Leviticus 14:3-32

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 14:10-20

Observe, I. To complete the purification of the leper, on the eighth day, after the former solemnity performed without the camp, and, as it should seem, before he returned to his own habitation, he was to attend at the door of the tabernacle, and was there to be presented to the Lord, with his offering, Lev. 14:11. Observe here, 1. That the mercies of God oblige us to present ourselves to him, Rom. 12:1. 2. When God has restored us to the liberty of ordinances again, after restraint by... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 14:21-32

We have here the gracious provision which the law made for the cleansing of poor lepers. If they were not able to bring three lambs, and three tenth-deals of flour, they must bring one lamb, and one tenth-deal of flour, and, instead of the other two lambs, two turtle-doves or two young pigeons, Lev. 14:21, 22. Here see, 1. That the poverty of the person concerned would not excuse him if he brought no offering at all. Let none think that because they are poor God requires no service from them,... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 14:6

As for the living bird, he shall take it ,.... And dispose of it as after directed; for there was an use for that: and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop ; which were all bound up in one bundle, but whether the living bird was joined to them is a question; according to Jarchi they were separate, the bird by itself, and the cedar wood, &c.; by themselves; they were neither bound together nor dipped together; and Ben Gersom is very distinct and expressive; we learn from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 14:7

And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times ,.... With the hyssop fastened to the cedar stick, with the scarlet wool or thread bound about it, dipped into the blood and water in the earthen vessel; to which the psalmist alludes, Psalm 51:7 ; the Egyptians had a great notion of "hyssop", as of a purifying nature, and therefore used to eat it with bread, to take off the strength of that F4 Chaeremon apud Porphyr. de Abstinentia, l. 4. sect. 6. :... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 14:8

And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes ,.... That there may be no remains of the infection in them, and that they might not convey an ill scent to others: so the conversation garments of the saints are to be washed in the blood of the Lamb, Revelation 7:14 , and shave off all his hair ; what is here expressed in general is more particularly declared in Leviticus 14:9 ; the hair of his head, beard, and eyebrows; according to Gersom, this was done by the priest, and so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 14:9

But it shall be on the seventh day ,.... After he was first brought to the priest, and cleansed by the two birds, taken and used for him as directed, and he had been shaved and washed: that he shall shave all his hair ; a second time, whatsoever was grown in those seven days: all off his head, and his beard, and his eyebrows; even all his hair he shall shave off ; not only the hair of the parts mentioned, but all other, the hair of his feet also, as Aben Ezra notes, who observes,... read more

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