Leviticus 14:33-57
Q.1. How extensive was the role of the priest in the daily affairs of the people? Of what did this remind the people? – (Lev.14:33-47)
The role of the priests was not restricted to religious duties alone. God gave them jurisdiction over many other domestic and medical functions. God reminded the people – 34 “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a mark of leprosy on a house in the land of your possession, 35 then the one who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, ‘Something like a mark of leprosy has become visible to me in the house.’ 36 The priest shall then command that they empty the house … (Lev.14:34-35). This mark of leprosy on a house was like salt damp that weakens the structure. It is a world-wide problem and is a major cause of decay to masonry materials such as brick, stone, mortar, and plaster. Not surprisingly, God’s care over his people extended to hygiene and safety measures that were regulated by the priesthood (Lev.14:35-36, 46-47). When salt damp was found, the priests would quarantine the house and have the decayed material thrown into a waste dump. The materials were then replaced and re-plastered (Lev.14:36-42). If upon further inspection – he sees that the mark has spread in the house, it is a malignant mark in the house; It is unclean (Lev.14:44). The house then had to be taken down and taken to the waste dump. The clothes of any who had been in the house had to be thoroughly washed (Lev.14:45-47).
Q.2. What did the requirement of making atonement for a house teach the people about God’s sovereign rule? – (Lev.14:48-57)
Certain procedures were to be followed, in order to render the house clean – to cleanse the house, he shall take two birds and cedar wood, scarlet string and hyssop (Lev.14: 49). One bird was slain over running water, and its blood applied to the living bird. The blood and water were applied symbolically to the house seven times, with the hyssop and scarlet string – However, he shall let the live bird go free outside the city into the open field. So, he will make atonement for the house and it will be clean (Lev.14:53 c.f. Lev.14:51-52). God set out these regulations regarding leprosy or mildew in the houses – to teach when they are unclean and when they are clean … (Lev.14:57). Israel was to recognize God’s sovereign rule over their daily affairs.