Monday, August 19, 2013

Numbers 5:1-4

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Command the Israelites to put out of the camp everyone who is leprous, or has a discharge, and everyone who is unclean through contact with a corpse;1 you shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp; they must not defile2 their camp, where I dwell3 among them.”

The Israelites did so, putting them outside the camp; as the Lord had spoken to Moses, so the Israelites did.4

1 Various kinds of people are ostracized for being unclean. These three issues may also communicate disease.
2 To touch someone with these diseases or who has touched a corpse is to be defiled.
3 Something about God's holiness clashes with their presence.

4 Obedience is shown.


Take-home: An example is made of God's holiness extending to the camp, by stating that certain unclean persons cannot coexist with God's presence. The demonstration of holiness comes at their expense.

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