Page 77 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

3. You will be encouraged to think of clean and unclean as the background to living in a world tainted by
sin.

4. You will learn what kind of life God expected Israel to live on a daily basis.

5. You puzzle over some of the unusual practices.

6. You will notice the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant means of achieving
such a life.

10.3 Unclean and Clean

“You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud (11:3)” is the
opening directive. Illustrations follow. Camel, hyrax, rabbit, and pig are unclean (11:4-8).
Fins and scales are required for water creatures (11:8-12). Unclean birds are listed, put
into the category perhaps because they eat dead animals (11:13-19). Things get a bit more
difficult with insects. Flying insects that walk on all four legs are unclean, yet locusts,
katydids, crickets, and grasshoppers are exceptions (11:20-23).

The instructions continue. Touching a carcass of any of these creatures makes a person unclean (11:24-
28). Add in a variety of ground-hugging animals. Upon contact they can make a pot or seeds unclean
(11:29-43). In all these cases, a person who has been made unclean must wash their clothes (11:25, 28,
40 ). God’s holiness demands these distinctions. “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be
holy, because I am holy (10:44, 45).” A shorter section is devoted to uncleanness due to child birth (12:1-
8). The lengths of uncleanness differ for a boy or a girl. The remedy is an animal sacrifice.

Another longer section is devoted to skin diseases. A priest is consulted for
the proper diagnoses and treatment. The variations are many: a swelling or
a rash or a shiny spot on the skin, raw flesh, boils, swellings accompanied
by hairs turned white, burns, a sore with yellow hair, white spots on the
skin, and on go the instructions. Anyone diagnosed must wear torn clothes,
let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out,
“Unclean! Unclean!” They must live alone outside the camp. (13:1-43).
Fabric can be spoiled in a similar way with a “defiling mold” (13:47-59). If
the spot spreads, it must be burned. If it remains after washing or if it Fig. 51: Psoriasis
fades and returns, it must be burned. Otherwise it is declared clean.
Modern medical opinion rules out leprosy in these cases, suggesting
instead illnesses like psoriasis.

The remedy for a person with a skin disease is described with as much detail. Two birds must be brought
to the priest. One is killed and its blood spilled into a clay pot with fresh water. The second is dipped into
the blood/water of the first and sprinkled on the diseased person seven times. The bird is then released.
Washing and shaving one’s hair is next. Then two lambs are brought along with some grain. One is
offered as a guilt offering. Blood is applied to the right ear, thumb, and big toe of the person to be
cleansed. Oil is also applied. The second lamb is a sin offering. Poor people can make changes due to
their poverty. The goal is atonement (14:18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 31 ). The unclean can be made clean in this
manner. Similar instructions are given for a house that has mold (14:33-57). Sometimes the mold can be

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