Tazria - תזריע
Leviticus: Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59
Reading #2 - Leviticus 13:6–17
My Thoughts:
If you contracted leprosy or some skin disease, you were to go directly to the priest for examination. It’s like the priest acted like a physician only more. He was appointed and anointed. Why would Hashem be so detailed about all this? Maybe because skin diseases were prevalent during this time and most likely were very contagious. They would even implement a time of quarantine. Sound familiar? Hashem is protecting His people and trying to keep them healthy. When one gets sick, He has instructions to make sure not everyone follows suit. He cares.
Challenge:
The priest is the authority in the ill person’s life. Do you have an authority in your life? Do you go to them to “examine” your issues and give instructions to you for healing? Would your authority recommend “separating” you from others during a time for healing? Think about who you have in your life that you go to when you have issues. I suggest you honor and respect this person, and pay attention to his/her instructions. Of course, check in with Hashem and make sure this is the right thing to do. Then do it.
Reading #2 - Leviticus 13:6–17
13:6 The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day. Behold, if the plague has faded and the plague hasn’t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the scab spreads on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again. 8 The priest shall examine him; and behold, if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.
9 “When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest; 10 and the priest shall examine him. Behold, if there is a white swelling in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not isolate him, for he is already unclean.
12 “If the leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the infected person from his head even to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest, 13 then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean of the plague. It has all turned white: he is clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. 15 The priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh turns again, and is changed to white, then he shall come to the priest. 17 The priest shall examine him. Behold, if the plague has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean of the plague. He is clean.
