The Treatment of Leprosy The word leprosy is now used to denote a malignant disease which in the Middle Ages swept over Europe and the British Isles. Traces of this visitation are found in the leper houses which were built in England. At present the disease is the subject of special treatment in No... [ Continue Reading ]
_Leprosy in man_(Leviticus 13:2-46) _Appearances in the skin which should be shewn to the priest_(2 8) 2. _a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot_ Of the three words thus translated, the first is a common Heb. word for -lifting up," but employed in these chs. only in the sense of a swelling in or u... [ Continue Reading ]
The distinctive marks of leprosy are the hair, which is generally very dark among Jews, turns while, and the swelling appears deep-seated; in that case the priest is at once to declare the man unclean.... [ Continue Reading ]
If any of the symptoms are not found, the man is to be shut up seven days and again examined.... [ Continue Reading ]
If the plague (i.e. the rising described in Leviticus 13:2) has not spread (the Heb. verb occurs only in chs. 13, 14), he is to be shut up another seven days, and if the spot then appears dull (the Heb. word in this sense is confined to the two chs.; it is applied to the eye becoming dim through age... [ Continue Reading ]
_after that he hath shewn himself to the priest for his cleansing_ i.e. in order to be declared clean. Three inspections by the priest are ordered with a week's interval between each. If during either week the rising spreads, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It will be noticed that the word... [ Continue Reading ]
The first part of this section is obscure; most modern commentators explain Leviticus 13:9 as referring to another form of leprosy in which the rising described in Leviticus 13:10 appears without any of the premonitory symptoms of Leviticus 13:2; if in addition to the white hair (already mentioned i... [ Continue Reading ]
_The case when the whole body is turned white_(12 17) A form of skin disease which is not infectious seems to be here indicated. A white efflorescence spreads over the whole body, which after a time peels off, and the skin resumes a healthy appearance. The presence of the raw flesh indicates diseas... [ Continue Reading ]
_Leprosy developing in the place of an old boil or a burn_(18 28) The distinguishing marks of leprosy are similar to those already indicated; it would seem that in these cases they are more easily recognised, for only one shutting up for seven days is required. The Heb. word (_shĕḥîn_) for -boil" i... [ Continue Reading ]
_the scar of the boil_ The Heb. for -scar" occurs only here and in Leviticus 13:28. It is from a root signifying -to burn," which is found in Ezekiel 20:47 (Heb. 21:3), -all faces … shall be burnt.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Leprosy in the hair of the head or face_(29 37) The treatment is similar to that in the preceding cases, but two periods of confinement are prescribed, and the hair is to be shaven after the first seven days.... [ Continue Reading ]
_yellow thin hair_ The Heb. word for -yellow" is used only here and in Leviticus 13:32_; Leviticus 13:36_. _a scall] a dry scall_A.V.; the Heb. word _néthek_is used only in this section, and denotes -what one is inclined to scratch or tear away" (_Oxf. Lex._).... [ Continue Reading ]
It is enjoined in the Mishna (Tal. Bab. _Neg._x. § 5) that two hairs on each side of the scall should be left so that the priest might judge whether the disease had spread.... [ Continue Reading ]
_White spots in the skin_(38, 39) These, if they are dull, and not of the character described in Leviticus 13:3, are a -tetter" (_freckled spot_A.V.), a skin disease which is not of a leprous character. The Heb. word _bohaḳ_(only in Leviticus 13:39) is still used by the Arabs to denote this kind of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Baldness in the back or front part of the head_(40 44) This is not in itself a sign of uncleanness, but if in either part a _reddish white plague_(_white reddish sore_A. V.) appears, he must be seen by the priest. The word -bald" in Leviticus 13:40 means bald at the back of the head, as distinguis... [ Continue Reading ]
_as the appearance of leprosy_ The criterion of white hair is absent, but the other tests of leprosy already mentioned are sufficient to determine whether the outbreak is leprous. According to tradition, two periods of seclusion were necessary as in Leviticus 13:2 and in Leviticus 13:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
_his clothes shall be rent_ not the usual Heb. word, but one used only here and in Leviticus 10:6; Leviticus 21:10; Jewish tradition exempted women from rending their clothes. The actions of the leper here prescribed are those of a mourner; rending the garments, and letting the hair go loose (cp. Le... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rules for treatment of leprous persons_(45, 46)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Leprosy in garments_(47 59) The nature of these spots in clothing is not clear. It is generally supposed that they are caused by mildew or moth (see Art. _Leprosy, HDB_.); another suggestion is that the clothing had been worn by a leprous person, but this is not stated in the text. The materials o... [ Continue Reading ]
_whether it be in warp, or woof_ The LXX. and other versions translate thus; another suggestion is that different ways of working up the material are meant (so R.V. mg.).... [ Continue Reading ]
_a fretting leprosy_ i.e. malignant.... [ Continue Reading ]
_it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or without_ The Heb. word for -fret" occurs only here, and probably means a depression in the surface caused by the material being eaten away. The Heb. words which follow are those used for baldness in the back or front of the head in Leviticus 13:40. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
If after washing, the colour is dim, the affected part is to be torn out, and if any further sign of infection is found, the garment must be burnt.... [ Continue Reading ]
The garment which after washing (Leviticus 13:54) shews no further sign of the plague, is to be washed again, and then declared clean.... [ Continue Reading ]