John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And the priest shall go forth out of the camp , etc.] A little without the camp, as Ben Gersom notes. There have been several goings forth of Christ our High Priest; first in the council and covenant of grace and peace, when he became the surety of his people; then in time by the assumption of human nature, when he came forth from his Father, and came into the world to save them; next, when he went forth out of the city of Jerusalem to suffer for them; and also, when, at the time of conversion, he goes forth in quest of them, and looks them up, and finds them, and brings them home, which may answer to the type here; and all shows the great readiness of Christ to receive sinners: and the priest shall look, and, behold, [if] the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper ; that all the signs of uncleanness are removed, the swelling, the scab, or bright spot, and the white hair in them, and, instead of that, black hair is grown up. The typical priest did not heal, nor could he, the healing was of God; he only looked to see by signs if the plague was healed; but our antitypical priest looks with an eye of pity and compassion on leprous sinners, and they are enabled to look to him by faith, and virtue goes out of him to the healing of their diseases; as he looks upon them in their blood, and says to them, Live, so he looks upon them in their leprosy, and touches them, and says, “I will, be thou clean”, ( Matthew 8:3 Mark 1:41 Luke 5:13), and they are immediately healed; he is the sun of righteousness, which arises upon them with healing in his wings.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The priests could not cleanse the lepers; but when the Lord removed the plague, various rules were to be observed in admitting them again to the ordinances of God, and the society of his people. They represen many duties and exercises of truly repenting sinners, and the duties of ministers respecting them. If we apply this to the spiritual leprosy of sin, it intimates that when we withdraw from those who walk disorderly we must not count them as enemies, but admonish them as brethren. An also that when God by his grace has brought to repentance, they ough with tenderness and joy, and sincere affection, to be received again Care should always be taken that sinners may not be encouraged, no penitents discouraged. If it were found that the leprosy was healed the priest must declare it with the particular solemnities her described. The two birds, one killed, and the other dipped in the bloo of the bird that was killed, and then let loose, may signify Chris shedding his blood for sinners, and rising and ascending into heaven The priest having pronounced the leper clean from the disease, he mus make himself clean from all remains of it. Thus those who have comfor of the remission of their sins, must with care and caution cleans themselves from sins; for every one that has this hope in him, will be concerned to purify himself.
Original Hebrew ויצא3318 הכהן3548 אל413 מחוץ2351 למחנה4264 וראה7200 הכהן3548 והנה2009 נרפא7495 נגע5061 הצרעת6883 מן4480 הצרוע׃6879
