Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 24:8
Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, [so] ye shall observe to do.
8, 9. Precautions in Leprosy. Israel shall diligently observe these as taught by the priests under divine command, remembering how God treated the leprous Miriam on the way from Egypt. Full of deuteronomic phrases; on take heed, see Deu 4:9; observe and do, Deu 4:6; observe to do, Deu 5:1; priests = Levites, Deu 18:1; as I have commanded, Deu 8:1; remember, Deu 7:18, Deu 25:17; in the way as ye came, etc., Deu 23:4 (5), Deu 25:17, etc. The accumulation of these formulas, as in several secondary passages, along with the changes between the Sg. and Pl. forms of address (confirmed by Sam., LXX), suggests that the passage has been expanded by editors. In 8 b read all the Torah (Sam., LXX) that the priests the Levites teach you. If 8 b is original to D this Torah need not be the detailed instructions on leprosy now found in P, Leviticus 13 f., but some earlier priestly Torah from which those have developed; but if 8 b is secondary its reference will be to Leviticus 13 f. Deu 24:9 refers to Miriam’s seclusion from the camp, Num 12:14 f. (So even Calvin.)
Steuern. holds as original only the first clause of 8 and 9 a, and revives the opinion (as old as the Vulgate, and favoured by Michaelis, Knobel, etc.) that the law is a call, not to take such precautions in a plague of leprosy as are illustrated by Miriam’s seclusion, but (by general obedience) to guard against the leprosy which fell on Miriam as the punishment for disobedience. Against this is the Heb. construction, in the plague of leprosy; so Steuern. suggests that the original reading was from the plague, etc. But all this interpretation renders the appeal to Miriam’s case much less natural.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. – 9. The plague of leprosy] See on Le 13:1-14:57
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By which words he plainly intimates, that they were not only to have an eye to the Levites instructions, but also and especially unto the word and command of God, and that if the Levites sentence were manifestly contrary to the command of God, it were not to be obeyed. As now if a Levite or priest should, for fear, or favour, or gain, pronounce a person to be clean, who were really and manifestly unclean, and had the unquestionable marks of leprosy upon him, I suppose no man in his wits will question but every man that saw and knew this were bound to avoid the touching of him, and that if he did touch him he should be defiled by it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8, 9. Take heed in the plague ofleprosy(See Le 13:14).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Take heed, in the plague of leprosy,…. Whether in the bodies of men, or in houses, or in garments, not to hide and conceal it; or, as Jarchi, weaken the signs of it, or cut out the bright spot; so the Targum of Jonathan:
that thou observe diligently, and do according to all the priests the Levites shall teach you: according to the laws and rules given in such cases, whether they order to shut up persons, houses, or clothes, or pronounce unclean or clean; in all things they were to do as they directed, which appeared to be agreeably to the said rules; for the judgment, management, and ordering of these things, belonged to the priests: of which see Le 13:1;
as I commanded them, [so] shall ye observe to do: which shows the they were not to comply with their orders, and conform to them, any further than they agreed with the commands of God, and the instructions he had given them in the places referred to.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 8, 9:
Review Leviticus chapters 13, 14 for the Law of the Leper.
See Numbers chapter 12 for the account of what befell Miriam.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. Take heed in the plague of leprosy. I am aware how greatly interpreters differ from each other and how variously they twist whatever Moses has written about Leprosy. Some are too eagerly devoted to allegories; some think that God, as a prudent Legislator, merely gave a commandment of a sanitary, nature, in order that a contagious disease should not, spread among the people. This notion, however, is very. poor, and almost unmeaning; and is briefly. refuted by Moses himself, both where he recounts the history of Miriam’s leprosy, and also where he assigns the cause why lepers should be put out of the camp, viz that they might not defile the camp in which God dwelt, whilst he ranks them with those that have an issue, and that they are defiled by the dead. Wherefore, I have thought it well, previous to attempting the full elucidation of the matter, to adduce two passages, by way of preface, from whence the design of God may more fully appear. When, in this passage from Deuteronomy, He commands the people to “take heed” and “observe diligently” the plague of leprosy, there can be no question but that He thus ratifies what He had before set forth at greater length in Leviticus. And, first of all, He refers the judgment of the matter to the priests, that what they pronounce should be firm and unalterable; and secondly, He would have the priests, lest they should pronounce rashly, and according to their own wishes, to follow simply what He prescribed to them, so that they may only be the ministers, or heralds; whilst, as to the sovereign authority, He alone should be the Judge. He confirms the law which He imposes by a special example; because He had cast out Miriam, the sister of Moses, for a time, lest her uncleanness during her leprosy should defile the camp. For the view which some take, that He exhorts the people lest, through sin, they should bring upon themselves the same evil as Miriam, is not to the purpose. But that which I have stated makes excellent sense, viz., that God’s command, whereby He prohibited Miriam from entering the camp, was to have the force and weight of a perpetual law; because He thus ordained what He would always have done.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(10) LAWS OF LEPROSY TO BE OBSERVED (Deu. 24:8-9)
8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do. 9 Remember what Jehovah thy God did unto Miriam, by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 24:8, 9
416.
Read Leviticus chapters 13 and 14 to understand what the priests and Levites would teach concerning leprosy.
417.
What possible two-fold reason could there be in mentioning Miriam in these verses?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 24:8, 9
8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that you watch diligently, and do according to all that the Levitical priests shall teach you, As I commanded them, so you shall be watchful and do. [Lev. 13:14-15.]
9 Remember [earnestly] what the Lord your God did to Miriam by the way, after you had come out of Egypt. [Num. 12:10.]
COMMENT 24:8, 9
Laws concerning leprosy are found in Leviticus 13, 14. Note there that the priests are again and again involved in testing for leprosy and the cleansing process. Cf. Mat. 8:4, Moses here simply exhorts them to heed the priests instructionsinstructions which God had given them.
The case of Miriam is probably cited not only because Miriam became leprous (Num. ch. 12), but because she became such as a result of her disobedience and disrespect for Moses authority. As disobedience had caused her leprosy, disobedience could prevent the heating of leprosy. And as God, being merciful, healed Miriam, so could he heal them if they would do according to all that the Levites shall teach you.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
8. Take heed in the plague of leprosy Keil understands the meaning of the passage to be, Be on thy guard because of the plague of leprosy, that thou dost not have to bear it as the punishment for thy rebellion against what the priests teach according to the commandment of the Lord.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dealing With Severe Skin Disease ( Deu 24:8-9 ).
When men and women were aware of an unexplainable skin disease they must play fair and consider their neighbours and ensure that they went to the priest to be examined. This was another example which demonstrated that this was not a general giving of law, but a citation of law as it affected the people. The ritual details as regards the priests were omitted, what was important was what the people should do.
Deu 24:8-9
‘ Take heed in the plague of skin disease, that you observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you. As I commanded them, so you shall observe to do. Remember what Yahweh your God did to Miriam, by the way as you came forth out of Egypt.’
Note the different form used here. Moses has varied between apodicitic law, ‘you shall not–’, and case law, ‘if — then you shall’. This is exhortatory for it is not citing a specific regulation. This continual mixture of forms is another indication of a genuine speech.
His listeners were clearly expected to know about the detailed cultic teaching in Leviticus 14. What he was concerned with here was that they would obey the priests’ instruction concerning it. They must do what the levitical priests told them in accordance with what God had commanded in His Instruction. What they taught was Yahweh’s command. They must observe to do it.
Let them all remember what Yahweh their God did to Miriam. She disobeyed Yahweh and was stricken with a skin disease and she also had to spend seven days outside the camp (Num 12:10-15). Let them also therefore be obedient to Yahweh, especially when it came to skin disease.
Others see the ‘take heed’ or ‘be on your guard’ as referring to obeying God’s commandments as given through the priests, with the warning that if they do not they may be stricken with skin disease like Miriam was. That would certainly fit the illustration better. But if it was so it would be the only case where reference is made to the commandments as coming through the priests (although see Deu 27:9-10. But even that does not directly refer to the giving of the commandments).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Leprosy was disease of so singular a nature, and to be treated so differently from all others, that we cannot hesitate to conclude, what both Jewish and Christian writers indeed have all agreed in; that it had a reference to somewhat of a spiritual allusion. The priest, and not the physician, was to be consulted upon it. All the laws concerning it, were of a religious kind. Seen therefore with an allusion to the sin of the soul, how apt a representation were all the appointments concerning it, which pointed to the atonement by blood, as the only cure. 1Jn 1:7 . The case of Miriam is very striking in point. See Num 12:10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Deu 24:8 Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, [so] ye shall observe to do.
Ver. 8. The Levites shall teach you. ] Not the history only, but the mystery too. See Trapp on “ Lev 13:2 “ &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Deu 24:8-9
8Be careful against an infection of leprosy, that you diligently observe and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you; as I have commanded them, so you shall be careful to do. 9Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the way as you came out of Egypt.
Deu 24:8 Be careful The VERB (BDB 1036, KB 1581) is used three times in this verse:
1. Niphal IMPERATIVE, be careful
2. Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, plus the ADVERB very (BDB 547) and the VERB to do (BDB 793, KB 889, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT)
3. Qal imperfect, careful to do plus VERB to do (BDB 793, KB 889, Qal IMPERFECT)
The basic meaning is to keep, to watch, or to preserve. Careful obedience to YHWH’s guidelines is stressed by the three-fold repetition.
leprosy This (BDB 863) is not the modern disease as we know it. This term covered many different things (i.e., skin, clothes, leather, houses). The guidelines and procedures are discussed in Leviticus 13-14. This implies that Leviticus was already available at this time. The Pentateuch is a unified whole.
Deu 24:9 The incident referred to is recorded in Numbers 12, where both Aaron and Miriam complained about Moses’ leadership and marriage to a Cushite woman (black woman). In response YHWH affirms Moses’ leadership and inflicts Miriam with leprosy (Miriam loses her skin pigment), but at Moses’ intercession, He restores her color.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
as = according as. But a special various reading called Sevir (App-34) reads “which”, or “for that”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Lev 13:1 – Lev 14:57, Mat 8:4, Mar 1:44, Luk 5:14, Luk 17:14
Reciprocal: Lev 10:11 – General Lev 13:2 – he shall Lev 14:54 – the law Lev 15:31 – Thus shall Num 5:2 – put out of the camp Num 12:15 – shut out Deu 5:32 – observe Deu 12:28 – Observe Deu 33:10 – They shall teach 2Ki 15:5 – and dwelt Mal 2:7 – the priest’s Mat 8:2 – a leper Mar 1:40 – a leper Luk 5:12 – full Joh 1:19 – when
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Leaders 24:8-9
The reference to Miriam recalls her misrepresenting Moses and her punishment (Num 12:1-15). The Israelites were to be careful to submit to the Levites if the Israelites contracted leprosy. Miriam had given false testimony against a Levite, Moses, and had contracted leprosy as a result.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
9. Laws arising from the ninth commandment 24:8-25:4
The ninth commandment is, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Deu 5:20). There may be a deliberate descending order of hierarchy in the list of offended parties in this section beginning with the highest to the lowest. [Note: Kaufman, pp. 141-42.]