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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 14:1-9

Here, I. It is supposed that the plague of the leprosy was not an incurable disease. Uzziah's indeed continued to the day of his death, and Gehazi's was entailed upon his seed; but Miriam's lasted only seven days: we may suppose that it often wore off in process of time. Though God contend long, he will not contend for ever. II. The judgment of the cure, as well as that of the disease, was referred to the priest. He must go out of the camp to the leper, to see whether his leprosy was healed,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 14:3

And the priest shall go forth out of the camp ,.... A little without the camp, as Ben Gersom notes. There have been several goings forth of Christ our High Priest; first in the council and covenant of grace and peace, when he became the surety of his people; then in time by the assumption of human nature, when he came forth from his Father, and came into the world to save them; next, when he went forth out of the city of Jerusalem to suffer for them; and also, when, at the time of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 14:4

Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed ,.... The command is by the priest, the taking is by any man, as Ben Gersom observes; anyone whom he shall command, the leper himself, or his friends. Aben Ezra interprets it, the priest shall take of his own; but he adds, there are some that explain it, the leper shall give them to him, namely, what follows: two birds alive, and clean ; any sort of birds, to whom this description agrees; for not any particular sort... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 14:5

And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed ,.... That is, shall command another priest to kill one of them, or an Israelite, as Aben Ezra; and who also observes, that some say the leper, or the butcher, as the Targum of Jonathan; the killing of this bird, not being a sacrifice, might be done without the camp, as it was, and not at the altar, near to which sacrifices were slain, and where they were offered: and this was to be done in an earthen vessel over running water ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 14:3

The priest shall go forth out of the camp - As the leper was separated from the people, and obliged, because of his uncleanness, to dwell without the camp, and could not be admitted till the priest had declared that he was clean; hence it was necessary that the priest should go out and inspect him, and, if healed, offer for him the sacrifices required, in order to his re-admission to the camp. As the priest alone had authority to declare a person clean or unclean, it was necessary that the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 14:4

Two birds alive and clean, etc. - Whether these birds were sparrows, or turtledoves, or pigeons, we know not; probably any kind of clean bird, or bird proper to be eaten, might be used on this occasion, though it is more likely that turtle-doves or pigeons were employed, because these appear to have been the only birds offered in sacrifice. Of the cedarwood, hyssop, clean bird, and scarlet wool or fillet, were made an aspergillum, or instrument to sprinkle with. The cedar-wood served for the... read more

Adam Clarke

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 14:3

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 14:1-9

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 14:1-20

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

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