Leprosy: (Heb. tsara'ath, a "smiting," a "stroke," because the disease was
regarded as a direct providential infliction). This name is from the
Greek lepra, by which the Greek physicians designated the disease
from its scaliness. We have the description of the disease, as well
as the regulations connected with it, in
(Leviticus 13:1-14:1)ff
(Numbers 12:10-15) etc. There were reckoned six different circumstances
under which it might develop itself,1. without any apparent cause
(Leviticus 13:2-8)
2. its reappearance
(Leviticus 13:9-17)
3. from an inflammation
(Leviticus 13:18-28)
4. on the head or chin
(Leviticus 13:29-37)
5. in white polished spots
(Leviticus 13:38,39)
6. at the back or in the front of the head
(Leviticus 13:40-44)
Lepers were required to live outside the camp or city
(Numbers 5:1-4)
(Numbers 12:10-15) etc. This disease was regarded as an awful punishment
from the Lord
(2 Kings 5:7; 2 Chronicles 26:20)
(See MIRIAM)
(See GEHAZI)
(See UZZIAH)
This disease "begins with specks on the eyelids and on the palms,
gradually spreading over the body, bleaching the hair white wherever
they appear, crusting the affected parts with white scales, and
causing terrible sores and swellings. From the skin the disease eats
inward to the bones, rotting the whole body piecemeal." "In Christ's
day no leper could live in a walled town, though he might in an open
village. But wherever he was he was required to have his outer
garment rent as a sign of deep grief, to go bareheaded, and to cover
his beard with his mantle, as if in lamentation at his own virtual
death. He had further to warn passers-by to keep away from him, by
calling out, 'Unclean! unclean!' nor could he speak to any one, or
receive or return a salutation, since in the East this involves an
embrace." That the disease was not contagious is evident from the
regulations regarding it
(Leviticus 13:12,13,36; 2 Kings 5:1) Leprosy was "the
outward and visible sign of the innermost spiritual corruption; a meet
emblem in its small beginnings, its gradual spread, its internal
disfigurement, its dissolution little by little of the whole body, of
that which corrupts, degrades, and defiles man's inner nature, and
renders him unmeet to enter the presence of a pure and holy God"
(Maclear's Handbook O.T). Our Lord cured lepers
(Matthew 8:2,3)
(Mark 1:40-42) This divine power so manifested illustrates his
gracious dealings with men in curing the leprosy of the soul, the
fatal taint of sin.
