Leprosy in the Bible

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Leprosy in the Bible

• Why does it not match what we call leprosy today?

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No Pictures

• The pictures of leprosy - all kinds - all stages
  - are very graphic
• I will try not to go into too much detail outside
  of the Bible. 
• TODAY - Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) is bacterial
  infection
• Begins as scales on the skin (mostly around the
  face and head)
• Attacks the nerves in appendages

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2 Main Types of Leprosy

• Two main types
•     Lepromatous - spongy swellings on the face
  and body, involves internal organs as well,
  deformity, loss of feeling, injury and infection
  results, loss of appendages
•     Tuberculoid - less severe, chang ein skin
  color, lasts 1 - 3 years, not fatal

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Biblical Instructions

• Required - separation, isolation, and cleansing
• Describes a wide range of skin diseases including
  what is today called leprosy (Hansen's Disease)
• The Greek word "lepra" means to peel off in
  scales (think psoriasis) only far more serious
• Many forms were considered contagious

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God Promised Protection

• and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of
  the Lord your God and do what is right in His
  sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all
  His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on
  you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I
  am the Lord who heals you." Exodus 1526

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God Promised Protection

• Lepers were unclean - isolated, cry out "unclean"
  when approached, live outside the city
• When Jesus healed a leper they were not said to
  be healed, but cleansed
• Leprosy is often used to symbolize sin
• NOTE The rest of our study will focus on the Law
  of Moses and passages that mention leprosy.

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Leprosy

• Common Luke 427
• It Infected
• Men Luke 1712
• Women Numbers 1210
• Houses Leviticus 1434, 37-38
• Garments Leviticus 1347-49
• It was generally incurable (in severe forms)

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Leprosy

• Often sent in punishment for sin
• Numbers 129-10
• 2 Chronicles 2619
• Often hereditary 2 Samuel 329
• Parts of the body affected include
• Hand Exodus 46
• Head Leviticus 1344
• Forehead 2 Chonicles 2619
• Beard Leviticus 1330

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Leprosy

• Parts of the body affected include
• Whole body Luke 512
• Often begins with bright red spots
• Leviticus 133
• Leviticus 1324
• Turned skin white
• Exodus 46
• 2 Kings 527

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Leprosy

• May include a discharge Leviticus 224
• Turned hair white or yellow
• Leviticus 133, 10, 30
• 3rd Degree Burn Leviticus 1325
• The Priests
• Judged how serious and response
• Deuteronomy 248
• Examined the person suspected
• Shut them up 7 days Leviticus 134

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Leprosy

• Had rules for distinguishing Leviticus 135-44
• Examined when they claimed to be cured
• Leviticus 142
• Matthew 84
• Luke 1714
• Ceremonies to be cleanse Leviticus 1714

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Unclean

• They were ceremonially unclean
• Leviticus 138, 11, 22, 44
• Separated from others
• Numbers 52
• Numbers 1214-15
• They associated together
• 2 Kings 73
• Luke 1712

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Unclean

• Dwelt in a separate house
• 2 Kings 155
• Cut off from God's house
• 2 Chronicles 2621
• Can't be a priest
• Leviticus 222-4
• Heads bare, clothes torn, lip covered
• Leviticus 1345
• Cry UNCLEAN Leviticus 1345

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Unclean

• Garments
• Show to priest
• Shut up 7 days
• Infected area removed
• Severe infection burn them
• Suspected wash and pronounce them clean

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Unclean

• Houses
• Report to priest
• Empty the house
• Shut up 7 days
• Infected area removed
• Rest of house scraped
• Severe infection destroy and removed
• Suspected clean completely and pronounce them
  clean

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CONCLUSIONS

• Leprosy included any open sore, scab, discharge,
  burn, wound
• Reason for separation keep from spreading any
  infection, prevent an epidemic
• Same rules applied to sexual diseases
• God was seeking to keep His people pure
• God wanted to prevent the diseases that were a
  plague in nations around them