Shall let the living bird loose - The Jews teach that wild birds were employed on this occasion, no tame or domestic animal was used. Mr. Ainsworth piously conjectures that the living and dead birds were intended to represent the death and resurrection of Christ, by which an atonement was made to purify the soul from its spiritual leprosy. The bird let loose bears a near analogy to the scapegoat. See Leviticus 16. read more
Verse 2 2This shall be the law of the leper. Moses now treats of the manner in which those who were cured of leprosy were to be cleansed and restored. Thus far he had shewn whom the priest was to admit into the holy congregation, and account to be clean; he now prescribes the rite of expiation, whereby the people might learn how greatly God abominates the uncleanness, which He commands to be purified by a solemn propitiation; and also that he who is healed may acknowledge that he is rescued... read more
Verse 3 3And the priest shall go forth. This is the examination, which was more fully treated of in the last chapter, without which it was not lawful to receive him who had been once rejected. The priest’s command, which is mentioned immediately afterwards, I refer to the Levites, some one of whom probably accompanied the priest to prepare the sacrifice, that thus the priests might only discharge the principal duty. The sum of the rite respecting the two birds tends to this, that the cleansing... read more
The cleansing of the leper-ceremonies outside the camp. As leprosy is evidently a remarkable emblem of sin, so must the cleansing of the leper represent the purification of the sinner, and the laws of the cleansing, the provisions of the gospel. The text brings under our notice— I. THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED . These were: 1 . That the leprosy be healed. 2 . That the priest certify the fact. II. THE OFFERING MADE . 1 . The sacrifice. 2 . Its... read more
Restoration suggestions. The ceremonies here enjoined in the event of leprosy being healed suggest four things. I. AN INTERESTING PASSAGE IN THE LIFE OF OUR LORD . Our Saviour's experiences may be divided into: Of these the last may be the least important, but they will never be unimportant. They will always remain one strong, convincing proof of his Godhead. And of these works the healing of leprosy—incurable by human art—was one of the most decisive. In this work... read more
Thorough purification. Spiritual disease is often neglected by persons who are extremely anxious respecting some disease of the physical frame. For the former they seek no remedy, and display no concern as to its ultimate issue, whereas the latter is viewed with unceasing distress. Would that every spiritual leper entertained just conceptions regarding his state! The ceremonies of this chapter are pregnant with interest for us today. Two stages in the leper's cleansing are set before us. ... read more
The cleansing of the leper represents the absolution of the sinner, as his exclusion from the camp represented spiritual excommunication. I. THE LAW OF CHRISTIAN EXCOMMUNICATION AND ABSOLUTION , "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" ( Matthew 16:19 ). "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and... read more
The cleansing of sin as illustrated in the cleansing of the leper. cf. 2 Kings 5:1-27 ; Matthew 8:1-4 ; Luke 5:12-15 . We have seen the possibility of a cure of leprosy in the directions for its diagnosis given to the priests. The cured leper had also to be cleansed before admitted to the society of the faithful. In this chapter we have the cleansing of the leper detailed. In this we are to discern the cleansing of sin. Naaman's case is instructive upon this point. He was cured by... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 14:5
Over running water - Literally, living, that is, spring water. The meaning appears to be this: Some water (about a quarter of a log, an eggshell and a half full, according to the rabbins) was taken from a spring, and put into a clean earthen vessel, and they killed the bird over this water, that the blood might drop into it; and in this blood and water mixed, they dipped the instrument before described, and sprinkled it seven times upon the person who was to be cleansed. The living or spring... read more