Topical Bible: Leprosy: Houses: Suspected of, Inspected by Priest

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In the biblical context, leprosy is not limited to a disease affecting human skin but also extends to a condition that could afflict garments and houses. The term "leprosy" in the Bible often refers to a variety of skin diseases and mold or mildew in fabrics and buildings. The laws concerning leprosy in houses are detailed in the Book of Leviticus, specifically in chapter 14, which outlines the procedures for dealing with a house suspected of having leprosy.

Biblical Procedure for Suspected Leprosy in Houses

When a house is suspected of having leprosy, the owner is required to report it to a priest. The priest plays a crucial role in diagnosing and managing the condition, as outlined in Leviticus 14:33-53. The process begins with the priest inspecting the house to determine the presence of a plague.

Inspection by the Priest

Upon receiving a report of a suspected leprous condition in a house, the priest is to conduct an inspection. Leviticus 14:36-37 states, "The priest is to order that the house be cleared before he enters it to examine the mildew, so that nothing in the house will become unclean. After this, the priest shall go in to inspect the house. He will examine the mildew on the walls, and if it has greenish or reddish depressions that appear to be deeper than the surface of the wall..."

If the priest finds evidence of a spreading mildew, the house is declared unclean. The priest will then order the house to be closed up for seven days, as described in Leviticus 14:38 : "The priest shall go out of the house to the doorway and close it up for seven days."

Further Actions and Cleansing

After the seven-day period, the priest returns to inspect the house again. If the mildew has spread, the affected stones must be removed and discarded outside the city in an unclean place. The house is then scraped, and the plaster is replaced. If the mildew reappears after these measures, the house is considered to have a persistent leprous condition and must be demolished, as stated in Leviticus 14:45 : "It must be torn down—its stones, its timbers, and all the plaster—and taken outside the city to an unclean place."

If, however, the mildew does not reappear after the house has been replastered, the house is declared clean. The priest then performs a cleansing ritual involving two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, as described in Leviticus 14:49-53 .

Spiritual and Symbolic Significance

The laws concerning leprosy in houses underscore the importance of holiness and purity in the community of Israel. The presence of leprosy in a house could symbolize spiritual decay or sin, necessitating purification and restoration. The priest's role in inspecting and cleansing the house highlights the need for divine intervention and guidance in maintaining the sanctity of the dwelling place.

These regulations also reflect the broader biblical theme of God's concern for the health and well-being of His people, both physically and spiritually. The meticulous procedures for dealing with leprosy in houses serve as a reminder of the need for vigilance and obedience to God's commandments in all aspects of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 14:37
And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... gradually gave way before the two houses of Ephraim ... Uzziah is recorded, and where
the leprosy by which ... among their contemporaries must have suspected that the ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm