; See Gill on Lamentations 4:7;
he chooses to read the words
"or a bright spot
white and exceeding
glittering": but this word we render reddish and white
being read
disjunctively
Leviticus 13:24;
seems to contradict this observation of his:
and it be shewed to the priest; to look upon and pass
his judgment on it.
Leviticus 13:20. 20 and
if
when the priest sees it
it indeed appears deeper than the skin
and
its hair has turned white
the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is
a leprous sore which has broken out of the boil.
YLT 20and the priest hath seen
and lo
its
appearance [is] lower than the skin
and its hair hath turned white
and the
priest hath pronounced him unclean; it [is] a plague of leprosy -- in an ulcer
it hath broken out.
And if
when the priest seeth it
.... And has thoroughly
viewed it and considered it:
behold
it be in sight lower than the skin; having eaten
into and taken root in the flesh under the skin:
and the hair thereof be turned white; which are the
signs of leprosy before given
Leviticus 13:3
the priest shall pronounce him unclean; not fit for
company and conversation
but obliged to conform to the laws concerning
leprosy:
it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil; which was
there before: this is an emblem of apostates and apostasy
who having been
seemingly healed and cleansed
return to their former course of life
and to
all the impurity of it
like the dog to its vomit
and the swine to its
wallowing in the mire
Proverbs 26:11; and
so their last state is worse than the first
Matthew 12:45
as
in this case; at first it was a boil
and then thought to be cured
and
afterwards arises out of it a plague of leprosy.
Leviticus 13:21. 21 But if the priest examines
it
and indeed there are no white hairs in it
and it is not deeper than
the skin
but has faded
then the priest shall isolate him seven days;
YLT 21`And if the priest see it
and lo
there is
no white hair in it
and it is not lower than the skin
and is become weak
then hath the priest shut him up seven days;
But if the priest look on it
.... Upon a person in a
like case as first described
having had a boil
and that healed
and
afterwards a white swelling
or a bright spot in the place of it:
and
behold
there be no white hairs therein; not two hairs
turned white
as Gersom interprets it:
and if it be not lower than the skin; the bright
spot not lower than the skin; not having got into the flesh
only skin deep:
the Targum of Jonathan is
not lower in whiteness than the skin; for the bright
spot is described as white
and so the rising or swelling
Leviticus 13:19
but be somewhat dark; or rather
"contracted"; to which spreading is opposed in the next verse; See
Gill on Leviticus 13:6
then the priest shall shut him up seven days; to wait and
see whether it will spread or not: a boil and burning
the Jews say
make a man
unclean in one week
and by two signs
the white hair
and the spreading; by
the white hair
both at the beginning and at the end of the week after
dismission
and by spreading at the end of the week after itF17Misn.
Negaim
c. 3. sect. 4. .
Leviticus 13:22. 22 and
if it should at all spread over the skin
then the priest shall pronounce him
unclean. It is a leprous sore.
YLT 22and if it spread greatly in the skin
then
hath the priest pronounced him unclean
it [is] a plague;
And if it spread much abroad in the skin
.... Upon
viewing it on the seventh day
though it is not expressed
the swelling or
bright spot; or "in spreading spread"; See Gill on Leviticus 13:7;
which Ben Gersom interprets
not of the skin of the flesh
but of the ulcer:
then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; even though
there are no white hairs in it
nor is it lower than the skin
yet is not at a
stand or contracted
but spreading:
it is a plague; or stroke; it is one
sort of a leprosy
and such an one as makes a man unclean in a ceremonial
sense.
Leviticus 13:23. 23 But
if the bright spot stays in one place
and has not spread
it is
the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
YLT 23and if in its place the bright spot stay -- it
hath not spread -- it [is] an inflammation of the ulcer; and the priest hath
pronounced him clean.
But if the bright spot stay in his place
and spread not
.... Continues
as it was when first viewed:
it is a burning boil; but not a plague of
leprosy:
and the priest shall pronounce him clean; as clear of a
leprosy
and so not bound by the law of it
though attended with an
inflammation or burning ulcer.
Leviticus 13:24. 24 “Or
if the body receives a burn on its skin by fire
and the raw flesh of
the burn becomes a bright spot
reddish-white or white
YLT 24`Or when flesh hath in its skin a fiery
burning
and the quickening of the burning
the bright white spot
hath been
very red or white
Or if there be any flesh
in the skin whereof there is
a hot burning
.... Or "a burning of fire"F18מכות אש "adustio
ignis"
Pagninus
Montanus
Junius & Termellius
Piscator. : it is
asked
what is a burning? that which is burnt with a coal or with hot ashes;
all that is from the force of fire is burningF19Misn. Negaim
c. 9.
sect. 1. & Maimon. in ib. c. 6. sect. 8. ; that is
whatever sore
pustule
or blister
is occasioned by fire touching the part
or by anything heated by
fire:
and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot
somewhat reddish
or white; the Targum of Jonathan is
a white spot
mixed with red
or only white; and so Aben Ezra interprets the last clause:
this seems to set aside Bochart's interpretation of the word
"adamdemeth"
which we render "somewhat reddish"
and be
very white
bright
and glittering since white is here opposed unto it; though
it may be
the sense is
that the flesh burnt has a bright white spot in it
exceeding glittering; or however
at least
a white one: by the "quick
flesh" that burneth
Gersom says
is meant the weak
the tender flesh which
is renewed there
after it is healed from the purulent matter in it.
Leviticus 13:25. 25 then
the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the hair of the bright spot has
turned white
and it appears deeper than the skin
it is leprosy broken
out in the burn. Therefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is
a leprous sore.
YLT 25and the priest hath seen it
and lo
the hair
hath turned white in the bright spot
and its appearance [is] deeper than the
skin; leprosy it [is]
in the burning it hath broken out
and the priest hath
pronounced him unclean; it [is] a plague of leprosy.
Then the priest shall look upon it
.... And examine it
whether it has the marks and signs of a leprosy or not
such as follow:
behold
if the hair in the bright spot be turned white; which before
was black
or of another colour from white
and is now
turned into the
whiteness of chalk
as the Targum of Jonathan:
and it be in sight deeper than the skin; the same
Targum is
"and its sight or colour is deeper in being white like snow
more than the skin;'but this respects not the colour of it
as appearing to the
sight
but the depth of the spot
going below the skin into the flesh
which
with the change of hair
are the two signs of leprosy
Leviticus 13:3
it is a leprosy broken out of the burning; which sprung
from thence
and what that had issued in:
wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean; a leper
and
to be treated as such:
it is the plague of leprosy; being a plain case
according to the rules by which it was to be judged of.
Leviticus 13:26. 26 But
if the priest examines it
and indeed there are no white hairs in the
bright spot
and it is not deeper than the skin
but has faded
then the
priest shall isolate him seven days.
YLT 26`And if the priest see it
and lo
there is
no white hair on the bright spot
and it is not lower than the skin
and it is
become weak
then the priest hath shut him up seven days;
But if the priest look on it
.... On the hot burning
and bright spot in it
in another person:
and
behold
there be no white hair on the white spot
and
it be no lower than the other skin; why the word
"other" should be supplied I know not
any more than in Leviticus 13:21
but be somewhat dark; or
"contracted"; see Gill on Leviticus 13:21
then the priest shall shut him up seven days; as in the
case of the burning boil or hot ulcer
as in Leviticus 13:21.
Leviticus 13:27. 27 And
the priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has at all spread over
the skin
then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a leprous
sore.
YLT 27and the priest hath seen him on the seventh
day
if it spread greatly in the skin
then the priest hath pronounced him
unclean; a plague of leprosy it [is].
And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day
.... When that
is come
any time on that day; not needing to wait until the end of it
or
till
the seven days are precisely up; the same is to be understood in all
places in this chapter where the like is used:
and if it be spread much
abroad in the skin; in the space of seven days:
then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is the
plague of leprosy: according to the law; so that it was necessary
in such a case
for him to conform to it in order to his cleansing.
Leviticus 13:28. 28 But
if the bright spot stays in one place
and has not spread on the skin
but has faded
it is a swelling from the burn. The priest shall
pronounce him clean
for it is the scar from the burn.
YLT 28`And if the bright spot stay in its place
it
hath not spread in the skin
and is become weak; a rising of the burning it
[is]
and the priest hath pronounced him clean; for it [is] inflammation of the
burning.
And if the bright spot stay in his place
and spread not in
the skin
.... If
after being shut up
seven days
it appears that the
spot is no larger than
when it was first viewed
but is as it was
and not at
all increased:
but it be somewhat dark; either not so bright as
it was
or more contracted:
it is a rising of the burning; or a swelling
of it
a swelling which sprung from it
and nothing else:
the priest shall pronounce him clean; from the
leprosy
and so set him at liberty to go where he will
and dwell and converse
with men as usual:
for it is an inflammation of the burning; or an
inflammation or blister occasioned by the burning
and no leprosy.
Leviticus 13:29. 29 “If
a man or woman has a sore on the head or the beard
YLT 29`And when a man (or a woman) hath in him a
plague in the head or in the beard
If a man or a woman hath a plague upon the head or the beard. Any breaking
out in those parts a swelling
scab
or spot
on a man's beard or on a woman's
head; or on the head of either man or woman; or on a woman's beard
if she had
any
as some have had though not common.
Leviticus 13:30. 30 then
the priest shall examine the sore; and indeed if it appears deeper than the
skin
and there is in it thin yellow hair
then the priest shall
pronounce him unclean. It is a scaly leprosy of the head or beard.
YLT 30then hath the priest seen the plague
and lo
its appearance is deeper than the skin
and in it a thin shining hair
and the
priest hath pronounced him unclean; it [is] a scall -- it [is] a leprosy of the
head or of the beard.
Then the priest shall see the plague
.... The
person on whom it is shall come or be brought unto him; and he shall look upon
it and examine it:
and
behold
if it be in sight deeper than the skin; which is
always one sign of leprosy:
and there be in it a yellow
thin hair; like the appearance of thin gold
as the Targum of Jonathan;
for
as Ben Gersom says
its colour is the colour of gold; and it is called
thin in this place
because short and soft
and not when it is long and small;
and so it is said
scabs make unclean in two weeks
and by two signs
by thin
yellow hair
and by spreading
by yellow hair
small
soft
and shortF20Negaim
c. 10. sect. 1. : now this is to be understood
not of hair that is naturally
of a yellow or gold colour
as is the hair of the head and beard of some
persons
but of hair changed into this colour through the force of the disease;
and so Jarchi interprets it
black hair turned yellow; in other parts of the
body
hair turned white was a sign of leprosy
but here that which was turned
yellow or golden coloured: Aben Ezra observes
that the colour expressed by
this word is
in the Ishmaelitish or Arabic language
the next to the white
colour:
then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; declare him a
leper
and unfit for company
and order him to do and have done for him the
things after expressed
as required in such a case:
it is a dry scall; or "wound"
as
the Septuagint version; "nethek"
which is the word here used
Jarchi
says
is the name of a plague that is in the place of hair
or where that
grows; it has its name from plucking up; for there the hair is plucked away
as
Aben Ezra and Ben Gersom note:
even a leprosy upon
the head or beard; as the head is the seat of knowledge
and the beard a sign of
manhood
and of a man's being arrived to years of discretion; when wisdom and
prudence are expected in him; this sort of leprosy may be an emblem of errors
in judgment
of false doctrines and heresies imbibed by persons
which eat as
doth a canker
and are in themselves damnable
and bring ruin and destruction
on teachers and hearers
unless recovered from them by the grace of God.
Leviticus 13:31. 31 But if the priest examines
the scaly sore
and indeed it does not appear deeper than the skin
and there
is no black hair in it
then the priest shall isolate the one who has
the scale seven days.
YLT 31`And when the priest seeth the plague of the
scall
and lo
its appearance is not deeper than the skin
and there is no
black hair in it
then hath the priest shut up [him who hath] the plague of the
scall seven days.
And if the priest look on the plague of the scall
.... As it may
appear in another person
brought to him for inspection and examination:
and
behold
it be not in the sight deeper than the skin; it do not
seem to be got into the flesh
or lower than the skin:
and that there is no black hair in it; or
"but
no black hair in it"; for
as Jarchi says
if there was a black hair in
it
he would be clean
and there would be no need of shutting up; for black
hair in scalls is a sign of cleanness
as it is said
Leviticus 13:37; it
would be a clear case that such a man had no leprosy on him; for black hair is
a token of a strong and healthful constitution; and there could remain no doubt
about it
and it would require no further trial and examination: Ben Gersom
says it means two black hairs; and further observes
that black hair in the
midst of a scall is a sign of cleanness; but this being wanting:
then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of
the scall seven days; from the time of his viewing the scall; and so Ben Gersom
this
is the seventh day from the time of looking upon the scall.
Leviticus 13:32. 32 And
on the seventh day the priest shall examine the sore; and indeed if the
scale has not spread
and there is no yellow hair in it
and the scale does not
appear deeper than the skin
YLT 32`And the priest hath seen the plague on the
seventh day
and lo
the scall hath not spread
and a shining hair hath not
been in it
and the appearance of the scall is not deeper than the skin
And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague
.... To see
whether it has got any deeper
or spread any further
and has any hair growing
in it
and of what colour
that he might be also able to judge whether it was a
leprosy or not:
and
behold
if the scall spread not; was neither
got into the flesh
nor larger in the skin:
and there be in it no yellow hair; that is
a thin yellow
hair
for such only
as Ben Gersom observes
was a sign of leprosy in scalls
as in Leviticus 13:30;
and the same writer observes
that "and" is here instead of
"or"
and to be read
"or there be in it no yellow hair";
since a scall was pronounced unclean
either on account of thin yellow hair
or
on account of spreading:
and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin; but be just
as it was when first looked upon.
Leviticus 13:33. 33 he
shall shave himself
but the scale he shall not shave. And the priest shall
isolate the one who has the scale another seven days.
YLT 33then he hath shaved himself
but the scall he
doth not shave; and the priest hath shut up [him who hath] the scall a second
seven days.
He shall be shaven
.... His head or beard
where the scall was
as Aben Ezra; and so Ben Gersom
who adds
the law is not solicitous whether
this shaving is by a priest or not; so it seems any one might shave him:
but the scall shall he not shave; that is
the hair that
is in it
but that was to continue and grow
that the colour of it might be
easily discerned at the end of seven other days; according to the Targums of
Onkelos and Jonathan
he was to shave round about it
but not that itself;
Jarchi says
he was to leave two hairs near itF21Misn. Negaim
c.
10. sect. 5.
that he might know whether it spread; for if it spread it would
go over the hairs
and into the part that was shaven; when it would be a clear
case it was a spreading leprosy: now
that there might be an opportunity of
observing this
whether it would or not
the following method was to be taken:
and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven
days more; by which time it would be seen whether there was any increase or
decrease
or whether at a stand
and of what colour the hair was
by which
judgment might be made of the case.
Leviticus 13:34. 34 On
the seventh day the priest shall examine the scale; and indeed if the
scale has not spread over the skin
and does not appear deeper than the skin
then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be
clean.
YLT 34And the priest hath seen the scall on the
seventh day
and lo
the scall hath not spread in the skin
and its appearance
is not deeper than the skin
and the priest hath pronounced him clean
and he
hath washed his garments
and hath been clean.
And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall
.... That is
according to Ben Gersom
on the thirteenth day from the first inspection of him
by the priest:
and
behold
if the scall be not spread in the skin
nor be
in sight deeper than the skin; neither appears spread on the surface of
the skin
nor to have eaten into the flesh under it; also no thin yellow hair
though it is not expressed
for that made a person unclean
though there was no
spreading:
then the priest shall pronounce him clean; free from a
leprosy:
and he shall wash his clothes
and be clean; there was no
need to say he shall wash them in water
as Aben Ezra observes
that is
supposed; and then he was looked upon as a clean person
and might go into the
sanctuary
and have conversation with men
both in a civil and religious way
and not defile anything he sat upon.
Leviticus 13:35. 35 But
if the scale should at all spread over the skin after his cleansing
YLT 35`And if the scall spread greatly in the skin
after his cleansing
But if the scall spread much in his skin after cleansing. After he has
been declared clean by the priest; for it was possible that it might spread
after this
though so much precaution had been used
and so much time taken to
observe it: with this compare 2 Peter 1:9.
Leviticus 13:36. 36 then
the priest shall examine him; and indeed if the scale has spread over
the skin
the priest need not seek for yellow hair. He is unclean.
YLT 36and the priest hath seen him
and lo
the
scall hath spread in the skin
the priest seeketh not for the shining hair
he
is unclean;
Then the priest shall look on him
.... Again
and which is
no less than the fourth time; for notwithstanding his being pronounced clean
he was still subject to the inspection of the priest
if any alteration
appeared:
and
behold
if the scall be spread in the skin; which was a
certain sign of a leprosy:
the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; or be
solicitous about that
whether there is any or not
for either one or the other
of these signs were sufficient to determine the case:
he is unclean; and so to be pronounced.
Leviticus 13:37. 37 But
if the scale appears to be at a standstill
and there is black hair grown up in
it
the scale has healed. He is clean
and the priest shall pronounce
him clean.
YLT 37and if in his eyes the scall hath stayed
and
black hair hath sprung up in it
the scall hath been healed -- he [is] clean --
and the priest hath pronounced him clean.
But if the scall be in his sight at a stay
.... If in a
few days
or in a short space of time after this
it should appear that the
scall is at a full stop
and does not spread any further at all:
and that there is black hair grown up therein; which is a
sign of health and soundness
and so of purity; yea
if it was green or red
so
be it
it was not yellow
according to Jarchi
it was sufficient:
the scall is healed; from whence it appears
that it had been a leprous scall
but was now healed
an entire stop being put
to the spread of it; and though yellow hairs might have appeared in it
yet
as
Gersom observes
two black hairs having grown up in it
it was a clear case
that the corruption of the blood had departed
and it had returned to its
former state:
he is clean
and the priest shall pronounce him clean; he was clean
before
and is the reason why he pronounces him so; wherefore it is not the
sentence of the priest
but the truth of his case that makes him clean;
teaching
as Ainsworth observes
that the truth of a man's estate
discerned by
the word and law of God
made the man clean or unclean
and not the sentence of
the priest
if it swerved from the law.
Leviticus 13:38. 38 “If
a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body
specifically
white bright spots
YLT 38`And when a man or woman hath in the skin of
their flesh bright spots
white bright spots
If a man also
or a woman
.... One or the other
for the law concerning leprosy respecteth both:
have in the skin of their flesh bright spots; and them
only; not any rising or swelling
nor scab
nor scall
nor boil
nor burning
only bright spots
a sort of freckles or morphew:
even white bright
spots; these
Ben Gersom observes
are white spots
but not plagues;
and which were in whiteness inferior to the four species of the plague of
leprosy
the white spot
the white swelling
and the scab of each.
Leviticus 13:39. 39 then
the priest shall look; and indeed if the bright spots on the skin of the
body are dull white
it is a white spot that grows on the
skin. He is clean.
YLT 39and the priest hath seen
and lo
in the skin
of their flesh white weak bright spots
it [is] a freckled spot broken out in
the skin; he [is] clean.
Then the priest shall look
.... Upon the man or
woman that has these spots
and upon the spots themselves
and examine them of
what kind they are:
and
behold
if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh
be darkish white; their whiteness is not strong
as Jarchi observes; but dusky and
obscure
or "contracted"F23כהות
"costractae"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator. ; small white spots
not large and spreading:
it is a freckled spot that grows in the skin; a kind of
morphew
which the above writer describes as a sort of whiteness which appears
in the flesh of a ruddy man:
he is clean; from leprosy; this is observed
lest a
person that is freckled and has a morphew should be mistaken for a leprous
person; as every man that has some spots
failings
and infirmities
is not to
be reckoned a wicked man.
Leviticus 13:40. 40 “As
for the man whose hair has fallen from his head
he is bald
but
he is clean.
YLT 40`And when a man's head [is] polished
he [is]
bald
he [is] clean;
And the man whose hair is fallen off his head
.... That is
from the back part of his head
from the crown of his head toward his neck
behind:
he is bald; in that spot of the head where the hair is
fallen off; and it denotes such a baldness as is occasioned by that
for it
signifies one that had hair
but it is fallen off; whereas the baldness after
spoken of is thought by some to be of such who never had any hair; though
others will have it
that this intends a person bald all over; but it seems
plain from what follows
that it designs one whose hair was fallen off behind
and was bald on that part only; and it may be observed
that this is only said
of a man
not of a woman
because
as Aben Ezra remarks
she has much moisture
in her
and therefore her head does not become bald; hair being like to grass
which flourishes in moist places:
yet is he clean; from the
leprosy
or from the scalls
as Jarchi observes
because he is not judged by
the signs of the head and beard
which are the place of hair
but by the signs
of leprosy in the skin of the flesh
i.e. by the raw flesh and spreading.
Leviticus 13:41. 41 He whose hair has fallen
from his forehead
he is bald on the forehead
but he is
clean.
YLT 41and if from the corner of his face his head
is polished
he [is] bald of the forehead; he [is] clean.
And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head
towards his face
.... That is
from the crown of his head towards his forehead and
temples
the fore part of his head; and so the Misnic doctors distinguish
baldness
which is from the crown of the head descending behind to the channel
of the neck; and that here mentioned
which is from the crown of the head
descending to his face and forehead
over against the hair aboveF24Misn.
Negaim
c. 10. sect. 10. :
he is forehead bald; to distinguish him from
him that is bald behind:
yet is he clean; as the other:
these cases are observed
that it might not be concluded that every man that
shed his hair or was bald either before or behind was a leper
because the hair
of a leper used to fall off from him; if he had not the other signs of leprosy
and which were the sure and true signs of it before mentioned.
Leviticus 13:42. 42 And
if there is on the bald head or bald forehead a reddish-white sore
it is
leprosy breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead.
YLT 42`And when there is in the bald back of the
head
or in the bald forehead
a very red white plague
it [is] a leprosy
breaking out in the bald back of the head
or in the bald forehead;
And if there be
.... Or
"but if there be"
or
"when there shall be"F25וכי
"sin autem"
V. L. "quum autem"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator Drusius.
or shall appear to be:
in the bald head
or in the bald forehead
a white reddish sore; white and red
mixed
as the Targum of Jonathan
having something of both colours
neither a
clear white nor thorough red; though
according to Bochart
it should be
rendered "a white sore exceeding bright"; See Gill on Leviticus 13:19
it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head
or in his bald
forehead; the signs of which were raw flesh and spreading; so it is said
in the MisnahF26Ut supra. (Misn. Negaim
c. 10. sect. 10.)
"those two sorts of baldness defile in two weeks
by two signs
by quick
raw flesh and by spreading;'if there was the bright spot and no quick flesh
then he was to be shut up seven days
and looked upon at the end of them; and
if there was either quick flesh or a spreading
he was pronounced unclean
but
if neither
he was shut up seven days more; and if either of the above signs
appeared he was pronounced unclean
if not he was set free.
Leviticus 13:43. 43 Then
the priest shall examine it; and indeed if the swelling of the sore is
reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead
as the appearance of
leprosy on the skin of the body
YLT 43and the priest hath seen him
and lo
the
rising of the very red white plague in the bald back of the head
or in the
bald forehead
[is] as the appearance of leprosy
in the skin of the flesh
Then the priest shall look upon it
.... The white reddish
sore:
and
behold
if the rising of the sore; or the
swelling of it:
be white reddish in his bald
head
or in his bald forehead; See Gill on Leviticus 13:42
as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh; as in Leviticus 13:2;
having the signs of the leprosy there given; anyone of them
excepting the
white hair
which in this case could be no sign
there being none: Jarchi's
note is
according to the appearance of the leprosy
said in Leviticus 13:2; and
what is said in it is
it defiles by four appearances
and is judged in two
weeks; but not according to the appearance of the leprosy said of the boil
and
burning
which were judged in one week; nor according to the appearance of the
scalls
of the place of hair
which do not defile by the four appearances
the
rising or swelling
and the scab of it
the bright spot
and the scab of that.
Leviticus 13:44. 44 he
is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him
unclean; his sore is on his head.
YLT 44he [is] a leprous man
he [is] unclean; the
priest doth pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague [is] in his head.
He is a leprous man
he is unclean
.... And so to
be pronounced and accounted; only a leprous man is mentioned
there being no
leprous women
having this sort of leprosy
their hair not falling off
or they
becoming bald
usually; unless
as Ben Gersom observes
in a manner strange and
wonderful:
the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; as in any
other case of leprosy:
his plague is in his head; an emblem of such who
have imbibed bad notions and erroneous principles
and are therefore
like the
leper
to be avoided and rejected from the communion of the saints
Titus 3:10; and
shows that men are accountable for their principles as well as practices
and
liable to be punished for them.
Leviticus 13:45. 45 “Now
the leper on whom the sore is
his clothes shall be torn and his head
bare; and he shall cover his mustache
and cry
‘Unclean! Unclean!’
YLT 45`As to the leper in whom [is] the plague
his
garments are rent
and his head is uncovered
and he covereth over the upper
lip
and `Unclean! unclean!' he calleth;
And the leper in whom the plague is
.... Meaning
not he only that has the plague of leprosy in his head
but every sort of leper
before mentioned in this chapter:
his clothes shall be rent; not that he might the
more easily put on his clothes without hurting him
as some have thought; or
that the corrupt humours might evaporate more freely
for evaporation would
rather be hindered than promoted by being exposed to cold; nor that he might be
known and better avoided
for his cry after mentioned was sufficient for that;
but as a token of mourning: and so Aben Ezra having mentioned the former
reason
that he might be known by going in a different habit
adds
or the
sense is
as a token of mourning; for he was to mourn for the wickedness of his
actions; for
for his works came this plague of leprosy upon him; and so the
Jews in common understand it
not as a disease arising from natural causes
but
as a punishment inflicted by God for sin; wherefore this rite of rending the
garments was an emblem of contrition of heart
and of sorrow and humiliation
for sin
see Joel 1:13
and his head bare; or "free" from cutting or
shaving
but shall let his hair grow; and so the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi
interpret it; or free from any covering upon it
hat
or cap
or turban: Ben
Gersom observes
that the making bare the head
or freeing it
is taken
different ways; sometimes it is used of not shaving the head for thirty days
and sometimes for the removal of the vail
or covering of the head it has been
used to; but in this place it cannot signify the nourishing of the hair
but
that his head ought to be covered: and so MaimonidesF1Hilchot Tumaat
Tzarat
c. 10. sect. 6. observes
that a leper should cover his head all the
days he is excluded
and this was a token of mourning also; see 2 Samuel 15:30
and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip; as a mourner
see Ezekiel 24:17.
Jarchi interprets it of both lips
upper and under
which were covered with a
linen cloth or vail thrown over the shoulder
and with which the mouth was
covered; and this was done
as Aben Ezra says
that the leper might not hurt
any with the breath of his mouth:
and shall cry
Unclean
unclean; as he passed along in
any public place
that everyone might avoid him
and not be polluted by him:
the Targum of Jonathan is
"a herald shall proclaim and say
Depart
depart
from the unclean.'So every sinner sensible of the leprosy of sin in his nature
and which appears in his actions
should freely confess and acknowledge his
uncleanness
original and actual
the impurity of his heart and life
and even
of his own righteousness in the sight of God
and have recourse to Christ
and
to his blood
for the cleansing him from it.
Leviticus 13:46. 46 He
shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is
unclean
and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the
camp.
YLT 46all the days that the plague [is] in him he
is unclean; he [is] unclean
alone he doth dwell
at the outside of the camp
[is] his dwelling.
All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be
defiled
.... Reckoned an unclean person
and avoided as such:
he is unclean; in a ceremonial sense
and pronounced as such by the priest
and was to be looked upon as such by
others during the time of his exclusion and separation
until he was shown to the
priest and cleansed
and his offering offered:
he shall dwell alone; in a separate house or
apartment
as Uzziah did
2 Chronicles 26:21;
none were allowed to come near him
nor he to come near to any; yea
according
to Jarchi
other unclean persons might not dwell with him:
without the camp shall his habitation be; without the
three camps
as the same Jewish writer interprets it
the camp of God
the camp
of the Levites
and the camp of Israel: so Miriam
when she was stricken with
leprosy
was shut out of the camp seven days
Numbers 12:14. This
was observed while in the wilderness
but when the Israelites came to inhabit
towns and cities
then lepers were excluded from thence; for they defiled
in a
ceremonial sense
every person and thing in a house they came into
whether
touched by them or not. So BartenoraF2In Misn. Celim
c. 1. sect. 4.
so in Misn. Negaim
c. 13. sect. 7
11
12. observes
that if a leprous person
goes into any house
all that is in the house is defiled
even what he does not
touch; and that if he sits under a tree
and a clean person passes by
the
clean person is defiled; and if he comes into a synagogue
they make a separate
place for him ten hands high
and four cubits broad
and the leper goes in
first
and comes out last. The Persians
according to HerodotusF3Clio
sive
l. 1. c. 138.
had a custom much like this; he says
that if any of the
citizens had a leprosy or a morphew
he might not come into the city
nor be
mixed with other Persians (or have any conversation with them)
for they say he
has them because he has sinned against the sun: and there was with us an
ancient writ
called "leproso amovendo"F4See the
Supplement to Chambers's Dictionary
in the word "Leprosy".
that
lay to remove a leper who thrust himself into the company of his neighbours in
any parish
either in the church
or at other public meetings
to their
annoyance. This law concerning lepers shows that impure and profane sinners are
not to be admitted into the church of God; and that such who are in it
who
appear to be so
are to be excluded from it
communion is not to be had with
them; and that such
unless they are cleansed by the grace of God
and the
blood of Christ
shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven; for into that shall
nothing enter that defiles
or makes an abomination
or a lie; see 1 Corinthians 5:7 Revelation 21:27.
Leviticus 13:47. 47 “Also
if a garment has a leprous plague[b] in it
whether
it is a woolen garment or a linen garment
YLT 47`And when there is in any garment a plague of
leprosy
-- in a garment of wool
or in a garment of linen
The garments also
that the plague of leprosy is in
.... Whether
this sort of leprosy proceeded from natural causes
or was extraordinary and
miraculous
and came immediately from the hand of God
and was peculiar to the
Jews
and unknown to other nations
is a matter of question; the latter is
generally asserted by the Hebrew writers
as MaimonidesF5Hilchot
Tumaat Tzarat
c. 16. sect. 10.
Abraham SebaF6Tzeror Hammor
fol.
99. 3.
and othersF7Ramban
Bechai
Isaac Arama
& alii
apud
Muisium in loc. ; but others are of opinion
and Abarbinel among the Jews
that
it might be by the contact or touch of a leprous person. Indeed it must be
owned
as a learned manF8Scheuchzer. Physica Sacra
vol. 2. p. 326.
observes
that the shirts and clothes of a leper must be equally infectious
and more so than any other communication with him; and the purulent matter
which adheres thereunto must needs infect; such who put on their clothes; for
it may be observed
that it will get between the threads of garments
and stick
like glue
and fill them up
and by the acrimony of it corrode the texture itself;
so that experience shows that it is very difficult to wash such a garment
without a rupture
and the stains are not easily got out: and it must be
allowed that garments may be scented by diseases
and become infectious
and
carry a disease from place to place
as the plague oftentimes is carried in
wool
cotton
silk
or any bale goods; but whether all this amounts to the case
before us is still a question. Some indeed have endeavoured to account for it
by observing
that wool ill scoured
stuffs kept too long
and some particular
tapestries
are subject to worms and moths which eat them
and from hence think
it credible
that the leprosy in clothes
and in skins here mentioned
was
caused by this sort of vermin; to which
stuffs and works
wrought in wool in
hot countries
and in times when arts and manufactures were not carried to the
height of perfection as now
might probably be more exposedF9Calmet's
Dictionary
in the word "Leper". ; but this seems not to agree with
this leprosy of Moses
which lay not in the garment being eaten
but in the
colour and spread of it:
whether it be a woollen
garment or a linen garment: and
according to the Misnic doctorsF11Misn.
Celaim
c. 9. sect
1.
only wool and linen were defiled by leprosy; Aben Ezra
indeed says
that the reason why no mention is made of silk and cotton is
because the Scripture speaks of what was found (then in use)
as in Exodus 23:5;
wherefore
according to him
woollen and linen are put for all other garments;
though
he adds
or it may be the leprosy does not happen to anything but wool
and linen; however
it is allowed
as Ben Gersom observes
that when the
greatest part of the cloth is made of wool or linen
it was defiled by it: the
Jewish canon is
if the greatest part is of camels hair
it is not defiled; but
if the greatest part is of sheep
it is; and if half to half (or equal) it is
defiled; and so flax
and hemp mixed togetherF12Ib. Negaim
c. 11.
sect. 2. ; the same rule is to be observed concerning them.
Leviticus 13:48. 48 whether
it is in the warp or woof of linen or wool
whether in leather or in
anything made of leather
YLT 48or in the warp
or in the woof
of linen or
of wool
or in a skin
or in any work of skin
Whether it be in the warp
or woof
of linen
or of woollen
.... When
these are woven and mixed together
it seems difficult
if not impossible
to
judge whether the plague of leprosy was in the one or in the other; one would
think it should be unavoidably in both; wherefore Castalio renders the words
whether "in the outer part of it
or in the inner"; in the outside or
inside
or what we call the right side or the wrong side of the cloth: but to
me it seems that the warp and woof
whether of linen or woollen
are here
distinguished not only from garments made of them
but from the cloth itself
of which they are made
and even to be considered before they are wrought
together in the loom; and
according to the Jews
when upon the spindleF13Misn.
Negaim
c. 11. sect. 8. :
whether in a skin
or anything made of skin; that is
whether in unwrought skin
which is not made up in anything
or in anything
that is made of skins
as tents
bottles
&c. but skins of fishes
according to the Jewish traditions
are excepted; for so they sayF14Misn.
Negaim
c. 11. sect. 1.
sea skins
i.e. skins of fishes
are not defiled by
plagues (of leprosy); for which the commentatorsF15Maimon. &
Bartenora in Misn. Edait
c. 7. sect. 8. give this reason
that as wool and
linen are of things which grow out of the earth
so must the skins be; that is
of such animals as live by grass
that springs out of the earth; but if
anything was joined unto them
which grew out of the earth
though but a
thread
that received uncleanness
it was defiled.
Leviticus 13:49. 49 and
if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment or in the leather
whether
in the warp or in the woof
or in anything made of leather
it is a
leprous plague and shall be shown to the priest.
YLT 49and the plague hath been very green or very
red in the garment
or in the skin
or in the warp
or in the woof
or in any
vessel of skin
it [is] a plague of leprosy
and it hath been shewn the priest.
And if the plague be greenish or reddish the garment
or in the
skin
.... Either of these two colours were signs of leprosy in
garments; but it is not agreed whether stronger or weaker colours are designed;
the radicals of both these words being doubled
according to some
and
particularly Aben Ezra
lessen the sense of them; and so our translators
understand it; but
according to Ben Gersom
the signification is increased
thereby
and the meaning is
if it be exceeding green or exceeding red; and
this is evidently the sense of the MisnahF16Misn. Negaim
c. 11.
sect. 4. ; garments are defiled by green in greens
and by red in reds
that
is
by the greenest and reddest; the green
the commentators sayF17Maimon.
& Bartenora in Misn. Edaiot
c. 7. sect. 8.
is like that of the wings of
peacocks and leaves of palm trees
and the red like crimson or scarlet; and now
these garments or skins
in which the green or red spots appeared
must be
white
and not coloured or dyed: the canon runs thusF18Misn. ut
supra
(c 11) sect. 3
4. ; skins and garments dyed are not defiled with plagues
(of leprosy); a garment whose warp is dyed
and its woof white
or its woof
dyed
and its warp white
all goes according to the sight; that is
according
to what colour to the eye most prevails
whether white or dyed:
either in the warp or in the woof
or in anything of the skin; the same held
good of these as of a garment
or anything else made of them:
it is a plague of leprosy; it has the signs of one
and gives great suspicion that it is one:
and shall be shewed unto the priest; by the person in whose
possession it is
that it may be examined and judged of whether it is a leprosy
or no.
Leviticus 13:50. 50 The
priest shall examine the plague and isolate that which has the plague
seven days.
YLT 50`And the priest hath seen the plague
and
hath shut up [that which hath] the plague
seven days;
And the priest shall look upon the plague
.... The green
or red spot in the garment
&c.
and shut up it that hath the plague seven days; the woollen
or linen garment
the warp or the woof
or skins
and those things that were
made of them.
Leviticus 13:51. 51 And he shall examine the
plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment
either in
the warp or in the woof
in the leather or in anything made of leather
the plague is an active leprosy. It is unclean.
YLT 51and he hath seen the plague on the seventh
day
and the plague hath spread in the garment
or in the warp
or in the woof
or in the skin
of all that is made of skin for work; the plague [is] a
fretting leprosy
it [is] unclean.
And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day
.... To see
whether there is any alteration in it in that space of time:
if the plague be spread in the garment
either in the warp or in
the woof
or in a skin
or in any work that is made of skin; the green and
red spot be spread more and more in either of them
whether the colour remains
the same or not
be changed
the green into red
or the red into green
yet if
there was a spreading
it was a sign of leprosy. According to the Jewish canonF19Misn.
Negaim
c. 11. sect. 3
4.
if the plague was green and spread red
or red and
spread green
it was unclean; that is
as BartenoraF20In ib.
explains it
if it was red in the size of a bean
and at the end of the week
the red had spread itself to green; or if at the beginning it was green like a
bean
and at the end of the week had spread itself to the size of a shekel
and
the root or spread of it was become red:
the plague is a fretting leprosy; according to
Jarchi
a sharp and pricking one
like a thorn; which signification the word
has in Ezekiel 28:24. Ben
Gersom explains it
which brings a curse
corruption
and oldness into the
thing in which it is; an old "irritated
exasperated" leprosy
as
BochartF21Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 45. col. 493.
from the use
of the word in the Arabic tongue
translates it:
it is unclean; and the garment or thing
in which it is.
Leviticus 13:52. 52 He
shall therefore burn that garment in which is the plague
whether warp or woof
in wool or in linen
or anything of leather
for it is an active
leprosy; the garment shall be burned in the fire.
YLT 52`And he hath burnt the garment
or the warp
or the woof
in wool or in linen
or any vessel of skin in which the plague is;
for it [is] a fretting leprosy; with fire it is burnt.
He shall therefore burn that garment
.... That
there may be no more use of it
nor profit from it; and this was done without
the city
as Ben Gersom asserts:
whether in warp or woof
in woollen or in linen
or anything of
skin
wherein the plague is; all and either of them
were to be burnt:
for it is a fretting leprosy; See Gill on Leviticus 13:51
it shall be burnt in the fire; which may teach both to
hate the garment spotted with the flesh
and to put no trust in and have no
dependence on a man's own righteousness
which is as filthy rags
and both are
such as shall be burnt
and the loss of them suffered
even when a man himself
is saved
yet so as by fire
1 Corinthians 3:15.
Leviticus 13:53. 53 “But
if the priest examines it
and indeed the plague has not spread in the
garment
either in the warp or in the woof
or in anything made of leather
YLT 53`And if the priest see
and lo
the plague
hath not spread in the garment
or in the warp
or in the woof
or in any
vessel of skin
And if the priest shall look
.... On the seventh day
as before
after shutting up:
and
behold
the plague be not spread in the garment
either in
the warp
or in the woof
or in anything of skin; but is at an entire
stay
that it may be hoped it is not a fretting leprosy: so when men do not
proceed to more ungodliness
as wicked men commonly do
but there is a stop put
to their vicious life and conversation
it is an hopeful sign of future good.
Leviticus 13:54. 54 then
the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the
plague; and he shall isolate it another seven days.
YLT 54then hath the priest commanded
and they have
washed that in which the plague [is]
and he hath shut it up a second seven
days.
Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing
wherein the plague is
.... The priest did not wash it himself
but
ordered others to do it; and this was either the part in which the plague was
or the whole garment or skin in which it was; which may be typical of the
washing of the garments of men in the blood of Christ
which cleanses from all
sin
Revelation 7:14
and he shall shut it up seven days more: the garment
or skin in which the leprosy was
or suspected to be
to see what alteration
would be made by that time through the washing
whether the colour would be
altered
or whether it would spread any more or not.
Leviticus 13:55. 55 Then
the priest shall examine the plague after it has been washed; and indeed if
the plague has not changed its color
though the plague has not spread
it is
unclean
and you shall burn it in the fire; it continues eating away
whether
the damage is outside or inside.
YLT 55And the priest hath seen [that which hath]
the plague after it hath been washed
and lo
the plague hath not changed its
aspect
and the plague hath not spread
-- it [is] unclean; with fire thou dost
burn it; it [is] a fretting in its back-part or in its front-part.
And the priest shall look on the plague after it is washed
.... That is
on the second seventh day
or thirteenth day from his first inspection of it:
and
behold
if the plague has not changed its colour; and
the plague be not spread
it is unclean
thou shalt burn it in the fire; if it remains
just as it was at first
very green or very red
and has not diminished of its
colour at all
nor changed from one colour to another
although it should not
have spread itself
yet it is defiled
and to be burnt without the camp
as
before; that which spreads itself here and there
it is to be burnt:
it is after inward
whether it be bare within
or without; that is
whether it be threadbare on the wrong or right side of
the garment
the nap being eaten off by the leprosy; which shows it to be a
fretting
eating
and corroding one: in the Hebrew text it is
"in the
boldness of the hinder"
or "in the baldness of the fore part";
they are the same words which are used of the boldness of the back part and
fore part of the head
Leviticus 13:42;
the nap being off either of the outer and right side of the cloth
or of the
inner and wrong side
made it look like a bald head
whether before or behind.
Leviticus 13:56. 56 If
the priest examines it
and indeed the plague has faded after washing
it
then he shall tear it out of the garment
whether out of the warp or out of
the woof
or out of the leather.
YLT 56`And if the priest hath seen
and lo
the
plague [is] become weak after it hath been washed
then he hath rent it out of
the garment
or out of the skin
or out of the warp
or out of the woof;
And if the priest look
and
behold
the plague be somewhat
dark after the washing of it
.... Is become of a weaker colour
either
not quite so green
or not quite so red as it was
or is
"contracted"
and does not spread itself; see Gill on Leviticus 13:6; but
is rather become less:
then he shall rend it out of the garment
or out of the skin
or
out of the warp
or out of the woof; that is
that piece
which has the plague in it
and burn it
as Jarchi says; that so the whole may
not be lost
which is otherwise pure
and clean
and free from any infection.
The manner of expression confirms what I have observed on Leviticus 13:48;
that the warp and woof are considered as separate things
and as before they
are wove together
or wrought into one garment. This rending out may denote the
denying of ungodliness and worldly lusts
the parting with right eye and right
hand sins
and having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
Leviticus 13:57. 57 But
if it appears again in the garment
either in the warp or in the woof
or in
anything made of leather
it is a spreading plague; you shall
burn with fire that in which is the plague.
YLT 57and if it still be seen in the garment
or in
the warp
or in the woof
or in any vessel of skin
it [is] a fretting; with
fire thou dost burn it -- that in which the plague [is].
And if it appear still in the garment
either in the warp
or in
the woof
or in anything of skin
.... After the piece has
been rent out
in another part of the garment
&c. where before it was not
seen:
it is a spreading plague; or leprosy; a
flourishing one
as the word signifies
a growing and increasing one:
thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire; according to
Aben Ezra
only that part in which the plague was; but Jarchi says the whole
garment; with whom Ben Gersom seems to agree
who reads the words
thou shall
burn it
with that in which the plague is; the whole garment
skin
warp
or
woof
along with the part in which the leprosy is.
Leviticus 13:58. 58 And
if you wash the garment
either warp or woof
or whatever is made of leather
if the plague has disappeared from it
then it shall be washed a second time
and shall be clean.
YLT 58`And the garment
or the warp
or the woof
or any vessel of skin which thou dost wash when the plague hath turned aside
from them
then it hath been washed a second time
and hath been clean.
And the garment
either warp or woof
or whatsoever thing of skin it
be
which thou shalt wash
.... After it had been shut up seven days
and viewed by the priest again: if the plague be departed from them: upon a
review of them:
then it shall be washed the second time
and shall be clean; and so
reckoned even thoroughly clean
and used; this denotes the thorough washing and
cleansing of sinners by the blood of Jesus
see Psalm 51:2; this
washing was by dipping; and so the Targum renders it; and Jarchi observes
that
all washings of garments
which are for dipping
they interpret by the same
word.
Leviticus 13:59. 59 “This
is the law of the leprous plague in a garment of wool or linen
either
in the warp or woof
or in anything made of leather
to pronounce it clean or
to pronounce it unclean.”
YLT 59`This [is] the law of a plague of leprosy
[in] a garment of wool or of linen
or of the warp or of the woof
or of any
vessel of skin
to pronounce it clean or to pronounce it unclean.'
This is the law of the plague of leprosy
.... The rules
by which it was to be judged of; whether or no it was
in a garment of woollen
or linen
either the warp or woof
or any
thing of skins; which include everything in which this sort of leprosy was:
to pronounce it clean
or to pronounce it unclean; either to
declare it free from the plague of the leprosy
or as infected with it
and so
accordingly dispose of it.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)