Leviticus Seems To Be Promoting Discrimination Against The Lepers
Anonymous writes…
Hi,
Thank you so much for this website. It’s been a blessing. I have a question. I was reading Leviticus and it seemed to be promoting discrimination against people who were sick ( the lepers), and in that chapter, the instruction seemed to be coming from God. I just wanted to get some clarification on such portions of the Bible as I looked it up on the net and couldn’t find much except an atheist site using it to imply God’s injustice. I hope you can give me your insights on this . Thank you so much and God bless
Trophy of Grace replies…
I am thinking that perhaps your are referring to Leviticus chapter 13 where the Lord is giving Moses and Aaron instructions on how to handle serious skin diseases such as leprosy. The Lord was teaching them how to diagnosis a person’s skin disease and how to prevent the spread of the diseases. Moses and Aaron were to teach the priests these procedures who in some ways filled the role of physicans.
Leviticus 13:45-46 says, “Those who suffer from a serious skin disease must tear their clothing and leave their hair uncombed. They must cover their mouth and call out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as the serious disease lasts, they will be ceremonially unclean. They must live in isolation in their place outside the camp.
Our Lord was not promoting discrimination against the lepers. He was instructing that they be removed or quarantined from the general population so that they would not infect the rest of the people. This is an early example of preventive medicine. Isolation is an accepted medical procedure that is still commonly practiced today.
I would like to share with you the footnotes from my bible on these verse above. May the Holy Spirit give you the peace and understanding you desire in regards to this subject.
Footnote on verse 45:
Even into the first century, entire families lived and slept in a single room. This made contagious diseases very dangerous. Certain contagious diseases were so dangerous that the ill were removed from the general population. The description here-torn clothes, uncombed hair-was similar to the signs of mourning, for the sick had lost their place in their society. Unless they were healed, they were outcasts. In the New Testament, Jesus came upon ten lepers who recognized Him and, rather than cry out a warning they cried out for mercy. (Luke 17:11-14). Jesus commanded them to go to the priest (Leviticus 14:2), and as they obeyed Jesus, they were healed.
Footnote on verse 46:
Outside the camp.
Because skin infections (for example, leprosy) are contagious, Israels’s law required infected persons to separate themselves from the congregation- to be quarantined to arrest the spread of the disease. Not only was it a medical safeguard, but there was a spiritual lesson as well: Anything unclean must be put away so as not to morally or spiritually infect others. The apostle Paul used this same strategy to protect the church at Corinth. He demanded that an unrepentant believer be expelled from the church so that his sin would not spread like yeast and infect the whole body (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). Sin is best dealt with immediately in our families and in the church.
Sister I pray that this helped you. You are doing well by asking for clarification and understanding. When you sit down to read the Word be sure that you ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and to give you His wisdom. It is also good for you to have a bible translation that will be easy enough for you to understand. A study bible would be best because they have commentaries that will help you better understand the time and circumstances of the chapter/verses. I personally like using the NLT (New Living Translation). There are also commentary books that will give you a thorough commentary of the whole bible verse by verse, that turns complicated theology into easy and practical understanding. I love my commentary book. It’s by William Macdonald.
Well my sister you keep up your studies. I am sure that the Lord will continue to teach you as you continue to seek Him out in His Word. You are on the right path..
Sincerely,
Popularity: 2% [?]
