The Way Back In

Leviticus 14 opens with good news: This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. The priest went out of the camp, examined the person, and if the disease was healed, began the ceremony of restoration. Notice that the priest went out to him. God's law made the first move toward the outsider.

The priest took two living clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. One bird was killed in an earthen vessel over running water. The living bird, with the cedar, scarlet, and hyssop, was dipped in its blood, the person was sprinkled seven times, and then the priest let the living bird go into the open field. The healed person washed his clothes, shaved, bathed, and returned to the camp, waiting seven more days before entering his tent.

On the eighth day he brought two male lambs, a ewe lamb, fine flour, and oil. The priest placed blood and then oil on his right ear, right thumb, and right big toe, the same pattern used when priests were ordained. If he was poor, he could bring one lamb and two birds. The chapter closes with instructions for houses with mildew. When Jesus healed ten lepers in Luke 17, He sent them to the priests, and one returned to give thanks.