Leviticus 14

Chap. XIV. Ver. 1—57. here appointed for healing the leper: being no other than his ceremonial puri, cation, previously to his re-admission to sacred ordinances and to society, when the Lord had been pleased to remove the plague: and the rules given very aptly represent many of the duties of repenting sinners, as well as those of ministers respecting them.—It seems the priests might visit the lepers, and even touch them, without contracting uncleanness: and the seasonable instruction which _ | _ 5 _ ©. eae ee ee ee Be Leprosy cleansed.—No means are the cleansing mentioned they might give them, as well as the assistance that they would be able to afford them in their devotions, might often render this a great mercy and comfort to them under their affliction.

The “two birds,” one slain over springing water in an earthen vessel, and the other set at liberty, having been dipped in this mixture of blood and water, may signify Christ shedding his blood for sinners, and then rising and ascending into heaven, there to appear in the presence of God for us: or the bird that was slain may represent the Saviour dying for our sins; and the living bird, the sinner, preserved and liberated, by being washed in his atoning blood, and the purifying grace of his Spirit; and being set free from sin and Satan, seeking those pis A DAUD GE RS RED S005) IPG Co Dae AFT CL ENS RE 8 BO eae of God.” The “cedar-wood,” a supposed emblem of the soundness of the cleansed leper’s flesh, may denote the sincerity of the true convert’s heart, and the incorruptible nature of true grace: the “scarlet,”

as distinguished from the glistening whiteness of the leprosy, might imply that the man was recovered to his former ruddy complexion, and represent the true penitent as come to himself and to his right mind: the “hyssop” might signify faith, of small estimation among men, but of great efficacy in applying the salvation of Christ to the soul; or it might show that mean instruments may be useful in directing sinners to Christ. These were to be dipped in the blood and water: for all our sincerity, repentance, and faith, are derived from the Holy Spirit, and are accepted only through the blood of the Saviour.—T. Scott.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XIV. Ver. 4. Two birds alive.—(Or, sparrows.—The word tzippor, from the Arabic zaphara, to fly, is used in the Scriptures to denote birds of every species, particularly small birds. But it is often used in a more restricted sense, as the Hebrew writers assert, to signify the sparrow. Aquinas says the same; and Jerome renders it here the sparrow. So the Greek strothia, in Matthew and Luke, which signifies a sparrow, is rendered by the Syriac translator tzipparin, the same as the Hebrew tzipporim. Nor is it peculiar to the Hebrews to give the same name to the sparrow and to fowls of the largest size; for Nicander calls the hen, the domestic sparrow, and both Plautus and Ausonius call the ostrich, passer marinus, ‘the marine sparrow.’

It is evident, however, that the word in this passage signifies birds in general; for if the sparrow was a clean bird, there was no necessity for commanding a clean one to be taken; since every one of the species was ceremonially clean; but if it was unclean, then it could not be called clean.—Bagster. This ceremony, in its typical import, seems very similar to the sacrifice of the scape-goat; which see, Chap. xvi. Ver. 9. Wash his flesh.—Lichtenstein states, that “Among the Koossas (a nation of South Africa,) there are certain prevailing notions respecting moral (ceremonial) uncleanness. All children are unclean till they are admitted among grown up persons, (which happens with the males through the various ceremonies attending circumcision;) all lying-in women are unclean for the first month; all men who have lost their wives, for a fortnight; and all widows, for a month;—a mother who has lost a child, for two days; all persons who have been present at a death, the men returning from a battle, &c.

No one may have intercourse with such an unclean person, till he has washed himself, rubbed his body with fresh paint, and rinsed his mouth with milk. But he must not do this till after the lapse of a certain time, fixed by general consent for each particular case, and during this time he must wholly refrain from washing, painting, or drinking milk.’”—Bagster. Le Ver. 22. Turtle doves.—(The dove is a genus of birds, too well known to need a specific description; and of which there are several species besides the turtle dove; as the wood pigeon, tame pigeon, and others. The dove is universally allowed to be one of the most beautiful objects in nature. The brilliancy and image, the splendour of her eye, the innocence of her look, the excellence of her dispositions, and the purity of her manners, have been the theme of admiration and praise in every age.

To the snowy whiteness of her wings, and the rich golden hues that adorn her neck, the inspired Psalmist alludes in most elegant strains. ((Psalms 68:13).) She is the chosen emblem of gentleness, chastity, and feminine timidity; and for this reason, as well as from their abounding in the east, they were probably chosen as offerings by Jehovah.—Bagster. Ver. 34. Leprosy in a house.—It was probably from this text, that the leprosy has been in general considered to be a supernatural disease, inflicted immediately by God himself; but it cannot be inferred from this expression, as it is well known, that in Scripture, God is frequently represented as doing what, in the course of his providence, he only permits to be done.

The house-leprosy is considered by Michaelis to be the same as the salt-petre, which sometimes attacks and corrodes the houses that stand in damp situations. He states, that it is not, properly speaking, salt-petre, but an acid of nitre, from which, by the addition of a fixed alkali, salt-petre can be made. It is sometimes owing to other causes, as the acid of sea salt; and the component parts of the efflorescence have been found to approach very near to those of Epsom salts, that is, vitriolic acid and magnesia. It affects mouldy walls to such a degree as to occasion their tumbling down; spoiling things which lie near them; and being even pernicious to health, especially when sleeping close to the wall.—Bagster.

Ver. 44. Break down the house.—[From the view which Michaelis takes of the house-leprosy, he conceives that the Mosaic ordinances on this subject become easily intelligible, and are both wise and provident. The very things, says Michaelis, that must be done, at the present day, if we want to clear the house of salt-petre. It is proper to observe, however, that some learned men are of opinion, that the house was really infected with the human leprosy; and that the infection of the house, as well as of the person and the garments, proceeded from animalcula.]—Bagster.