Leviticus 13:18-23

c. THE THIRD CASE 13:18-23
TEXT 13:18-23

18

And when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a boil, and it is healed,

19

and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be showed to the priest;

20

and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil.

21

But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and it be not lower than the skin, but be dim; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

22

and if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.

23

But if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 13:18-23

249.

Why be concerned if a boil or an abscess has been healed?

250.

How does the priest decide there is a serious problem in the circumstance here described?

251.

Some persons were released and pronounced clean. Describe the circumstances.

PARAPHRASE 13:18-23

In the case of a man who has a boil in his skin which heals, but which leaves a white swelling or a bright spot, sort of reddish white, the man must go to the priest for examination. If the priest sees that the trouble seems to be down under the skin, and if the hair at the spot has turned white, then the priest shall declare him defiled, for leprosy has broken out from the boil. But if the priest sees that there are no white hairs in this spot, and the spot does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and if the color is gray, then the priest shall quarantine him for seven days. If during that time the spot spreads, the priest must declare him a leper. But if the bright spot grows no larger and does not spread, it is merely the scar from the boil, and the priest shall declare that all is well.

COMMENT 13:18-23

Leviticus 13:18-23 According to those who administered the law in the time of Christ, the boil and inflammation here meant are such as arise from a stroke by a piece of wood or a stone, from having come in contact with pitch or hot water, thus distinguishing it from the burn by fire mentioned in Leviticus 13:13. (C. D. Ginsburg)

If the priest found the appearance of the diseased spot lower than the surrounding skin, and the hair upon it turned white, he was to pronounce the person unclean. It is a mole of leprosy: it has broken out upon the abscess. But if the hair has not turned white upon the spot, and there was no depression on the skin, and it (the spot) was pale, the priest was to shut him up for seven days. If the mole spread upon the skin during this period, it was leprosy; but if the spot stood in its place, it had not spread, it was the closing of the abscess. (Keil)

FACT QUESTIONS 13:18-23

302.

What was the cause of this boil or inflammation?

303.

What two conditions must prevail before the priest pronounces it leprosy?

304.

What happens during the seven days to determine the decision of the priest?