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But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.
Genesis 13:23-24
This is for all those that think the good book is full of nothing but fairy tales or horror stories but to them who believe is it precious for it is life and health indeed. Actually, this is one of those cases, where whatever it has to say makes quite a lot of sense. One of the places on which leprosy grows is on the bodies of the dead whether creeping as the beast or as the bodies of those who once had lived. The issue here is that leprosy and all its’ associated bacterias are part of the fallen condition where the ground seeks to come back and reclaim that which once was lost. It’s almost part of the promised ground which seeks to fight against the planted from which it grows. This part of the curse is truly sad indeed. Without the Lord though to rebuke the ground, or in this case the destroyer for our sakes, there’s very little still to do. That’s why he’s promised that when we once to him return, he will bring about the healing of the earth. Just to think, it’s all about the imbalance still in nature between the bacteria which feasts upon the earth giving little differentiation between that and anything that moves or lives. It’s almost senseless, in it’s own way if you will. You could almost describe it as a destroying form without any other sense. That’s why the Lord had to make it clear that these things needed to be burnt with fire before they could be safely eaten. It’s also why we’ve found cooking things is the best possible practice. Of course, it helps to make sure there’s no blood still visible or obviously up and running around. After it’s been cooked of course, it doesn’t matter what colors the meat is in determining whether it’s been cooked or not. Finding this balance in the cooking decisions will help a lot with keeping some of the taste. I mean really, it helps if we aren’t having any burnt offerings for supper. Don’t laugh now, it’s not funny at all. Anyhow, the thing about leprosy is that since it grows from the ground and upon the bodies that return to it especially, you’ll have to take a few additional safety precautions. Basically, all that’s just a fancy way of saying to suit up for what’s coming next. It would help to not have to handle the bodies at all of anything whether man or a beast. Without that though, we’d soon return to a few more plague-like conditions. In fact, that’s probably how a few plagues like those of the middle ages got their spread. You might not have heard about them just yet, but there’s one in particular called the Bubonic plague so named after the boils it caused. What happened was the rats got into houses and lived along with the rest of the folks. When they died though, there was no one to perform the much needed removal of pests. As a result, whole villages were left for dead since there was no way of getting the plague out of the homes. The few that remained were needed to perform some community service. The Lord though will say more on that in a few. It’s actually in verse 25 if you happened to look. By no means am I trying to claim ought of the Lord. He knows full well whatever will be, far better even than me.
And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
Leviticus 13:25
Really, that’s what the whole issue of clean versus unclean has been all about. You’ll have to perform last rites in bringing away those things that have died. Note though these rules are for animals only not just the people. I’m sure the Lord is not saying any of these should be treated as such, all things of the spirit creatures aside. By this, I’m talking about those things assuming the creature position as their final possible form. As those appointed to care for such things, you’ll have to do what you must at first. After, you’ll need to bathe and wash all your clothes. Not all of them, of course, just the ones you had on. Then let’s go back to the rest of the cases. There’s quite a lot of them, which means we’ll have to look at them slowly.
Case 5
18 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,
19 And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest;
20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.
Symptoms: boil, red spot, white spot in the middle, reddness surrounding the wound, pitted in the center, white hair involvement, possibly appears as a boil or a raising there in the skin, may present as open or healed
Differential:
21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:
And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.
Symptoms: without white hair involvement, no pitting of the skin, color darker than the skin, spread noticed to other parts of the body besides just one or two places or whatever the original number
Diagnosis: still most likely leprosy just with a viral form. For the plague more aggressive treatment is needed besides just symptomatic isolation
Differential:
23 But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Symptoms: the original red or white spot has not spread to other parts of the body
Diagnosis: likely a boil or a blister that has broken out. These can be from trauma or quite possibly something else. Burns of course can result in blisters or what is termed as a boil. Other possible causes include insects bites or maybe even a sting.
Case 6
24 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
25 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
Symptoms: burning flesh, fever, hot to the touch, reddness or rash to the skin, white blanching of the skin, white spots, white hair involvement, full thickness of skin below the surface
Differential:
26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:
27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
Symptoms: without white hair involvement, spots on the surface, darker in color than the skin, spread noticed to other parts of the body
Diagnosis: leprosy is most certainly there, due to the spread and virility
Differential:
28 And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.
Symptoms: rash, redness, without spread, darker in color than the skin itself, raised surface
Diagnosis: fever or fever blisters due to the heat. Sometimes fevers are known to be causing infection or inflammation in this cause since infection cannot be found. Common symptoms of inflammation include redness, swelling, and warmth