Here we see God talking to both Moses and Aaron. This chapter is dealing with leprosy, and those that come in contact with this disease. So we will take a look first of all at what Leprosy is, and the different types of leprosy. The thing that is important for each of to day from this chapter on leprosy is that it is a "type" for sin, and the type that is manifested in man. The kind spoken of most in this chapter is white leprosy. Here then are the stages that a leper goes through to become affected with this disease.

Years before the leprosy becomes visible, white spots appear on the skin of the body. The leprosy lies then deep within the skin, and it will exist without feeling, and sometimes the hair appears to be the same color as the white spots. The spots in time will pierce through the skin and reach the muscles and bone. The spot depresses and sink through the muscle to the bone: And in time the hair becomes completely white and will fall off. Hard jelly swellings will in turn cause hard and rough skin. Blood minus the red corpuscles which gives the blood living cells, is allowed to flow from the skin and causes large scabs, in which those scabs will fall off from time to time. Visible to others, these are large running sores.

On the feet and hands, the nails swell up, curl and fall off. The gums bleed, the nose of the leper becomes stopped up, and large amounts of saliva appears. In time the senses become very dull and the patient becomes thin and weak, and diarrhea sets in, and a burning fever finally ends the suffering of the person. So what we have seen here is the purification of a living body from within.

If feel that God chose Leprosy as a type or example for sin. Sin is something that is just like leaven, for when it is present within the loaf, it moves to corrupt the entire loaf. Leprosy does the same thing, it corrupts an entire body once it become established in a living body. Leprosy not only affects the body that hosts it, but it contaminates all the others that come in contact with that body. So because it does spread so fast, the key to understanding whether something is Leprosy or not, is by separating the person with the sores and then observing the sore whether there is a change or not to the contaminated part.

Leprosy is still present in the world, and there are hospitals in Damascus, India, and parts of Africa just for lepers. In Egypt there is a different kind of leprosy that settles in the joints, which settles in the lower parts of the body that is called "Elephantitus"; a form of leprosy.

This chapter then deals with leprosy, and what is to be done when the symptoms are observed. The description was given here so that you can better understand what is talked about here, and why God is using leprosy as types that we will see in our study.

Leviticus 13:2 "When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of Leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:"

When a man has a irruption or scab, or a bright spot on his flesh, and it looks like Leprosy, then that person should be brought to the tabernacle and Aaron or one of his sons must follow this procedure to check it out to see if it is leprosy in face. This is just common sense, for today when you start to see something that doesn't look right you go and check it out with the doctor. Tests are run, and the man is treated for what he has. This then is what the priest is to do to determine whether this man's sores and bright spot is in fact leprosy.

The word "Leprosy" comes from the Hebrew word "zar`ath" and from the prime word, "zar`a", meaning to "to strike down" and leprosy is believed that it is a way that God can strike down a person. Leprosy is a type of what man is by nature, sin, and it has reference to what man has "in" him, and not to the outcome of the leprosy.

Leviticus 13:3 "And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turning white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean."

When the priest would call this man "unclean" he would be placing a sentence on the man that would be final. The hair in the sore spot that is turning white, and the sore becoming deeper than the normal skin were two signs that says that the sore is leprosy. This became a sign that they did not need to go any deeper in the testing for leprosy, and the priest would then call the man unclean immediately. But there was a procedure that we will discuss later for deeper examination of the soreness.

Leviticus 13:4 "If the bright spot be white in the skin of the flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:"

If the bright spot is not white and the there is no deep depression on the skin, the priest will then confine the man for seven days, to give the plague a chance to grow and change. The priest was separating the people from this man until it could be confirmed that he did or did not have the plague of leprosy.

Leviticus 13:5 "And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:"

The number seven means spiritual completeness in biblical numerics. We are studying the covenant between God and man [YHVH and Israel], called the bible, and in this set of instructions, the priest is looking for the fact that this sore will not spread. The spreading of the white spot, or the depression of skin is the automatic marking that leprosy is present.

Leviticus 13:6 "And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean."

So here after the second seven day period, the priest is to look again at the sore; "and behold" or pay special attention to that "white spot in the skin", and if this sore did not spread in the skin but is faint [dark], it is not the plague. The priest can then declare this person clean, but he must wash his clothes immediately. This same procedure of watching for the leprosy of skin, is the same used of identification of leprosy of garments, and leprosy of house foods, in later chapters.

Leviticus 13:7 "But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:"

This cleansing that we are reading of here is the same that we read of in Leviticus 12:5 which was a ceremonial purification. That was the purification that a woman went through after she bare a child.

Leviticus 13:8 "And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy."

This leprosy then is one that has spread after it was view as an irruption in the skin. So in this next type of leprosy it will be with leprosy appears and there was no previous eruption.

Leviticus 13:9 "When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;"

In this case it doesn't matter it is a man or woman. When this plague of leprosy appears and there is no sings showing before hand, then he or she must be brought to the priest.

Leviticus 13:10 "And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;"

If this leprosy starts to appear, raising the skin and turning it white along with the skin; this "quick raw flesh in the rising" means that it is alive and growing fast.

Leviticus 13:11 "It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean."

This then is the sign that the leprosy is old and has been their, and there is no need to shut up the patient to continue in the observation of the person. The priest must immediately declare unclean. Only new leprosy requires the seven day confinement, but here it is an old leprosy, and confinement is not required.

Leviticus 13:12 "And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;"

If the leprosy breaks out completely covering the skin of that persons complete body, from head to foot, most people would think this person is in really bad shape. However, listen to what it means.

Leviticus 13:13 "Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague; it is turned white: he is clean."

If this person is completely covered with leprosy from head to foot, the priest should take a look at all the persons flesh, and "pronounce the person clean". So why clean? Symbolically in a spiritual sense, it is written that this would be the same as someone completely repenting for their sins in a total manner, for a complete submission to our Lord. However what this means in the physical sense, is that this person is about to get over his leprosy, and it is not spreading and dangerous to others. Once the whole body is white, then it stops growing and subsides into a dormant state, which is considered clean to others.

Leviticus 13:14 "But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean."

After the body of the person has turned completely white, and the skin starts to fall off the person, to where the raw flesh is open, then with the raw flesh open to the air, the leper is to be considered unclean.

Leviticus 13:15 "And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy."

It is the priest that would determine that leprosy is present or not, and make the commitment of clean or unclean.

Leviticus 13:16 "Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;"

Leviticus 13:17 "And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean."

What this is stating is that this turning white to the stage of raw flesh can move in cycles. After the raw flesh has healed and skin forms, The priest can then change the pronunciation from unclean back to clean. This leprosy is moving from stage to stage, where by one of the stages can contaminate others, and in another stage it cannot. Clean or unclean determines the affect of spreading to other people. White is considered clean, and raw flesh is considered unclean.

Leviticus 13:18 "The flesh also, in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,"

This next form of leprosy come from boils or abysses.

Leviticus 13:19 "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;"

Once the boil comes visible to the person, where the boil area becomes white and raises, or a bright white or somewhat reddish spot appears around the boil, then that person must go to see the priest. If another person notices this on that person, then it become his duty to notify the priest about it.

Leviticus 13:20 "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."

Again this sign is a hair turned white and the skin starting to depress down requires the priest to declare him or her unclean from leprosy. In this case the leprosy came from the boil, and these two things make it a fact that leprosy is present and there is no need to continue with an investigation for symptoms.

Leviticus 13:21 "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:"

Again, a person not showing these symptoms of leprosy must be sealed up for seven days to allow the leprosy to grow and cause the symptoms to appear. These symptoms will appear if leprosy is present, for that is the nature of Leprosy, which grows rapidly when it starts.

Leviticus 13:22 "And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague."

Those signs will appear if leprosy is present.

Leviticus 13:23 "But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean."

"Burning" as given in this verse is "tsarebeth" [# 6867]; "Conflagration; from disease, burning, inflammation." The burning in the next verse has a different meaning.

Leviticus 13:24 "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;"

This "burning" is from the Hebrew word; # 4348 "Mikvah; a burn that comes from fire." This type of symptom then would not appear as a boil, but more a scar from being burnt by fire. If that scar has a bring white spot or is somewhat reddish or white, then the priest should check out the injured place.

Leviticus 13:25 "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".

If the hair in the scar spot is white and the sight of the scare is deeper than the rest of the skin, then this is a sign of Leprosy, and the person is declared unclean by the priest.

Leviticus 13:26 "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:"

However if the signs are not present, then that person must go through the seven day trial period again.

Leviticus 13:27 "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."

Remember that leprosy is a type for sin, and it is a corruption from within the person. It attacks the living body, to tare down its immune systems, and leave it open. Pay attention to the word "unclean" for in the next chapter we will discuss what happens when one is pronounced unclean. That proclamation is almost a death sentence to the one with the leprosy.

Leviticus 13:28 "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."

Again the point here is that the spots are not spreading, for when leprosy or sin is present, it will not lay dormant, but moves rapidly to take over the body of the person to tare it down.

Leviticus 13:29 "If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;"

If a person has a spot or a mole on his head, or beard [chin], it is time to check it out.

Leviticus 13:30 "Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard."

This then is a different type of leprosy, for when this mole is present, there will be a yellow thin [short] hair, not a white hair as the other had, but the spot will be depressed on the skin. This form of leprosy will leave a scabby disorder were the mole was present. It will appear to be somewhat like scurvy that the old-time sailors got when there was not enough vitamins in their diet. A thin flakiness on the skin in appearance.

Leviticus 13:31 "And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:"

When the symptoms are there, it required the seven day waiting period for the disease to grow and present itself as a leprosy.

Leviticus 13:32 "And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;"

If it was a long yellow hair, or a reddish hair then the sore was okay, but the think or short hair in the area of the sore indicated leprosy.

Leviticus 13:33 "He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more:"

All of the area around the sore scar or scaly place must be shaven, however the area of the scar many not be shaved. Then the seven day waiting period would begin.

Leviticus 13:34 "And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean."

When it was determined that there was no leprosy in the person, then the clothes must be washed and the purification process must be made.

Leviticus 13:35 "But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;"

The spreading of the sore is a bad sign, that indicates leprosy is present.

Leviticus 13:36 "Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; his is unclean."

If the sore is spreading there is no needing to look elsewhere, the person does have leprosy, and is declared unclean.

Leviticus 13:37 "But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean."

If any person had one of these spots on their neck or chin would be very glad to see one of these black hairs, or healing taking place.

Leviticus 13:38 "If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;"

The leprosy from this verse on, is considered a harmless form of leprosy. The spots of these forms were more wings on the arms or other parts of the body. In those parts of the world today were leprosy is present, it is considered to be quite harmless. The light wings on the skin last from two months, to two years and then disappear as fast as they came.

Leviticus 13:39 "Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean."

The freckled spot is a harmless irruption on the skin, whether it be in bright spots, or a darkish white part of the skin.

Leviticus 13:40 "And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean."

This then is the leprosy of the bald head. If a man loses his hair, it is called having a leprosy, yet those spots that may come on the head when it is bald does not make that man unclean. Being bald is still considered being clean.

Leviticus 13:41 "And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean."

If the man lost the front part of his hair, and is half bald, he is also considered clean.

Leviticus 13:42 "And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead."

However if there is a mole or sore that had come up on the bald head, or his forehead, then it is considered a leprosy.

Leviticus 13:43 "Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh:

That person must have it checked out, and if that sore be white or reddish that is on his bald head or forehead, he must see the priest. The color of the persons hair has nothing to do with what is happening here.

Leviticus 13:44 "He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head."

This man is then declared unclean by the priest.

Leviticus 13:45 "And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, `Unclean, unclean.' "

This chapter now moves into the treatment for lepers, however those that had leprosy were considered as having a death sentence pronounced over them. So this is what the law requires once the priests makes his statement that you are a leper. The clothes that is spoken of here is mourning clothes, the same as if a family member had died. Those thoughts that lepers moved in the darkness, and stayed in the shadows, are pretty close to what the law declares. The law required that as this leper moved in the community, they must appear to be in mourning, and their hair in complete disorder. They must appear as to be not part of the community. As the leper moved in the streets, they must cry our "Unclean", "Unclean" so the population would know a leper is amongst them. The man was also required to cover over his beard, and the sore spots.

Leprosy is a great type for sin: and it teaches us that the sinner is not only lost and ruined on account of what he has done, but on account of what he is. The former needed atonement to procure judicial righteousness, but the latter requires a Divine act and cleansing to give him an imputed righteousness. For the former, or the sins that have been committed, we have forgiveness through Christ's atonement, and for the latter we have cleansing by God in Christ. It is not enough to confess what we "have done" or "left undone", but there must also be a confession; why? "there is no health in us." Our Heavenly Father looks right into our hearts and He knows the condition of not only our physical bodies, but the thoughts of our minds and condition of our souls.

So the reason for crying out the condition, "unclean", "unclean", was to allow other people to stay clear, so the condition of that contaminated soul would not contaminate others around them, whether it be by physical, the leprosy; or the spiritual and the sinful nature of the person. Leprosy is a type for sin.

Leviticus 13:46 "All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be."

This was a health department move, and it is the same today. Numbers 5:2, 3 was the law that governed this; "Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:" [2] "Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell." [3]

YHVH lived within the camp, and wherever He dwelt there could be no defiling. Anything that was defiled was taken out of the camp, as we saw with those sin offerings. Even the unclean carcasses of dead animals had to be removed from the camp. This was a health problem that God wanted taken care of, and it was solved much as how it is done today when certain contagious diseases are spotted, those people involved are quarantined until it is determined that they are safe for the community.

Some times the lepers got over their disease, and when this did happen there was a purification process that they must go through. This process, is very much identical to the consecration process of Leviticus eight and nine that we saw Aaron the priest and his sons go through during their time of anointing.

Leviticus 13:47 "The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;"

Now we move to leprosy in garments and leprosy in houses. As leprosy is a type for sin, we can see that this will deal with sin that comes into our garments and homes. Leprosy is the drying up of the uses and systems that allow a person to live, and in its life there is a putrefying process that takes place in a living body. The wages of sin is death, and therefore the commitment of a person as unclean is almost the same as declaring a death sentence on a person.

God gives each of us a choice to either follow Him or Satan. Each of us can either receive God's blessings or His cursings, as we read in Deuteronomy 28. We make choices in our lives, and each of those choices are within the instructions of God's Word, or going against what God instructs us to do by His Word. When we head out on our own without God, His blessings are not with us, but likewise when we seek to follow him, He blesses us. God told us exactly what He expects from you, and when you treat His Word lightly, and without regards and respect, then you let Him know what you think of His Laws and commandments. Sure we will fall short from time to time, but there is also a way out when we do. His Son was the atonement for sin, and Jesus Christ's blood is our way out, when we confess those sins, and come under the blood of Christ's sacrifice. Our way out today is the only way, and that is repentance through Jesus Christ, the name of Jesus.

So these laws of purification are not just for Israel as they were ready to enter into the promise land, for they had many of the heathen habits formed in Egypt during their captivity. God is holy, and He is calling His people to be holy also; and these forms of purification were set up for that process. These laws of purification were for morals and health reasons, but to plant within the minds of the children of Israel's minds the condition of death; thus the whore of sin. Sin is death to the soul.

If leprosy is a contagious disease, how can a garment have leprosy? The garment that a person wears, shows those around that person the habits and way that this person lives. Jude 23 "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." This leprosy in the garment was a type of mildew, so with this as a type for sin, it gets into our minds by the leaven that enters through false doctrine, and the traditions of men. When this spiritual leaven or mildew spreads through a group, the entire group accepts in as truth in ignorance. Once the fungus gets on the garment, it spreads throughout the entire cloth, just like sin.

Leviticus 13:48 "Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;"

It simply doesn't matter what the cloth is made of, even of leather [skin]. The warp or woof are types of a weave in the garment cloth. The warp is the longitudinal lines of the loom, through which the shuttle passes. The woof yarns run horizontal, so this is talking about the yarn that is used to produce this type of weave, which are to closely interwoven.

Leviticus 13:49 "And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin; is is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:"

If the garment has this greenish or reddish mildew on the fabric, or on the leather that the garment is made of, then it is the plague of leprosy. It must be shown to the priest for the final decision.

Leviticus 13:50 "And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days:"

The priest doesn't shut of the person for seven day, but the garment that has the plague. If it is the plague it will continue to spread throughout the garment.

Leviticus 13:51 "And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean."

The number seven is used throughout this entire chapter, and it is the mark for spiritual perfection. On that seventh day if there is a spreading of the leprosy, or mildew, then that garment is unclean. The key to this type is that it is a spreading leprosy, which is like corruption, a type of sin that also spreads. Jesus said in Matthew 16:11, 12;

Matthew 16:11 "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?"

Jesus had been talking of the teachings or doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and comparing it with the leaven or filth that was in the bread that they had been gathering after the feeding of the people. the disciples just didn't get the lesson that Jesus was trying to teach. The implication back in verse six was to beware of the leaven or doctrine that creeps in when ever you have a large gather, even in a church service or gathering.

Matthew 16:12 "Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."

It is obvious that most churches today just do not get it either, as they allow the doctrines of the Pharisees, that go against the word of God to take hold of their church and their thinking. Those false doctrines are like the mildew of these garments, that will spread and contaminate the entire garment quickly, if left unchecked. A fretting leprosy is a ranking leprosy, [only of what is malignant,] that type of leprosy that causes people to get mad in their protection of these false doctrines.

Leviticus 13:52 "He shall therefore burn that garment, whither warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire."

All the garments that had this type of leprosy must be completely burned by fire. This was a means of blotting out the leprosy before it could spread, and it is like the blotting out of sin.

Leviticus 13:53 "And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin;"

Leviticus 13:54 "Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:"

If the garment mildew did not spread in seven days, then seven additional days were given to wait and see if that plague would spread.

Leviticus 13:55 "And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without."

So if there was no change in the color of the garment on any spot of the garment where the mildew was, after it was washed, then it was the plague, for the washing should have eliminated or changed the color. That garment then must be destroyed.

Leviticus 13:56 "And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:"

So after the wash, if the fungus was a lighter color, and it did not spread, then the garment could be mended with the spot removed, and it could be saved.

Leviticus 13:57 "And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire."

Even after the garment had been mended and the plague spot was still present in the garment, then the garment had the spreading plague had to be destroyed.

Leviticus 13:58 "And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean."

Leviticus 13:59 "This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean."

God is holy and He is calling Israel to be holy also. They are getting ready to enter into the promise land, so this is to prepare His people to live their lives in a manner that would be pleasing to Him. This set of Levitical laws and commandments were given to Israel when they were still at the base of mount Sinai, before their 40 year trip through the wilderness.