Leviticus 14
DOYLYChap. XV. ver. 5. And whosoever toucheth his bed &c.] It appears from this and the following verses, that this disease made a man unclean to the highest degree; insomuch that not only all he touched became unclean, but whoever touched such things was also made unclean. Bp. Patrick. All this mystically teaches us to beware of courting or choosing the conversation of those that have received any tincture of vice, and not to contract acquaintance with any persons who, we have reason to believe, are not on good terms with God. There is such a venomous contagion in vice and immorality, that familiarity with sinners does, of itself, make a man an associate in
Leviticus 14:34
- — I put the plague of leprosy in a house] These words seem manifestly to imply that this plague was not a common evil, but supernatural, and sent as a Divine judgment on the Jews for their sins in the land of Canaan, by which the inhabitants of that land were awakened to repentance. Bp. Kidder.
This subject, like that of the leprosy in clothes, is one on which we have very little information. The description given by Moses is precise, but there is nothing in any modern accounts corresponding to it. The circumstance that approaches nearest to it is that, according to the reports given of the plague of London, the walls of the rooms, where the sick lay, were discoloured green, red, &c. by the pestilential effluvia: and Dr. Mead says, that the houses themselves were infected by the plague. All the accounts which we have of the manner, in which pestilential contagion is retained for a long time in clothes, walls, &c. shew the absolute necessity of burning, or otherwise totally destroying the seeds of infection, whether in clothes, or in houses, as the Mosaick appointments strongly enjoin. Script. illust.
Respecting the leprosy in houses, it has been supposed by some that it was a wasting of the walls caused
by small insects, called stone worms, which live upon the stone and eat it gradually away. These worms commonly stick to those parts of buildings which are most moist, and easily penetrated; hence those parts are apt to be discoloured with green or reddish hues. Calmet. That this leprosy in particular was a Divine infliction is highly probable. The rabbies observe, that this sore disease was inflicted first upon the houses and garments as a punishment for lesser sins; and, if men continued in a course of wickedness, then it invaded their bodies; so that it began in their houses, which were not infected by the inhabitants, but the inhabitants by them. The signs, by which a leprosy was discovered in a house, were much the same as appeared in a human body. Lewis.
— of the land of your possession;] This seems to express emphatically that this leprosy was to be a Divine stroke in this country, and no where else; because it was a holy land, bestowed upon the Israelites by God, who dwelt there Himself, and punished great offences against His Divine Majesty with this sore disease; by which He banished them from His presence till they amended. Bp. Patrick.
Before CHRIST 1400. The cleansing of the house. The uncleanness of men. Before CHRIST 1490. coming in shall come in, &c. d Chap. 13. 30. day of the unclean, and in the day of the clean. the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even.
Leviticus 14:57
- — this is the law of leprosy.] Here is a conclusion of what relates to this matter. Profane minds, who love to disparage the Holy Scripture, may deride these minute precepts respecting leprosy, as unworthy to be made a part of a Divine law; but men better disposed may discern therein the great goodness of God to His chosen people, in taking care to give them precepts about all manner of things which were profitable, both for regulating their manners and preserving their health; and for accustoming them to an exact obedience to Himself in every respect. And who does not see that, by these external rites and ceremonies, He admonishes us to keep pure consciences, “void of offence toward God, and toward men,” in a strict observance of all the rules of our most holy religion? Bp. Patrick. All this God hath wisely appointed, in order to denote and figure out to us, in a more sensible manner, the danger of moral evil and vicious habits of mind, and to lead # CHAP. XV. Before CHRIST 1490.