SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:47
ΒΆ Y cuando en el vestido hubiere plaga de lepra, en vestido de lana, o en vestido de lino;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Leviticus 13:47
Verse 47. The garment also] The whole account here seems to intimate that the garment was fretted by this contagion; and hence it is likely that it was occasioned by a species of small animals, which we know to be the cause of the itch; these, by breeding in the garments, must necessarily multiply their kind, and fret the garments, i. e., corrode a, portion of the finer parts, after the manner of moths, for their nourishment. See ver. 52.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 47. The garments also, that the plague of leprosy is in , etc.] Whether this sort of leprosy proceeded from natural causes, or was extraordinary and miraculous, and came immediately from the hand of God, and was peculiar to the Jews, and unknown to other nations, is a matter of question; the latter is generally asserted by the Hebrew writers, as Maimonides f458 , Abraham Seba f459 , and others f460 ; but others are of opinion, and Abarbinel among the Jews, that it might be by the contact or touch of a leprous person. Indeed it must be owned, as a learned man observes, that the shirts and clothes of a leper must be equally infectious, and more so than any other communication with him; and the purulent matter which adheres thereunto must needs infect; such who put on their clothes; for it may be observed, that it will get between the threads of garments, and stick like glue, and fill them up, and by the acrimony of it corrode the texture itself; so that experience shows that it is very difficult to wash such a garment without a rupture, and the stains are not easily got out: and it must be allowed that garments may be scented by diseases, and become infectious, and carry a disease from place to place, as the plague oftentimes is carried in wool, cotton, silk, or any bale goods; but whether all this amounts to the case before us is still a question. Some indeed have endeavoured to account for it by observing, that wool ill scoured, stuffs kept too long, and some particular tapestries, are subject to worms and moths which eat them, and from hence think it credible, that the leprosy in clothes, and in skins here mentioned, was caused by this sort of vermin; to which, stuffs and works, wrought in wool in hot countries, and in times when arts and manufactures were not carried to the height of perfection as now, might probably be more exposed f462 ; but this seems not to agree with this leprosy of Moses, which lay not in the garment being eaten, but in the colour and spread of it: [whether it be] a woollen garment or a linen garment : and, according to the Misnic doctors f463 , only wool and linen were defiled by leprosy; Aben Ezra indeed says, that the reason why no mention is made of silk and cotton is because the Scripture speaks of what was found (then in use), as in ( Exodus 23:5); wherefore, according to him, woollen and linen are put for all other garments; though, he adds, or it may be the leprosy does not happen to anything but wool and linen; however, it is allowed, as Ben Gersom observes, that when the greatest part of the cloth is made of wool or linen, it was defiled by it: the Jewish canon is, if the greatest part is of camels hair, it is not defiled; but if the greatest part is of sheep, it is; and if half to half (or equal) it is defiled; and so flax, and hemp mixed together f464 ; the same rule is to be observed concerning them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 47-59 - The garment suspected to be tainted with leprosy was not to be burne immediately. If, upon search, it was found that there was a leprou spot, it must be burned, or at least that part of it. If it proved to be free, it must be washed, and then might be used. This also set forth the great evil there is in sin. It not only defiles the sinner' conscience, but it brings a stain upon all he has and all that he does And those who make their clothes servants to their pride and lust, ma see them thereby tainted with leprosy. But the robes of righteousnes never fret, nor are moth-eaten __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
והבגד 899 כי 3588 יהיה 1961 בו נגע 5061 צרעת 6883 בבגד 899 צמר 6785 או 176 בבגד 899 פשׁתים׃ 6593
