“When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: rising: or, swelling”
That it may be suspected to be the leprosy.
“And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.”
Hebrew, shall pollute him. That is, shrunken in, and be lower than the rest of the skin.
“And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.”
Hebrew, shall cleanse him. As having the skin drawn together, or blackish.
“And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.”
As touching his bodily disease: for his disease was not imputed to him for sin before God, though it were the punishment of sin. Or, be spread abroad.
“Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.”
For it is not that contagious leprosy that infecteth, but a kind of scurvy, which hath not the flesh raw as the leprosy.
“And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.”
That is, declareth that the flesh is not found, but is in danger to be leprous.
“And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.”
None were exempted, but if the Priest pronounced him unclean, he was put out from among the people: as appeareth by Mary the prophetess, Num. 12:14 , and by king Uzziah, 2 Chron. 26:20 .
“Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white; a hot: Heb. a burning of fire”
If he have a white spot in the place where the burning was, and was after healed.
“Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.”
Which was not wont to be there, or else smaller than in any other part of the body.
“Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.”
He shall not care whether the yellow hair be there or no.
“And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.”
By sickness, or any other inconvenience.
“And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.”
Either in token of mourning, or for fear of infecting others. In sign of sorrow and lamentation.
“All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.”
Cross references: : Num. 5:2 ; 2 Kings 15:5
“And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest: thing: Heb. vessel, or, instrument”
Whether it be garment, vessel, or instrument.
“And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin;”
But abide still in one place, as verse 37 .
“And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without. whether: Heb. whether it be bald in the head thereof, or in the forehead thereof”
But remain as it did before. Or, whether it be in any bare place before, or behind.
“And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.”
To the intent he might be sure that the leprosy was departed, and that all occasion of infection might be taken away.