Leviticus

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Leviticus 15 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Leviticus 15 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,

(15:1-15) God's instructions for men with a "running issue" out of their "flesh"
Long, tiresome, and disgusting instructions for the treatment of men who have a "running issue" out of their "flesh." Very enlightening. "And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean..."(15:1) "And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying ... When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh...."

Very enlightening and a life saver of disease control. Note that this law, and all the others in Leviticus demonstrate a knowledge that was unknown to mankind of that time. Only in our age we have begun to realise why washing yourself, clean clothes, and separation are necessary elements of disease and pest control.
In this particular case it is about a person infected with gonorrhoeae. This is very infectious, so everything with which this person got into bodily contact was declared unclean. For that reason the person also had to be kept away from others.

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.

3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.

4 Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.

(15:4) "Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean."

Interestingly, the Bible recognises that gonorrhoeae infection can spread by non-sexual means, a thing only slowly recognised by scientists. If scientists had only listened to the Bible, they would have known this 3,000 years earlier.

5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:5) "And whosoever toucheth his bed shall ... be unclean until the even."

6 And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:6) "And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat ... shall ... be unclean until the even."

7 And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:7) "And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall ... be unclean until the even."

8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:8) "And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall ... be unclean until the even."

9 And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.

(15:9) "And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean."

10 And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:10) "And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even."

11 And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:11) "And whomsoever he toucheth ... shall ... be unclean until the even."

12 And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

(15:12) "And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth ... shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water."

13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

(15:13) "He that hath an issue ... shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing ... and shall be clean."

14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:

(15:14-15) "On the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons ... and ... offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering."

15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.

16 And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:16-18) God's law for wet dreams
What to do if you get your seed of copulation on yourself, your clothes, or your partner.
What the Bible says about masturbation
(15:16) "If any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall ... be unclean until the even."

This law is a clear recognition how sexual diseases are transmitted. The knowledge described here is far beyond the knowledge at that time.
In order to stop the spread of infectious diseases, clear instructions are given which will stop it spreading.

17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:17) "And every garment ... whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be ... unclean until the even."

Sexual diseases can spread via various means, see for example the 2003 article Transmission of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from a toilet seat ..

18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:18) "The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even."

...

19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.

(15:19-33) God's law for menstruating women
They are unclean and sinful. Anthing that they touch is unclean. Anyone who touches anything that they touch is unclean. Stay completely away from them. (And for God's sake, don't even think about having sex with them!)
What the Bible says about Menstruation
(15:19) "If a woman have an issue, and her issue... be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even."

Ceremonial uncleanness has nothing to do with being dirty. Blood can transmit diseases, so certain hygiene is required.

20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.

(15:20) "And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean."

21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:21) "And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even."

22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:22) "Whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall ... be unclean until the even."

23 And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.

(15:23) "And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even."

24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

(15:24) "If any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean."
How should a man who has sex with a menstruating woman be punished?

This case is different from chapter 20:18 as this describes a case where it is done ignorantly or at a time when menstruation was thought to be over, but wasn't, or started unexpectedly.

25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.

(15:25) "If a woman have an issue of her blood ... she shall be unclean."

Blood and the seed of copulation can spread sexual diseases. What's wrong with proscribing hygiene?

26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.

(15:26) "Every bed whereon she lieth ... and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean."

27 And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

(15:27) "Whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean."

28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.

(15:28) "But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean."
Women are unclean while menstruating and for seven days after bleeding has stopped.

29 And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

(15:29-30) "On the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons ... for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness."

30 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.

31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.

32 This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;

(15:32-33) " This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him ... And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean."

Every medical handbook proscribes the same hygiene, so what is women-unfriendly about this?

33 And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.