Lev 13:47-59 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 13:47-59: 13:47-59 The rainy season in Israel, when the weather is humid and cool, extends from mid-October through March. Mildew flourishes during this time, and the spores can trigger serious allergic reactions, posing a health problem. The regulations for mildew in clothing were similar to those for infections in people. If the mildew showed signs of spreading, it was serious. If it could be stopped or washed or cut out, a garment could be saved. This process was also similar to the treatment of rot and mold in buildings (14:33-53 ). 13:47 mildew: The word refers here to a variety of molds or mildews that infected cloth or leather. Thematic note: Clean, Unclean, and Holy The rites and regulations establishing cleanness and uncleanness were to distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations. To understand a rationale behind these regulations, one suggestion has been that unclean things are associated with death or the ground (see, e.g., Lev 21:1 , 11 ; 22:8 ). Recent studies, however, suggest the principle of “normalcy.” God is a God of order. Things that are normal in God’s order are called “clean” and are “permitted.” Abnormal things would be unfit for food or offerings and would be “unclean.” A normal land animal would be a vegetarian (see Gen 1:30 ). A normal human body would have no infections or discharges. A normal piece of cloth would have no mildew on it. If abnormalities occurred, the animal, person, or cloth was unclean. What is unclean is not sinful but represents a kind of unworthiness that cannot come in contact with what is holy (e.g., Lev 11:44-45 ). If it is cleansed, it acquires the potential for holiness; it may be dedicated to God and become holy. If what is holy (such as the Sabbath) is treated like something common, God is blasphemed and the thing is profaned. If what is clean becomes unclean, it is defiled and requires cleansing. Some things, such as unclean animals, fish, or birds, remain unclean by definition and can never be cleansed, and, thus, can never become holy. In the new covenant, things that were previously unclean have been declared clean (Acts 10:15 , 28 , 45 ). Yet God is still a God of order (1 Cor 14:33 ) and wants worship to be conducted in an orderly way (1 Cor 14:40 ). While God’s grace is abundant to repentant sinners, some things are still repulsive to his holiness and should never be brought into his presence (e.g., Ananias and Sapphira’s offering; see Acts 5:1-11 ). Passages for Further Study Gen 7:2 ; Lev 11:1–15:33 ; 21:1-23 ; 22:3-8 ; Num 19:1-22 ; Deut 14:1-21 ; 21:1-9 ; Pss 19:9 ; 24:3-4 ; 51:7-10 ; Isa 52:11 ; Matt 8:2-4 ; John 13:10-11 ; Acts 10:9-28 ; Heb 9:13-15 , 23

Summary for Lev 13:47-59: 13:47-59 ^a The rainy season in Israel, when the weather is humid and cool, extends from mid-October through March. Mildew flourishes during this time, and the spores can trigger serious allergic reactions, posing a health problem. The regulations for mildew in clothing were similar to those for infections in people. If the mildew showed signs of spreading, it was serious. If it could be stopped or washed or cut out, a garment could be saved. This process was also similar to the treatment of rot and mold in buildings (14:33-53 ^b). 13:47 ^c mildew: The word refers here to a variety of molds or mildews that infected cloth or leather.

Thematic note: Clean, Unclean, and Holy
The rites and regulations establishing cleanness and uncleanness were to distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations. To understand a rationale behind these regulations, one suggestion has been that unclean things are associated with death or the ground (see, e.g., Lev 21:1 ^d, 11 ^e; 22:8 ^f). Recent studies, however, suggest the principle of “normalcy.” God is a God of order. Things that are normal in God’s order are called “clean” and are “permitted.” Abnormal things would be unfit for food or offerings and would be “unclean.” A normal land animal would be a vegetarian (see Gen 1:30 ^g). A normal human body would have no infections or discharges. A normal piece of cloth would have no mildew on it. If abnormalities occurred, the animal, person, or cloth was unclean.
What is unclean is not sinful but represents a kind of unworthiness that cannot come in contact with what is holy (e.g., Lev 11:44-45 ^h). If it is cleansed, it acquires the potential for holiness; it may be dedicated to God and become holy. If what is holy (such as the Sabbath) is treated like something common, God is blasphemed and the thing is profaned. If what is clean becomes unclean, it is defiled and requires cleansing. Some things, such as unclean animals, fish, or birds, remain unclean by definition and can never be cleansed, and, thus, can never become holy.
In the new covenant, things that were previously unclean have been declared clean (Acts 10:15 ⁱ, 28 ^j, 45 ^k). Yet God is still a God of order (1 Cor 14:33 ^l) and wants worship to be conducted in an orderly way (1 Cor 14:40 ^m). While God’s grace is abundant to repentant sinners, some things are still repulsive to his holiness and should never be brought into his presence (e.g., Ananias and Sapphira’s offering; see Acts 5:1-11 ⁿ).

Passages for Further Study
Gen 7:2 ^o; Lev 11:1–15:33 ^p; 21:1-23 ^q; 22:3-8 ^r; Num 19:1-22 ^s; Deut 14:1-21 ^t; 21:1-9 ^u; Pss 19:9 ^v; 24:3-4 ^w; 51:7-10 ^x; Isa 52:11 ^y; Matt 8:2-4 ^z; John 13:10-11 ^aa; Acts 10:9-28 ^ab; Heb 9:13-15 ^ac, 23 ^ad