Thoughts on a Conversation with a Stranger – Part 9

The story continues from yesterday (here): https://copytestprove.com/thoughts-on-a-conversation-with-a-stranger-part-8/

If you want to join me from the beginning, start here: https://copytestprove.com/thoughts-on-a-conversation-with-a-stranger-part-1/

‘Any other…?’ he asked tentatively.

‘Sure! Do you know the story of Jesus and the ten lepers?’

‘Yes, ten lepers healed and only one said thank you. There’s a song about it.’

‘While most people hold the other nine somewhat in contempt, I can see why they did what they did. Or didn’t do.’

‘What’s the backstory?’

‘I don’t know if you’re aware, but the whole of the book of Leviticus is rules and regulations.’

‘I am aware. It’s one of the ones I skipped over when reading through the Bible.’

‘Most people do. Because they were a new nation just coming out of Egypt, God gave them rules and ‘laws’ on every single issue you may face in life: marriage, growing your beards, clothing, farming, cooking, theft, making religious items (recipes for incense, bread, etc) and clothing, waste disposal, and of course, health and remedies.

‘So if you think you were cured of leprosy, the ‘law’ was that you’d show yourself to the priest and he said you might be clean, then you’d have to be in quarantine for seven days before he’d check you again. If he cleared you, you’d have to change all your clothing and make a specific offering in thanks for being cleansed of leprosy. This is the brief version of it.’

‘So you mean the nine didn’t have faith…?’

‘No, they had faith in Jesus’ word. He said, ‘Go show yourself to the priests,’ and ‘as they went they were cleansed.’ They went to show themselves as healed to the priests BEFORE they were cleansed. That took faith. But the ‘legal’ way of giving thanks for being healed didn’t include running back and falling at Jesus’ feet to say thank you. Jesus even mentions that he was a foreigner.’

‘So everyone works with what they know.’

‘I think so, but come to think of it, apparently, the Samaritans had the first five books of Moses, so maybe I’m totally wrong.’

‘It is fun to think about, though.’

The story continues tomorrow.

The Story of the Ten Lepers, Luke 17:11-19

¹¹ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

¹² And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

¹³ And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

¹⁴ And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

¹⁶ And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

¹⁸ There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

¹⁹ And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

(AI result of the search ‘leprosy Leviticus’)

Leviticus 14 outlines the extensive ceremonial purification and rituals required when an individual is healed of “leprosy” (Hebrew: tsara’ath), a broad term historically covering various infectious skin diseases, molds, and mildews. The chapter also details procedures for diagnosing and cleansing homes afflicted by spreading toxic mold or rot.

The Ritual for Cleansing an Individual

Because the disease caused severe social and religious isolation, the reintegration process involved two main stages:

Phase 1: Pronouncement and Initial Cleansing

1. Examination: The priest must examine the recovered individual outside the camp.
2. The Two Birds: The priest orders two living, clean birds, cedarwood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop. One bird is killed in an earthen vessel over fresh running water.
3. The Live Bird: The living bird, along with the wood, yarn, and hyssop, is dipped in the dead bird’s blood and water. The priest sprinkles the healed person seven times and sets the living bird free.
4. Quarantine: The cleansed person must shave all their hair, wash their clothes, bathe, and stay outside their tent for seven days.

Phase 2: Eighth-Day Consecration
On the eighth day, the person brings two male lambs, one female lamb, fine flour with oil, and a log of oil to the tabernacle. The priest offers a trespass offering and puts some of the blood and oil on the person’s right earlobe, right thumb, and right big toe. Atonement is then made to restore the individual completely.