Leviticus 14 provides detailed instructions for the purification of lepers and the cleansing of houses affected by leprosy. The chapter begins with the procedure a leper must undergo to be declared clean. When healed, the leper would present himself to the priest, who would examine the person and perform a ritual involving two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. One bird would be killed over running water, and the other bird, along with the cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop, would be dipped in the blood of the slain bird and sprinkled over the leper seven times. Afterward, the healed individual would wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe in water before being declared clean.
The chapter then moves on to the purification of a house affected by leprosy. If a house had the infection, the owner would inform the priest, who would inspect the house to determine the severity. The infected stones and plaster would be removed and replaced, and the house would be cleansed by sprinkling it with the blood of a bird and then with water. Afterward, the house would be declared clean.
This chapter highlights the meticulous cleansing rituals established by God to ensure the purity of the Israelites and the eradication of leprosy. To delve deeper into the context and understand the significance of each verse, click the links below.
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