In the Old Testament, the role of priests in the purification of the unclean is a significant aspect of their duties, as outlined in the Mosaic Law. The priests served as mediators between God and the people, ensuring that the community remained holy and in right standing with God. The purification rituals were essential for maintaining the sanctity of the Israelite camp and the tabernacle, where God's presence dwelled.

Biblical Basis

The primary source for understanding the services of purifying the unclean is found in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 14:1-32 provides detailed instructions for the cleansing of a person afflicted with a skin disease, commonly referred to as leprosy. The process involved a series of rituals, including sacrifices and offerings, which the priest was responsible for conducting. The Berean Standard Bible states: "The LORD said to Moses, 'This is the law for the one afflicted with a skin disease on the day of his cleansing, when he is brought to the priest'" (Leviticus 14:1-2).

Rituals and Procedures

The purification process typically began with the examination of the afflicted individual by the priest. If the person was found to be healed, the priest would perform a ritual involving two live clean birds, cedarwood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop. One bird was sacrificed over fresh water, and the living bird, along with the cedarwood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop, was dipped in the blood of the sacrificed bird. The priest would then sprinkle the blood on the person to be cleansed seven times and release the living bird into the open field (Leviticus 14:4-7).

Following this initial ritual, the individual was required to wash their clothes, shave off all their hair, and bathe in water. After a period of seven days, further sacrifices were made, including a sin offering and a burnt offering, to complete the purification process (Leviticus 14:8-20).

Purification of Objects and Dwellings

The priests were also responsible for purifying objects and dwellings that had become unclean. Leviticus 14:33-53 outlines the procedure for cleansing a house afflicted with mold or mildew. The priest would inspect the house, and if the contamination was confirmed, the affected stones were removed and replaced. The house was then scraped and replastered. If the mold reappeared, the house was to be demolished. If the contamination did not return, the priest would perform a cleansing ritual similar to that for a person, involving the sacrifice of birds and the use of cedarwood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop (Leviticus 14:48-53).

Role of the Priest

The priest's role in these purification rituals was crucial, as they acted as God's appointed agents to declare individuals and objects clean or unclean. Their involvement underscored the importance of holiness and the need for atonement and reconciliation with God. The priests' duties in these matters were not merely ceremonial but were deeply spiritual, reflecting the seriousness of sin and impurity in the community.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the concept of purification takes on a spiritual dimension through the work of Jesus Christ. While the Levitical priests performed rituals to cleanse the body, Christ's sacrifice purifies the soul. Hebrews 9:13-14 states, "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?"

The priestly services of purifying the unclean in the Old Testament foreshadow the ultimate purification offered through Christ, who fulfills the law and provides a way for believers to be cleansed from sin and reconciled to God.Leviticus 15:30,31
And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Day of Atonement
... which belonged immediately to Aaron and the priests. ... the sanctuary by the very services
which were ... and pollutes the temple instead of purifying the worshipper. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... the temple, as well as the priests, the vestments ... not introduce instrumental music
into their congregational services. ... the idea of washing or purifying; and it ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Jew and Gentile
... prided themselves upon their divinely appointed services, and many ... The priests of
this heathen worship carried on ... between us and them, purifying their hearts ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 19 jew and gentile.htm

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... did not lose its purity and purifying power. ... of any food other than that prepared
by their priests.'. ... formally rejecting the Temple and its services, there was ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm

Washed to Greater Foulness
... and try, if you can, to understand the services. ... by the still smaller pipes of the
priests it comes ... no connection between outward acts and the purifying of the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/washed to greater foulness.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... doubt but that the temple and its services contained many ... is called 'the court of
the priests,' because it was ... the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Seventh Book
... though those same barbarians are now purifying by their ... completely under the care
of the priests and clergy ... were given as a reward for services well performed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the seventh book.htm

Funeral Oration on the Great S. Basil, Bishop of C??sarea in ...
... is proved by the blessed roll of priests and virgins ... But the other's services were
gratuitous, and his succour ... a stronger antagonist, like that unclean and evil ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xliii funeral oration on.htm

The Doctrine
... that He in justice cannot, will not regard them, because they have sinned; and,
secondly, in that His holiness will not give way for such unclean wretches to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... Saul, and scaring him from the tomb, and Elijah slaying the priests of Baal ... He is
a tender human friend, but he expresses his friendship by services such as no ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

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