Leviticus 13:9-17

b. SECOND CASE 13:9-17
TEXT 13:9-17

9

When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;

10

and the priest shall look; and, behold, if there be a white rising in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising.

11

it is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean: he shall not shut him up; for he is unclean.

12

And if the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his feet, as far as appeareth to the priest;

13

then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.

14

But whensoever raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.

15

And the priest shall look on the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean: it is leprosy.

16

Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, then he shall come unto the priest;

17

and the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 13:9-17

245.

Some persons had a case of chronic leprosy. What were its symptoms?

246.

Who was not shut up or quarantined when he was brought to the priest? Why?

247.

A breaking out of leprosy can be good, When? Why?

248.

Any practical lessons in this for us?

PARAPHRASE 13:9-17

When anyone suspected of having leprosy is brought to the priest, the priest is to look to see if there is a white swelling in the skin with white hairs in the spot, and an ulcer developing. If he finds these symptoms, it is an established case of leprosy, and the priest must pronounce him defiled. The man is not to be quarantined for further observation, for he is definitely diseased. But if the priest sees that the leprosy has erupted and spread all over his body from head to foot wherever he looks, then the priest shall pronounce him cured of leprosy, for it has all turned white; he is cured. But if there is raw flesh anywhere, the man shall be declared a leper. It is proved by the raw flesh. But if the raw flesh later changes to white, the leper will return to the priest to be examined again. If the spot indeed turned completely white, then the priest will pronounce him cured.

COMMENT 13:9-17

Leviticus 13:9-17 This is the second case to be considered (the first was in Leviticus 13:4-8). Supposing the leprosy returns after the man is pronounced clean? Such is here to be considered.

Upon discovery of a white eruption the first step is always a visit to the priest. There are two indications to be noticed of a real reappearance of leprosy: (1) a white swelling in the skin; (2) the hair in the skin of the swelling will be turned to white. There must be both a white rising and white hair. An additional indication is the appearance of raw flesh in the swelling, i.e. if the swelling breaks open and exposes the raw flesh. Either this symptom or the white swelling and white hair will indicate the sure return of the disease. Some commentators interpret the phrase quick raw flesh as an insulated spot of sound flesh in the midst of a tubercle. In either case there was no need for quarantine. Leprosy was present and should be at once pronounced.

Leviticus 13:13 gives a curious exception: ... if the leprosy has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean. This is a clear indication of the crisis of this form of leprosythe white scaling will fall off and he will be well. The breaking out of the leprous matter in this complete and rapid way upon the surface of the whole body was the crisis of the disease; the diseased matter turned into a scurf, which died away and fell off. (Keil)

Leprosy was very unpredictable and needed constant and careful surveillance. Any breaking out of proud flesh or raw flesh sores was an indication that what seemed to be a cure was only temporarythe disease has not run its course and the patient must again be counted as unclean. It could be that the leprosy will fluctuate back and forth between an apparent crisis and ulcers of proud flesh several times. Each time is an occasion for an examination and a pronouncement of clean or unclean.

FACT QUESTIONS 13:9-17

297.

How would you describe the circumstances of the second case?

298.

Describe the two sure symptoms of returned leprosy.

299.

What was said of raw flesh?

300.

Leviticus 13:13 gives a curious exception. What was it?

301.

Why do we say leprosy is unpredictable?