Leviticus 13:40-44

g. THE SEVENTH CASE 13:40-44
TEXT 13:40-44

40

And if a man's hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; yet he is clean.

41

And if his hair be fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald; yet he is clean.

42

But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.

43

Then the priest shall look upon him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh;

44

he is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his plague is in his head.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 13:40-44

261.

Is the lack of hair a punishment from God?

262.

Two types of baldness are here described. What are they?

263.

This would seem to be the simplest type of examination and diagnosis. Why?

PARAPHRASE 13:40-44

If a man's hair is gone, this does not make him a leper even though he is bald! If the hair is gone from the front part of his head, he simply has a bald forehead, but this is not leprosy. However, if in the baldness there is a reddish white spot, it may be leprosy breaking out. In that case the priest shall examine him, and if there is a reddish white lump that looks like leprosy, then he is a leper, and the priest must pronounce him such.

COMMENT 13:40-44

Leviticus 13:40-44 Read 2 Kings 2:23; Isaiah 3:17; Jeremiah 48:37 and discuss the whole subject of baldness as a sign of punishment. The case before us is one of simple falling out of the hair, either from the crown of the head backwards or from the crown of the head forwards, and in either case the fact of baldness is no sign of uncleanness.

Some commentators feel the usual seven-day examination is inferred in this case and should so be read into the text. However the only clear symptom is a reddish-white eruption on either the fore or back portion of the head. The priest was evidently able to make a diagnosis from this simple but careful examination.

FACT QUESTIONS 13:40-44

312.

What conclusions can be drawn from a study of baldness?

313.

Are we to understand this form of leprosy would affect the brain? Discuss.

THE TREATMENT OF LEPERS 13:45, 46
TEXT 13:45, 46

45

And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

46

All the days wherein the plague is in him he shall be unclean; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his dwelling be.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 13:45, 46

264.

Are we to understand there are moral implications in all leprosy, i.e. that all lepers have leprosy because of their sin? Discuss.

265.

What was the meaning of tearing one's clothes and not combing his hair?

266.

Unclean in what regard?

267.

Why live alone? With other lepers? Was this observed in the days of our Lord?

PARAPHRASE 13:45, 46

Anyone who is discovered to have leprosy must tear his clothes and let his hair grow in wild disarray, and cover his upper lip and call out as he goes, I am a leper, I am a leper. As long as the disease lasts, he is defiled and must live outside the camp.

COMMENT 13:45, 46

Leviticus 13:45-46 Of the several comments on these verses we feel Keil has done such an admirable job of condensing into a paragraph all pertinent information: With regard to the treatment of lepers, the lawgiver prescribed that they should wear mourning costume, rend their clothes, leave their hair in disorder (Cf. Leviticus 10:6), keep the beard covered (Cf. Ezekiel 24:17; Ezekiel 24:22) and cry -unclean, unclean,-' that everyone might avoid them for fear of being defiled (Lamentations 4:15); and as long as the disease lasted they were to dwell apart outside the camp (Numbers 5:2; Numbers 12:10; Cf. 2 Kings 15:5; 2 Kings 7:3), a rule which implies that the leper rendered others unclean by contact.

In the case of priests, which is the subject considered in Leviticus, we would almost conclude that leprosy was a form of punishmentalthough the inferences are not conclusive.

FACT QUESTIONS 13:45, 46

314.

Was the mourning for sin or suffering?

315.

Tearing clothes was a sign of grief and repentance. Which is involved here?

316.

Why not groom the hair? Why cover the beard?

317.

To cry, unclean, unclean was an admission of need. What was it?

318.

Leprosy is called a living death. Why?