Leviticus 13, Lev. 14:33-57, Deut. 24:8-9, Lev. 15:1-12, Lev. 15:16-27, Lev. 15:32-33, Num. 5:1-4, Lev. 15:31
Ryan: One of the many uses for a time machine would be to introduce the Israelites to common household bleach. If you were reading today’s daily bible reading, you surely noticed that if a house (or an article of clothing) continued to have an area of mildew spreading even after washing with water, that house had to be torn down and taken out of the town into a dump of uncleanness (articles of clothing had to be burned). Think about all the garments and houses that would have been spared by the liberal application of just some simple bleach and water. Unfortunately, household bleach such as we use today was not developed until the discovery of chlorine in 1774. It did not reach widespread use until the mid- to late-1800′s. While a whitening process for clothing, etc., was around as early as 3000 B.C., the process took weeks or even months. When you’re dealing with things like infectious skin diseases and destructive mildews, you need it fixed in days, not weeks. I guess God thought fire and destruction to be a better option than just giving the Israelites chlorine.
Samantha: It isn’t uncommon for people to break out in a skin rash, whether from itchy clothing, an allergic reaction, or pollutants in their environment. Not too many years ago I developed a small rash on the side of my forehead, but thought that maybe hairspray caused it and that it would disappear in a day or so. I didn’t think much about the rash, even after it started itching like crazy the next day. By the third day I woke up with the entire side of my face swollen and one eye swollen shut. After a trip to the immediate care clinic I was diagnosed with impetigo (what adult gets impetigo??). After heavy medication and a few days off from work it cleared up and healed just like new. I can’t imagine living in Israelite times and having this same problem! Today we read that “‘The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!” As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp’” (Lev. 13:45-46). I totally understand the unkempt hair; I used my bangs to cover the rash on my forehead. I also see the point of warning those around you; I later learned that impetigo is extremely contagious and I could have easily infected those around me. Living outside the camp until healed also makes sense for the same reason. But I can tell you that during the experience of having impetigo I felt completely embarrassed, a little ashamed and isolated from everyone, and that was only for a short time. Imagine having a real skin disease like leprosy and not only having those feelings but also having to call out ‘Unclean! Unclean!”
Tags: Commandments, History
