Albert Barnes Commentary Leviticus 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
Leviticus 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
Leviticus 13
"When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:" — Leviticus 13:2 (ASV)
The skin of his flesh - An expression found nowhere but in this chapter. It probably denotes the cuticle or epidermis, as distinguished from the curls or true skin.
Rising ... scab ... bright spot - The Hebrew words are the technical names applied to the common external signs of incipient elephantiasis.
Like the plague of leprosy - Like a stroke of leprosy.
"and the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and if the hair in the plague be turned white, and the appearance of the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean." — Leviticus 13:3 (ASV)
The hair in the plague is turned white - The sparing growth of very fine whitish hair on leprous spots, in place of the natural hair, appears to have been always regarded as a characteristic symptom.
the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh - Rather, the stroke appears to be deeper than the epidermis. The bright spot changed to a brownish color with a metallic or oily luster, and with a clearly-defined edge. This symptom, along with the whitish hair, at once decided the case to be one of leprosy.
"and the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if in his eyes the plague be at a stay, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:" — Leviticus 13:5 (ASV)
And the plague spread not – Rather, it did not advance, showing that the disease is under the cuticle and taking on the symptoms of (Leviticus 13:3).
"and the priest shall look on him again the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be dim, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean." — Leviticus 13:6 (ASV)
Somewhat dark — Rather, somewhat dim: that is, if the spot is dying away.
"But if the scab spread abroad in the skin, after that he hath showed himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again:" — Leviticus 13:7 (ASV)
Seen by the priest for his cleansing - The meaning of these words is doubtful. They probably mean “seen by the priest and pronounced clean,” and refer to the visit of the suspected leper to the priest at the end of the second week. But some have taken the words to mean “seen by the priest with a view to be pronounced clean,” and regard the sentence of the priest as provisional, holding good only until the symptoms may appear to resume their progress. Compare (Leviticus 13:35).
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