Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Leviticus 14 continues with the cleansing of those with skin diseases and ends with cleansing from the mold. Again, much of this is ritual. There may be some scientific or medical explanation for the use of cedarwood and olive oil. If your church has rituals these will not seem as curious as they are for those who have few ceremonies to compare with this.

A similar procedure is used for cleansing a home of mold. This is significantly different from modern mold remuneration, but there are some similarities. There are agents to be used to clean the mold from surfaces. In some cases, surface materials must be removed and discarded. Repairs are then made.

Leviticus 15 is not just for ceremonial cleansing.  This is for hygienic purposes as well.  The washing with water may not be as effective as using modern anti-bacterial, but it is better than not bothering to wash at all.  Some cultures have no habits for bathing or washing on a regular basis.  These Hebrew laws stand in contrast to those who shun washing themselves or their clothing.  While these standards may be poor compared to twenty-first-century health regulations, we can still see how the Israelites would be a community with much less disease than many of their neighbors.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger