"Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body. Command the IsraelitesThis directive is given by God through Moses, emphasizing the authority and divine origin of the command. The Israelites, as God's chosen people, are to maintain holiness and purity, reflecting their covenant relationship with God. This command is part of the broader Levitical laws that govern the community's conduct and worship. to send away from the camp
The camp represents the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. Sending individuals away is a measure to maintain the camp's purity, as God is holy and cannot dwell amidst impurity. This separation underscores the importance of holiness and the need for the community to be set apart from defilement. anyone with a skin disease
Skin diseases, often translated as "leprosy," were considered ritually unclean. Leviticus 13-14 provides detailed laws on diagnosing and cleansing such diseases. The exclusion from the camp serves both a practical purpose, preventing the spread of disease, and a symbolic one, representing sin's defiling nature. anyone who has a bodily discharge
Bodily discharges, as described in Leviticus 15, rendered a person ceremonially unclean. This includes both natural and pathological discharges. The laws surrounding these conditions highlight the need for ritual purity and the separation required to approach God in worship. and anyone who is defiled by a dead body
Contact with a dead body made a person unclean, as death is the ultimate result of sin (Romans 6:23). Numbers 19 outlines the purification process for those who become defiled in this way. This regulation emphasizes the separation between life and death, purity and impurity, and the need for cleansing to restore fellowship with God.
Each of these conditions reflects the broader biblical theme of holiness and the separation required to maintain a relationship with a holy God. They also foreshadow the ultimate cleansing and restoration found in Jesus Christ, who heals, purifies, and conquers death, allowing believers to dwell in God's presence eternally. Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and were journeying to the Promised Land. 2. The CampThe temporary dwelling place of the Israelites during their wilderness journey, representing the community of God's people and His presence among them. 3. Those with Skin DiseasesIndividuals suffering from conditions like leprosy, which were considered ritually unclean and required separation from the community. 4. Those with a DischargePeople experiencing bodily discharges, which rendered them ceremonially unclean according to the Law. 5. Those Unclean from a Dead BodyIndividuals who had come into contact with a corpse, making them ritually impure and necessitating purification. Teaching Points Holiness and PurityGod's command to remove the unclean from the camp underscores His holiness and the need for His people to maintain purity in their community and worship. Community ResponsibilityThe Israelites were collectively responsible for upholding God's standards, reminding us of the importance of accountability and support within the church body. Spiritual SeparationJust as physical impurity required separation, believers are called to separate themselves from spiritual impurity, living lives that reflect God's holiness. Compassion and RestorationWhile separation was necessary, the Law also provided means for restoration and reintegration, teaching us to balance holiness with grace and compassion. Symbolism of Christ's SacrificeThe removal of impurity points to the ultimate cleansing through Jesus, who bore our sins and made a way for us to be reconciled to God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the command in Numbers 5:2 reflect God's character and His expectations for His people? 2. In what ways can the church today ensure it remains a community that reflects God's holiness and purity? 3. How do the laws concerning impurity in the Old Testament point us to the work of Christ in the New Testament? 4. What practical steps can believers take to separate themselves from spiritual impurity in their daily lives? 5. How can we balance the need for holiness with compassion and grace towards those who are struggling with sin or impurity? Connections to Other Scriptures Leviticus 13-15These chapters provide detailed laws regarding skin diseases, bodily discharges, and purification processes, offering a broader context for understanding the regulations in Numbers 5:2. 2 Corinthians 6:17This New Testament passage echoes the call for separation from impurity, urging believers to be distinct from the world in their conduct and holiness. Hebrews 13:12-13These verses highlight Jesus' suffering outside the camp, drawing a parallel to the Old Testament practice of removing impurity and pointing to the ultimate purification through Christ. People Ephah, Israelites, MosesPlaces SinaiTopics Anyone, Body, Camp, Ceremonially, Command, Contact, Dead, Defiled, Discharge, Disease, Flow, Infectious, Israelites, Issue, Kind, Leper, Orders, Outside, Skin, Sons, Sort, Tent-circle, Touch, UncleanDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 5:2 5333 healing
5390 leprosy
7340 clean and unclean Numbers 5:1-3 5901 loneliness Numbers 5:1-7 5707 male and female Numbers 5:2-3 5182 skin Numbers 5:2-4 5244 camp Library Meditations against Despair, or Doubting of God's Mercy.
It is found by continual experience, that near the time of death, when the children of God are weakest, then Satan makes the greatest nourish of his strength, and assails them with his strongest temptations. For he knows that either he must now or never prevail; for if their souls once go to heaven, he shall never vex nor trouble them any more. And therefore he will now bestir himself as much as he can, and labour to set before their eyes all the gross sins which ever they committed, and the judgments …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of PietyCiii. Zacchæus. Parable of the Pounds. Journey to Jerusalem.
(Jericho.) ^C Luke XIX. 1-28. ^c 1 And he entered and was passing through Jericho. [This was about one week before the crucifixion. Jericho is about seven miles from the Jordan and about seventeen and a half from Jerusalem.] 2 And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich. [See p. 76. It is probable that Zacchæus was a sub-contractor under some Roman knight who had bought the privilege of collecting taxes at Jericho, or perhaps the privilege of all …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished; …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. Elementary Schools, Schoolmasters, and School Arrangements.
If a faithful picture of society in ancient Greece or Rome were to be presented to view, it is not easy to believe that even they who now most oppose the Bible could wish their aims success. For this, at any rate, may be asserted, without fear of gainsaying, that no other religion than that of the Bible has proved competent to control an advanced, or even an advancing, state of civilisation. Every other bound has been successively passed and submerged by the rising tide; how deep only the student …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
^A Matt.VIII. 2-4; ^B Mark I. 40-45; ^C Luke V. 12-16. ^c 12 And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities [it was a city of Galilee, but as it was not named, it is idle to conjecture which city it was], behold, ^b there cometh { ^a came} ^b to him a leper [There is much discussion as to what is here meant by leprosy. Two diseases now go by that name; viz., psoriasis and elephantiasis. There are also three varieties of psoriasis, namely, white, black and red. There are also three varieties …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Eternity of God
The next attribute is, God is eternal.' Psa 90:0. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.' The schoolmen distinguish between aevun et aeternum, to explain the notion of eternity. There is a threefold being. I. Such as had a beginning; and shall have an end; as all sensitive creatures, the beasts, fowls, fishes, which at death are destroyed and return to dust; their being ends with their life. 2. Such as had a beginning, but shall have no end, as angels and the souls of men, which are eternal …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 5:2 NIVNumbers 5:2 NLTNumbers 5:2 ESVNumbers 5:2 NASBNumbers 5:2 KJV
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