Lev 14 | CalvinCommentaries

‏ Leviticus 14

2 This shall be the law of the leper. Moses now treats of the manner in which those who were cured of leprosy were to be cleansed and restored. Thus far he had shewn whom the priest was to admit into the holy congregation, and account to be clean; he now prescribes the rite of expiation, whereby the people might learn how greatly God abominates the uncleanness, which He commands to be purified by a solemn propitiation; and also that he who is healed may acknowledge that he is rescued from death by God’s special blessing, and may in future be more diligent in seeking to be pure. For there were two parts in the sacrifice here demanded-purification and thanksgiving. But we must ever keep in view the object which I have stated in the last chapter, that the Israelites were instructed by this ceremony to serve God in chastity and purity, and to keep far away from those defilements, whereby religion would be profaned. Since, then, leprosy was a kind of pollution, God was unwilling that those who were cured of it should be received into the holy congregation, ^{▼▼
“ Rentrassent au rang de ses enfans;” should be restored to the rank of His children. — Fr.} except after the offering of a sacrifice; as if the priest reconciled them after excommunication. It will now be well to discuss the points which are worthy of consideration. The office of cleansing is imposed on the priest; yet he is at the same time forbidden to cleanse any except those who were already pure and clean. In this, on the one hand, God claims for Himself the honor of the cure, lest men should assume it; and also establishes the discipline which He would have to reign in His Church. To make the matter clearer, it belongs to God only to forgive sins; what, then, remains to man, except to be the witness and herald of the grace which He confers? God’s minister can, therefore, absolve none whom God has not before absolved. In sum, absolution is not in the power or will of man: the minister only sustains an inferior part, to endorse God’s judgment, or rather to proclaim God’s sentence. Hence that remarkable expression of Isaiah, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions, O Israel, and none but me.” ^{▼▼
The words in italics seem to be added paraphrastically by C.} (Isaiah 43:25.) In which sense, too, God everywhere promises by the prophets that the people shall be clean, when He shall have cleansed them. Meanwhile, however, this does not prevent those who are called to the office of teaching from purging the uncleanness of the people in a certain peculiar way. For, since faith alone purifies the heart, in so far as it receives the testimony which God proffers by the mouth of man, the minister who testifies that we are reconciled to God, is justly reckoned to take away our pollution. This expiation is still in force, though the ceremony has long ceased to be in use. But, since the spiritual healing, which we receive by faith, proceeds from the mere grace of God, the ministry of man does not at all detract from His glory. Let us, then, remember that these two things are perfectly consistent with each other, that God is the sole author of our purity; and yet that the method, which He uses for our justification, must not on that account be neglected. And this is properly referred to discipline, that whosoever has been once cast out of the holy congregation by public authority, must not be received again except upon professing penitence and a new life. We must observe, too, that this jurisdiction was given to the priests not only on the ground that they represented Christ, but also in respect to the ministry, which we have in common with them.

3 And the priest shall go forth. This is the examination, which was more fully treated of in the last chapter, without which it was not lawful to receive him who had been once rejected. The priest’s command, which is mentioned immediately afterwards, I refer to the Levites, some one of whom probably accompanied the priest to prepare the sacrifice, that thus the priests might only discharge the principal duty. The sum of the rite respecting the two birds tends to this, that the cleansing from leprosy was a kind of resurrection Two birds were placed before their eyes; the liberty of one was purchased by the blood of the other; because the former was not let go until it had been first dipped in the blood and the water; and thus the matter of sprinkling was prepared for the man’s purification. The sevenfold repetition was intended to impress more deeply on men’s memories a continual meditation on God’s grace; for we know that by this number perfection is often expressed in Scripture. With the same object, he who had been cured shaved his hair, and washed in water. Yet he did not return home on the first day, but on the eighth. Meantime, on the seventh day he shaved his beard, and his eyebrows, and all the hair of his head; he washed himself and his garments, and then proceeded to the sacrifice. So difficult is it to accustom men to a serious acknowledgment of the two points, to hold their vice in detestation, and worthily to estimate the grace of God whereby they are delivered.

10. And on the eighth. As infants on the eighth day after they were cleansed from the uncleanness which they had brought from the womb, were grafted into the Church, and made members of it; so now the eighth day is prescribed for the restoration of those who, in the cure that they have received, are as it were born again; for they are accounted dead whom the leprosy had banished from the holy congregation. A sacrifice is therefore appointed which may renew the circumcision that had been in some measure effaced. Now, the meaning of all the things here mentioned is not clear to myself, and I would not have my readers too curious respecting them. Some may be probably accounted for; the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the great toe of the right foot, were sprinkled with the blood of the offering, because the leper was restored to the ordinary habits and customs of life, so as to have freedom of walk and action, and free conversational intercourse; for in the ear there is a mutual correspondence between speaking and hearing. The head is anointed, or cleansed with the oil, that nothing impure should remain in his whole body ^{▼▼
Addition in French, “ mais d’esplucher tout par le menu, je ne l’oserois entrependre, et ne voundrois;” but I dare not, and would not undertake to explain the whole in detail.} God spare the poor and lowly, and does not compel them to offer the two lambs, lest they should be burdened beyond their means; whence it appears, that sacrifices are not estimated according to their intrinsic value, but according to the pious feeling which disposes each on liberally to offer in proportion to what is given him.

34. When ye be come into the land. Another sort of leprosy is here treated of, as to which we may not unreasonably rejoice that it is now unknown to us. But, as God had honored that people with extraordinary privileges, so it was consistent that their ingratitude should be punished by more severe penalties, if they defiled the gifts in which they excelled. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that punishments were inflicted upon them, which it fills us with surprise and horror to hear of. It was a sad sight to behold the leprosy invading the human body; but there was something portentous to perceive it affecting their houses also, and driving out the owners and their families; for if they wittingly and voluntarily remained there, the contagion spread to themselves and all their furniture. But, since God marked with public ignominy those whose houses were struck with leprosy, He commands them to confess their guilt, and not only when the evil had made much advance, but when any suspicion of it had begun to exist. It appears, too, from the Law, that some were but lightly chastised: for, if after the priest’s inspection, in seven days the plague did not increase on the scraped walls, the possessor returned to his house. God punished others more severely, and it was necessary that the building should be utterly destroyed, because the pollution was incurable. But, although these were tokens of God’s wrath, yet, inexpiating the uncleanness, He exercised His people in the study of purity; for it was just as if He drove away from approaching His sanctuary those who came from an unclean house. The sense, then, was that. they should each of them diligently endeavor to keep their houses pure, and chaste, and free from every stain. But if, through God’s mercy, the plague ceased, a sacrifice of thanksgiving was to be offered, as for the human beings (who had been healed.) The next chapter, in which general pollutions and their purifications are not treated of, but only one kind of pollution is glanced at, which has reference to fleshly lust, would perhaps be suitably introduced under the Seventh Commandment; but it will presently appear from the context that it must be brought under this head.

Of the Pollutions which arise from Issues ^{▼▼
Heading added from Fr., “ Des pollutions qui adviennent par flux."}

Leviticus 15

Leviticus 15:1-33

1. And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,

1. Loquutus est autem Jehova ad Mosen et Aharon, dicendo,

2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.

2. Loquimini ad filios Israel, et dicite eis, Unusquisque quum semen ejus defluet de carne sua, immundus est.

3. And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.

3. Haec vero erit immunditia ejus in semine ipsius, si emittat caro ejus semen suum, vel clauserit carnem suam semine suo, immunditia ejus est.

4. Every bed whereon he lieth that hath the issue is unclean: and every thing whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.

4. Onme stratum in quo jacuerit qui patitur fluxum seminis, immundum erit: et omne id super quo sederit, immundum erit.

5. And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

5. Quicunque item tetigerit lectum ejus, lavabit vestimenta sua, posteaquam laverit sese aqua: eritque immundus usque ad vesperam.

6. And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

6. Et qui sederit super alquid super quo sederit seminifluus, lavabit vestimenta sua, posteaquam laverit se aqua: eritque immundus usque ad vesperam.

7. And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

7. Qui vero tetigerit carnem seminiflui, lavabit vestimenta sua, posteaquam laverit sese aqua: eritque immundus usque ad vesperam.

8. And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be uncleau until the even.

8. Et si despuerit seminifluussuper mundum, lavabit vestimenta sua posteaquam laverit se aqua: eritque immundus usque ad vesperam.

9. And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.

9. Et omne sagma super quo equitaverit seminifluus, immundum erit.

10. And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

10. Atque omnis qui tetigerit omne quitquid fuerit subter eum, immundus erit usque ad vesperam et qui portaverit ea, lavabit vestimenta sua, posteaquam laverit sese aqua: eritque immundus usque ad vesperam.

11. And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shalt wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

11. Omnis autem quem tetigerit seminifluus, et manus suas non abluerit aqua, lavabit vestimenta sua: posteaquam laverit sese aqua: eritque immundus usque ad vesperam.

12. And the vessel of earth that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

12. Et vas fictile quod tetigerit seminifluus, confringetur: onme auterm vas ligneum lavabitur aqua.

13. And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

13. Quum autem mundatus fuerit seminifluus a fluxusuo, numerabit sibi septem dies ab emundatione sua, lavabitque vestimenta sua, posteaquam laverit quoque carnem suam aqua viva: et mundus erit.

14. And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:

14. Die vero octava capiet sibi duos turtures, aut duos pullos columbinos, venietque coram Jehova ad ostium tabernaculi conventionis, et tradet eos sacerdoti.

15. And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.

15. Quos sacrificabit sacerdos, unum pro peccato, et alterum in holocaustum: et emundabit illum sacerdos coram Jehova a fluxu ipsius.

16. And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

16. Quum autem ex aliquo egressa fuerit effusio seminis, lavabit aqua totam carnem suam: immun-dusque erit usque ad vesperam.

17. And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

17. Et omnis vestis, omnisque pellis super quam fuerit aliquid de effusione seminis, lavabitur aqua et immunda erit usque ad vesperam.

18. The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.

18. Mulier quoque cum quo dormierit vir patiens effusionem seminis, lavabitur aqua et immunda erit usque ad vesperam.

19. And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.

19. Mulier autem quum fuerit fluens sanguine, et erit fluxus ejus per carnem ejus, septem diebus erit in separatione sua: et omnis qui tetigerit eam, immundus erit usque ad vesperam.

20. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.

20. Et omne super quo jacuerit separatione sua, immundum erit: omne quoque super quo sederit, immundum erit.

21. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe hinself in water, and be unclean until the even.

21. Omnis praeterea qui tetigerit lectum ejus, lavabit vestimenta sua, et lavabit sese aqua: immundusque erit usque ad vesperam.

22. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

22. Omnis etiam qui tetigerit quamcunque sedem super quam sederit, lavabit vestimenta sua, posteaquam laverit sese aqua: immundusque erit usque ad vesperam.

23. And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.

23. Quod si instrumentum aliquod fuerit super stratum ipsum, vel super sellam super quam sederit: quum tetigerit illud aliquis, immundus erit usque ad vesperam.

24. And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

24. Quod si dormiendo dormierit quis cum ea, et fuerit immunditia ejus super eum, immundus erit septem diebus: et omne stratum super quo dormierit, immundum erit.

25. And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.

25. Mulier autem, quum fluet fluxum sanguinis ultra menses suos: cunctis diebus fluxus immunditiae suae erit sicut diebus menstrui sui, immunda est.

26. Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.

26. Omne stratum in quo dormierit cunctis diebus fluxus sui, sicut stratum menstrui sui erit, et omnis sedes super qua sederit, immunda erit secundum immunditiam menstrui sui.

27. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himseIf in water, and be unclean until the even.

27. Quicunque tetigerit cam immundus erit, lavabitque vestimenta sua, et lavabit se aqua, immundusque erit usque ad vesperam.

28. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.

28. Quod si mundata fuerit a fluxu suo, tunc numerabit sibi septem dies, et postea mundabitur.

29. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

29. Die autem octava tollet sibi duos turtures, aut duos pullos columbinos: afferetque illos ad sacerdotem ad ostium tabernaculi conventionis.

30. 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.

30. Et faciet sacerdos unum in hostiam pro peccato, et alterum in holocaustum: emundabitque illam sacerdos coram Jehova a fluxu immunditiae suae.

31. Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.

31. Separabitque filios Israel ab imnmnditias suas, ne moriantur propter immunditias suas, dum polluertint tabernaculum, quod est in medio eorum.

32. This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;

32. lsta est lex patientis fluxum seminis, et ejus ex quo egreditur effusio seminis, ut sit immundus propter illam.

33. And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.

33. Et aegrotantis in fluxu suo, et ejus qui profundit fluxum suum, sive sit masculus, sive foemina, et viri qui dormierit cum immunda.