After the healed leper has washed his clothes, and shaved off all his hair, and washed himself with water, so as to leave no remnant of his former defilement that can be removed, the first stage of his purification is over. He is restored to the camp, but not yet to the sanctuary, nor to his position as head or member of his family. He has still to undergo another week's purgation, and until that time has elapsed he may not live in his tent. read more
But it shall be on the seventh day. The pause for seven days, followed by placing the blood on the tip of the right ear, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the great toe of the right foot, and the subsequent anointing with off, irresistibly call to mind the ceremonies of the consecration of priests ( Leviticus 8:35 , Leviticus 8:23 , Leviticus 8:24 , Leviticus 8:12 , Leviticus 8:30 ), and no doubt they are intended to do so. The whole nation was in a sense a priestly... read more
The ceremonies in the second stage of cleansing, which restored the late outcast to his home and to his covenant-right, were the following; 1 . At the end of seven days he repeated the process of washing, shaving, and bathing. 2 . On the eighth day he brought a lamb for a trespass offering, a leg of oil, a meat offering, a sin offering, and a burnt offering. 3 . The priest that officiated at the cleansing presented him and his offerings at the door of the tabernacle. 4 . He... read more
The best of all types of the healing of the Spirit, was the healing of the leper. In his formal cleansing, consecration, and atonement by sacrifice (see the notes at Leviticus 14:9-20), the ministers of the sanctuary bore public witness that he was restored to the blessing of communion with his brethren and with Yahweh. Hence, when the Son of God proved His divine mission by healing the lepers Matthew 11:5, He did not excuse them from going to the priest to “offer for the cleansing those things... read more
Leviticus 14:8. All his hair Partly to discover his perfect soundness, partly to preserve him from a relapse through any relics of it which might remain in his hair or in his clothes. Out of his tent Out of his former habitation, in some separate place, lest some of his leprosy, yet lurking in him, should break forth to the infection of his family. read more
Leviticus 14:9. He shall shave all his hair Which began to grow again, and now, for more caution, is again shaved off. He shall be clean Legally declared so to be, so as to be readmitted both to his family and the public worship. read more
Restoration after healing (14:1-32)A lengthy ritual was laid down for the restoration of a cleansed leper or any other person who had been healed of an infectious skin disease. The ritual lasted more than a week, and began at the place where the person was temporarily living outside the camp (14:1-3; cf. v. 10).The cleansed person, previously ‘dead’ through his disease, symbolized his ‘death’ by killing a bird, symbolized his cleansing by draining the bird’s blood into a bowl of pure water, and... read more
seventh day. He was clean on the first day, now he enters into the enjoyment of it himself. wash his flesh in water = bathe his body. Flesh put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6 , for his body, as in Ecclesiastes 2:3 .Isaiah 10:8 . Ezekiel 10:12 . Occurs eight times in Leviticus (Leviticus 14:9 ; Leviticus 15:13 , Leviticus 15:16 ; Leviticus 16:4 , Leviticus 16:24 , Leviticus 16:26 , Leviticus 16:28 ; Leviticus 22:6 ), and is rendered in three different ways in Authorized... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 14:4-9
Admission (or readmission). When leprosy had departed from the flesh, he who had been, but no longer remained, a leper was, in the sight of Jehovah and of his people, still ceremonially unclean. He was in a bodily condition which made him readmissible to Divine and human fellowship, but he must first "be cleansed" ( Leviticus 14:4 ) before he would be readmitted. The ceremonies here prescribed give a picture of our readmission to the favour of God and the fellowship of his people. ... read more