Numbers 5:2

Commentary on Numbers 5:2 (KJV)

Numbers 5:2 introduces a crucial set of instructions regarding the purity and order of the Israelite camp. Following the detailed organization of the tribes around the Tabernacle, this verse outlines who must be excluded from the camp to maintain its sanctity. It commands the removal of "every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead."

Historical and Cultural Context

The instructions in Numbers 5 were given shortly after the Israelites had set up the Tabernacle in the wilderness, signifying God's dwelling in their midst. The camp was not merely a collection of tents; it was a holy space where the presence of God resided. Therefore, maintaining ritual purity was paramount. These regulations reflect the ancient Near Eastern understanding of holiness and uncleanness, though uniquely tied to the God of Israel. Conditions like leprosy (a broad term for various skin diseases, not just modern Hansen's disease), bodily discharges (such as those mentioned in Leviticus 15), and contact with the dead (Numbers 19:11) rendered an individual ritually unclean. This uncleanness was not necessarily a moral failing but a state that made one unfit to participate in the community's worship or to be in the immediate presence of God's holiness.

Key Themes and Messages

• Holiness and Purity: The primary theme is the absolute necessity of maintaining the camp's holiness because God Himself dwells there. The purity of the camp was a direct reflection of God's holy character.
• Separation for Sanctity: The command to "put out of the camp" signifies a temporary separation, not a permanent banishment. It ensured that the defiled individual did not contaminate the holy space where God's presence was manifested. This separation was a necessary measure for the spiritual well-being of the entire community.
• God's Presence Requires Reverence: The strictness of these laws underscores the profound reverence required when living in close proximity to the Almighty. Just as God commanded the building of the Tabernacle for Him to dwell among them (Exodus 25:8), He also commanded the purity necessary for that dwelling.
• Community Health (Secondary): While primarily ritual, these laws also had practical benefits, serving as a rudimentary form of public health measure in a densely populated encampment, helping to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "leper" is tsara'ath (צָרַעַת), which encompasses a range of skin conditions, not solely what is clinically known as leprosy today. The term "issue" refers to various bodily discharges (Hebrew: zav or zavah), which according to Mosaic Law, rendered a person ritually unclean. "Defiled by the dead" uses the Hebrew term tame (טָמֵא), meaning "unclean" or "defiled," emphasizing the ritual impurity associated with contact with a corpse, which was considered the ultimate source of ritual impurity due to its association with death, the antithesis of life that God represents.

Practical Application and Reflection

While these specific laws pertain to the Old Covenant ritual system, the underlying principles hold significant spiritual application for believers today. As followers of Christ, our bodies are considered the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and the Church is a holy community where God dwells. This calls for a spiritual purity:

• We are to strive for holiness because God is holy (Leviticus 11:44). This involves separating ourselves from moral and spiritual defilement, which hinders our fellowship with God and others (2 Corinthians 6:17).
• The physical removal from the camp foreshadows the spiritual need to confess and remove sin from our lives, which defiles us and separates us from God's perfect presence.
• It reminds us that God desires a pure and consecrated people, not just in outward ritual but in heart and action, reflecting the inner transformation brought about by Christ.