John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 14:34

"When ye are come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;" — Leviticus 14:34 (ASV)

When you come into the land. Another type of leprosy is discussed here, about which we may reasonably rejoice that it is now unknown to us.

But, just as God had honored those people with extraordinary privileges, so it was fitting that their ingratitude would be punished by more severe penalties, if they defiled the gifts in which they excelled. Therefore, it is not surprising that punishments were inflicted on them, which fill us with surprise and horror to hear about.

It was a sad sight to see leprosy invading the human body; but it was ominous to see it affecting their houses as well, driving out the owners and their families. For if they knowingly and voluntarily remained there, the contagion spread to them and all their furniture.

But, since God marked with public disgrace those whose houses were struck with leprosy, He commanded them to confess their guilt, not only when the affliction had advanced significantly, but even when any suspicion of it began to exist. It also appears from the Law that some were only lightly disciplined: for if, after the priest’s inspection, the plague did not increase on the scraped walls within seven days, the owner returned to his house.

God punished others more severely, and it was necessary for the building to be utterly destroyed because the pollution was incurable. But, although these were signs of God’s wrath, yet, not expiating the uncleanness, He trained His people in the pursuit of purity. For it was just as if He drove away from His sanctuary those who came from an unclean house.

The meaning, then, was that they should each diligently strive to keep their houses pure, chaste, and free from every stain. But if, through God’s mercy, the plague ceased, a sacrifice of thanksgiving was to be offered, just as for human beings who had been healed.

The next chapter, in which general defilements and their purifications are not discussed, but only one kind of defilement is briefly mentioned, which refers to fleshly lust, might perhaps be suitably introduced under the Seventh Commandment. However, it will soon become clear from the context that it must be included under this topic.