Leviticus 13

Leviticus 13 and 14

Most people agree that the infectious skin disease being described here is leprosy.  Many of the regulations that the priests enforced regarding skin diseases and mildew were for practical reasons.  The priests were responsible for maintaining the well-being of the Israelites, so they needed to isolate people, homes, or articles of clothing that could potentially spread illness to the rest of the people.  The important concept regarding leprosy in these chapters, however, is that it is a symbol with a deeper meaning.  Leprosy is a symbol of sin.  Both are contagious; they start in one area and can spread to take over our entire bodies/lives.  Both are malignant and can lead to death if you are not healed.  It is interesting that garments can be leprous as well as houses.  I think that a leprous house would be symbolic of a household with strong generational sin.  This could be seen with adultery, abuse, addiction, etc. that starts with the mother and father and then gets passed from generation to generation without the intervention of God’s grace, forgiveness and love.