Leviticus 13:47-59

LEPROSY IN LINEN, WOOLEN, AND LEATHER FABRICS AND CLOTHES 13:47-59
TEXT 13:47-59

47

The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woolen garment, or a linen garment;

48

whether it be in warp, or woof; or linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin;

49

if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be showed unto the priest.

50

And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up that which hath the plague seven days:

51

and he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever service skin is used for; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.

52

And he shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in woollen or in linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.

53

And if the priest shall look and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin;

54

then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:

55

and the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague have not changed its color, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire: it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or without.

56

And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be dim after the washing thereof, then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:

57

and if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is breaking out: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.

58

And the garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.

59

This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 13:47-59

268.

What is meant by leprous disease in a garment?

269.

How could decay touch the warp of a garment without also touching the woof?

270.

What was the danger in having leprosy in garments?

271.

When was a garment to be burned?

272.

If the disease has not spread what is to be done with the garment?

273.

The change of color is very important. Why?

274.

When would it be proper to tear out the area affected?

275.

If it appears somewhere in the garment after the area has been torn outthen what?

276.

Isn-'t all of this effort one to get rid of mildew? Discuss.

PARAPHRASE 13:47-59

If leprosy is suspected in a woolen or linen garment or fabric, or in a piece of leather or leather-work, and there is a greenish or a reddish spot in it, it is probably leprosy, and must be taken to the priest to be examined. The priest will put it away for seven days and look at it again on the seventh day. If the spot has spread, it is a contagious leprosy, and he must burn the clothing, fabric, linen or woolen covering, or leather article, for it is contagious and must be destroyed by fire. But if when he examines it again on the seventh day the spot has not spread, the priest shall order the suspected article to be washed, then isolated for seven more days. If after that time the spot has not changed its color, even though it has not spread, it is leprosy and shall be burned, for the article is infected through and through. But if the priest sees that the spot has faded after the washing, then he shall cut it out from the garment or leather goods or whatever it is in. However, if it then reappears, it is leprosy and he must burn it. But if after washing it there is no further trouble, it can be put back into service after another washing. These are the regulations concerning leprosy in a garment or anything made of skin or leather, indicating whether to pronounce it leprous or not.

COMMENT 13:47-59

Leviticus 13:47-59 An effort is made by some authorities to prove that the leprous condition of the garments and fabrics was caused by the same germ that infected man. If such were the case, i.e. the decay of clothes was exactly the same, i.e. identical to the infectious decay of human flesh it would indeed be a miracle. We are not denying this possibility, but it does seem just as reasonable to conclude that the effects of a damp climate are here being described and mildew is the problem.

Wool, linen and leather was the only substance used by the Israelites for clothes. (Cf. Deuteronomy 22:11; Hosea 2:7; Hosea 2:11; Proverbs 31:1-31; Proverbs 13:1-25) Reference to the warp, or woof (Leviticus 13:48-49) has posed a problem as to just how decay could touch one set of threads without the other. The thought that mildew could infect the heap of yarn used for either warp or woof before it was used for weaving seems to answer the question.

The green or red color is again introduced as a sign of the possible presence of leprosy. The seven days of quarantine is also used. If the decay has not spread after seven days a washing could provide all the cleansing needed; however another seven days are necessary before a decision can be given. If the color had not changed after the first washing, the garment must be burned. After the second seven days if the rotting has not spread or changed color, the portion affected can be torn out of the garment. The diseased portion must be burnedthe remaining portion is to be washed and considered clean.
It is difficult to avoid the impression that God is at work in the clothesthe housesand in every other part of the daily life of the Israelite. God could and did use these very ordinary items to teach many lessons to those who wanted to learn. The largest and most constant lesson was of His interest and control of the mundane matters of every day. A corollary lesson was: every man's need to obey Godthe habit of doing what He commands develops the essential character quality for maturing in His way of life. How very much this lesson is needed today as it was in the day when God spoke to Moses and Aaron!

FACT QUESTIONS 13:47-59

319.

In what way do some define leprosy of the house? How do others consider it?

320.

Name the three substances used by the Israelites for clothes. Show how leprosy could touch the woof and not the warp.

321.

Define the use of the two sets of seven days.

322.

What are two good lessons to learn from this section?