Leviticus Chapter 15
The Lord continues in the 15th chapter of Leviticus with his instructions and law to Moses for the Israeli people in their lifestyles. In his instructions, the Lord covers a number of problems with discharges that will relate even into today’s times.
The chapter is basically divided into three subjects, the first 15 verses dealing with discharges from the male body, then three verses dealing with the uncleanliness of sexual relations, and finally, the last 14 verses dealing with discharges from the female body.
In Leviticus 15:1-15, the Lord speaks of the uncleanliness of a man who has some type of a chronic running discharge from his body. The specifics of the discharge are not provided, but historical Old Testament period biblical students have suggested it probably could have dealt with such things as hemorrhoids, but more likely addressed diseases which could be transmitted, such as gonorrhea.
The chapter goes through a series of instructions dealing not only with the uncleanness of the man, but also anything the man came into contact with, such a beds, clothes, saddles, or even those things upon which the man spit on. (Verses 4-10). Every thing touched by a man with a discharge became unclean, thus leading to the belief it meant discharges resulting from an infectious disease.
However, the discharge was not a severe as the disease of skin leprosy (Lev. 13-14) because a man was not banned from his home and from the rest of the tribe. He, and things and people he touched, simply had to clean and wash themselves. Verses 10-11. Clay pots he touched had to be destroyed (15:12) and wooden bowls had to be washed (15:12).
The man had to be clean for seven days and then had to make a sacrifice on the 8th day. Lev. 15:14-15.
Verses 16-18 deal with the bodily discharges that occur between couple in sexual relations. The instructions are that such discharges make both the man and woman unclean; but they must simply wash themselves and they will be "clean" after the day.
Leviticus 15:19-30 deals with the discharges from the female body, primarily suggesting discharges relating to the female menstrual cycle. During such a time the woman was considered unclean in similar fashion to the discharges relating to the male body.
Not only was the woman unclean during such periods, but also every thing she touched including her bed, furniture or any person that touched her. For the woman, and any thing or person in contact, including a man sleeping in the same bed, a thorough cleaning was required. (Lev. 15:23-24). After the female period, the woman became clean again after seven days. On the 8th day a sacrifice was required for atonement.
The Lord concludes in the 15th Chapter of Leviticus confirming his instructions of separating the Israeli people from their bodily uncleanness.
Next: Day of atonement