This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall. The leprosy in general in the bodies of men, and of that in particular which was on the head and beard, and went by the name of the scall, Leviticus 13:29 . In Leviticus 14:54 is a recapitulation of the several laws and rules relating to leprosy of all kinds, delivered in this and the preceding chapter. read more
And for the leprosy of a garment ,.... Of which see Leviticus 13:47 , and of an house ; largely treated of in this chapter, Leviticus 14:34 . read more
And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot. Which were three sorts of leprosy in the skin of man's flesh; See Gill on Leviticus 13:2 . read more
To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean ,.... A man, his garment, or his house; for it respects them all, as Aben Ezra observes; which was the business of the priests to teach men, and they by the above laws and rules were instructed how to judge of cases, and by which they were capable of pronouncing persons or things clean or unclean: this is the law of leprosy ; respecting every sort of it, and which is very remarkably enlarged upon. 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
Leprosy in a house. From the first of these verses it is concluded that leprosy was not an ordinary disease, but a plague inflicted immediately by a judgment from God. That it was so inflicted in some instances upon persons cannot be disputed (see Numbers 12:10 ; 2 Kings 5:27 ; 2 Kings 15:5 ), and God threatens to curse the house of the wicked with such a plague ( Zechariah 5:4 ). The Jews view it in this light, and consequently regard leprosy as incurable except by the hand of... read more
These verses contain the concluding formula for Leviticus 13:1-59 , Leviticus 14:1-57 . The various names of leprosy and its kindred diseases are resumed from Leviticus 13:2 . read more
Leviticus 14:57. To teach when it is unclean and when it is clean To direct the priest when to pronounce a person or house clean or unclean. Upon the whole, we may see in these laws the religious care we ought to take of ourselves to keep our minds from the dominion of all sinful affections and dispositions, which are both their disease and their defilement, that we may be fit for the service of God. We ought also to avoid all bad company, and, as much as may be, coming within the danger of... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 14:54-57
This is the conclusion of this law concerning the leprosy. There is no repetition of it in Deuteronomy, only a general memorandum given (Deut. 24:8), Take heed in the plague of leprosy. We may see in this law, 1. The gracious care God took of his people Israel, for to them only this law pertained, and not to the Gentiles. When Naaman the Syrian was cured of his leprosy he was not bidden to show himself to the priest, though he was cured in Jordan, as the Jews that were cured by our Saviour... read more