Ezra 4-8 The Good Hand of God

Ezra 4-8 The Good Hand of God

Psalm 66:1-12 Glorify God

66:1 “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 2 Sing to the glory of His name! Offer glory and praise! 3 Tell God, "How awesome are Your deeds! Through the greatness of Your power, Your enemies submit themselves to You. 4 All the earth will worship You, and will sing to You; they will sing to Your name." Selah. 5 Come, and see God’s deeds—awesome work on behalf of the children of men. 6 He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in Him. 7 He rules by His might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don’t let the rebellious rise up against Him. Selah."

8 "Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of His praise heard, 9 who preserves our life among the living, and doesn’t allow our feet to be moved. 10 For You, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined. 11 You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs. 12 You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but You brought us to the place of abundance."

Observations: 66:1-6 God does awesome deeds for His people so others can see and eventually believe and worship Him. To glorify Him is to make Him look good in the eyes of others (Matthew 5:16).

66:7 Although it might not always look like it, God rules and restrains the rebellious.

66:8-12 Praise should be offered to God not only for initial deliverance/salvation but also the refining of His people. Those who value holiness will praise Him even for painful times that make us more pleasing in His sight.

Questions: What has God done for you lately?

Application: Telling others what God has done gives Him more glory than singing a song.

Prayer: God, You are awesome, and do awesome things; thanks for Your work in my life. May I glorify You with my life, revealing You to those around me. Amen.

Proverbs 17:10-12 Learners and Losers

Pr 17:10 “A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool. 11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.“

Observations: 17:10-12 Tell or show a wise person their fault, and they will quickly seek to correct it. A fool will give you an argument, because they are not interested in being righteous, only in making themselves look right. So a hundred lashes with a whip, won't dent their delusion. Since a fool isn't doing things God's way, and won't be corrected, a cruel messenger will be knocking on their door/head. It's usually good to give fools a wide berth, since you don't want to share in their folly, nor judgment. It would be better to encounter an angry grizzly than a fool following their folly.

Application: Wise people learn at the lowest possible volume; fools may never learn.

Prayer: God, show me anything that isn't right in Your sight, so I can change and not reap the consequences of folly; help me be sensitive to learn at the low volume too. Thanks. Amen.

Ezra 4-8 These chapters focus on the difficulties and opposition faced in doing God's will, and show how wonderfully He provides for those who purpose to know and do His will. The temple building gets officially opposed, and then officially promoted. Ezra purposes to know God's word, and do it, and then move to Jerusalem to teach it, and God's good hand protects and prospers him.

Ezra 4 Bad Guys Win

4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel; 2 then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, "Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us." 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia...12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. 13 Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. 14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king; 15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so you shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste. 16 We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.

17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. 18 The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 19 I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. 21 Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me. 22 Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23 Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Observations: 4:1-5 God's work, done God's way, will never lack Satan's opposition. First the adversaries claim they've been worshiping the same God all along, and want to “help.” Zerubbabel wisely avoids this unholy union. Then the “helpers” show their true colors in opposing the work with hired henchmen.

4:6-16 An aggressive letter writing campaign, that includes the Persian officials, asks one of Cyrus' successors to stop the work, emphasizing the potential damage to the king's revenues (which support them). Their letter indicates that the foundation of the walls was complete, but the height not finished, which adds support to the alternative chronology mentioned in the last post.

4:17-24 The new king confirms that threat of Jewish rebellion and orders the work to stop.

Application: Sometimes the bad guys win, for a while, making life difficult. God's will remains the same.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that You would restrain the forces and influences of evil that seek to prevent Your glory from being displayed, and give me grace and wisdom to overcome opposition. Amen.

Ezra 5 Two Prophets and Problem #2

5:1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel they prophesied to them. 2 Then Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, rose up and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.

3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?" 4 Then we told them in this way, what the names of the men were who were making this building. 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it. 7 They sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?" 10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head. 11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. 14 The gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar/Zerubbabel , whom he had made governor; 15 and he said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.’ 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed. 17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

Observations: 5:1-2 God sends a couple of prophets to get people back on track. The whole reason the people returned from exile was to rebuild the temple, and now they've given up.

Haggai 1:7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD.9 "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.”

5:3-17 A second time the Persian officials inquire about the the work. The response is exceedingly wise, making a case for the temple, and omitting the decree to stop.

Ezra 6 Search and Decree, Round 2

6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits; 4 with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. 5 Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, you must stay far from there. 7 Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 8 Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. 9 That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; 10 that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this: 12 and the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.

13 Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and their companions, because Darius the king had sent a decree, did accordingly with all diligence. 14 The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21 The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate, 22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Observations: 6:1-22 This time, the problem turns into prosperity, as God honors their commitment to His work, and turns the heart and resources of the king toward them. Not only does God protect, but He prospers them, and the work. What's not to like?

Application: God's work, done God's way, will not only experience Satanic opposition, but God's protection and provision, resulting in prosperity.

Prayer: God, it seems that the only thing that limits Your blessing is my lack of faithful obedience; may I never hinder Your glory by my slowness to obey all the way. Amen.

Ezra 7 God's Hand on Ezra

7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of...5... Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest; 6 this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him. 9...he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra...12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth. 13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you. 14 Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand, 15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17 therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the will of your God. 19 The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house. 21 I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence, 22 to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them. 25 You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them. 26 Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem; 28 and has extended hesed/loyal covenantal love to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Observations: 7:1-10 Ezra was greatly blessed by God, and used to bless others because he followed the “secret of successful kings” (see last Sunday's post, or Truthbase.net). He set his heart to: learn the truth, live the truth, and teach the truth in Israel. He could have stayed quite comfortably in Babylon, but He desired God's glory above his own.

7:11-26 God responded to Ezra's purpose by moving the king to respond to Ezra's request (to go to Jerusalem) with giving him people, authority, and abundant physical blessings (including tax exemption). Serving God in Jerusalem was a “free will” decision of the people (7:13). The king and his counselors freely gave to support the house of Yahweh, because they didn't want His wrath to fall on them (sounds like they got “fear of the Lord”). They also had the right perspective on obedience (7:23). Apparently they weren't huge fans of toleration and freedom of choice, using the power of the state to support “religion.” Such a policy is usually a bad idea, since most folks ideas about religion are bad.

Application: The reason you're reading this is because yours truly set his heart like Ezra's (7:10) albeit, to teach in NYC. You might consider a little do-it-yourself heart surgery, and get your heart set in the same direction as Ezra's: Learn the Truth, Live the Truth, Love others with the Truth.

Prayer: Lord God, thanks that You bless, protect, and prosper those whose hearts are set on glorifying You. Amen.

Ezra 8 God Protects and Delivers

8:1 Now these are the heads of their fathers’ households, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king...15 I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer... who were teachers. 17 I sent them forth to Iddo...that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. 18 According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion...

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests...26 I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents; 27 and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold. 28 I said to them, "You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.29 Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh." 31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way. 32 We came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God 36 They delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.

Observations: 8:1-18 Ezra recognized that ministry was a team sport, so he specifically sought Levitical teachers and ministers to assist in the work.

8:21-36 Ezra and company sought Yahweh for protection from bandits and the enemy because he didn't want to rely on the king's protection instead of Yahweh's, and thus diminish God's reputation in the king's sight. God answered their prayer and delivered them safely, and they delivered the goods to the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem.

Application: The good hand of God is upon those who seek Him, so seek His will in all you do.

Prayer: God, You delight in protecting and blessing Your people; may I seek You every day, and may Your hand be upon me for good. Thanks. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God allows obstacles to His will so we will learn to trust and depend upon Him. He protects and prospers those who dependently seek Him and His purposes. He is against those who don't. Just because His will is difficult or opposed, it doesn't mean He wants us to abandon it. His hand is not randomly upon people for good, but only because they seek His ways. He moves the hearts of kings, in response to His people's requests, in order to accomplish His purposes. He doesn't make people make requests; that's up to them. He sends prophets and teachers to guide people in His will, if they would only pay attention.

Us in a nutshell: Those who seek God, must do so according to His word, learning it and living it, before passing it on. We can expect His blessing, protection and prosperity as we depend upon Him. We can expect both Satanic opposition and God's enabling grace in seeking to do His will, which at times might look impossible or very difficult. If we are seeking to do His will, He will provide a way to make it happen.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Ezra complete text

Ezra 4

4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel; 2 then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, "Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." 3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, "You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us." 4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7 In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in Syrian, and set forth in the Syrian language. 8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 9 then Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites, 10 and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote. 11 This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: your servants the men beyond the River, and so forth. 12 Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. 13 Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. 14 Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and informed the king; 15 that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so you shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste. 16 We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.

17 Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. 18 The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. 19 I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. 21 Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me. 22 Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23 Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra 5

5:1 Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel they prophesied to them. 2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.

3 At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?" 4 Then we told them in this way, what the names of the men were who were making this building. 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it. 6 The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king; 7 they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. 9 Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, "Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?" 10 We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head. 11 Thus they returned us answer, saying, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished. 12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. 14 The gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15 and he said to him, ‘Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.’ 16 Then the same Sheshbazzar came, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed. 17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter."

Ezra 6

6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let its foundations be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits; 4 with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. 5 Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there. 7 Leave the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place. 8 Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. 9 That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; 10 that they may offer sacrifices of pleasant aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this: 12 and the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.

13 Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions, because Darius the king had sent a decree, did accordingly with all diligence. 14 The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves. 21 The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate, 22 and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Ezra 7

7:1 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest; 6 this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him. 7 There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel: 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth. 13 I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you. 14 Because you are sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand, 15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; 17 therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the will of your God. 19 The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20 Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house. 21 I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence, 22 to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. 23 Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them. 25 You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them. 26 Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem; 28 and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

Ezra 8

8:1 Now these are the heads of their fathers’ households, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king: 2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush. 3 Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. 4 Of the sons of Pahathmoab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males. 5 Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males. 6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males. 7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males. 8 Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males. 9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males. 10 Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males. 11 Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males. 12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males. 13 Of the sons of Adonikam, who were the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males. 14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males. 15 I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. 16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers. 17 I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, and his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God. 18 According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen; 19 and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty; 20 and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

24 Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them, 25 and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered: 26 I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents;27 and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.28 I said to them, "You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.29 Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers' houses of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh."30 So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way.32 We came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.33 On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;34 the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.35 The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh.36 They delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.

Leviticus 11-15 Clean Or Unclean Food, And Leprosy

Psalm 17:8-15 Kept As The Apple of His Eye

17:8 “(1 Hear my righteous plea....3 You have proved my heart... 5 My steps have held fast to Your paths. My feet have not slipped. 7 Show Your marvelous hesed/loyal covenantal love, You who save those who take refuge by Your right hand from their enemies.)

8 Keep me as the apple/pupil of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings, 9 from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me. 10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth. 12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. 13 Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword; 14 from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill/satisfy the belly of your cherished/treasured ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. 15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your presence."

Observations: 17:1-7 See Leviticus 8-10 post for vv 1-7, in which David lays claim to God's loyal love (hesed) and help, on the basis of being loyal to Him.

11:8-15 David asks God to protect him from his fierce enemies, intent on his destruction. His enemies are those whose focus is prosperity in this life, rather than upon God. The Hebrew text of verse 14 Is very difficult (some say corrupt), so translators are varied in their approaches. The WEB (above) and the marginal reading of the ESV, are closer to the flow of the argument. The wicked have their portion (and payback) in this life. But the righteous will be satisfied and blessed (children and prosperity) by God. The psalmist is confident that God will help him (because of his innocence and integrity), and will be satisfied with God's presence. This will occur after God delivers him from the experience he likens to death/sleep from which he will awake (as in a resurrection??? Daniel 12:2).

Application: God will deliver and satisfy the righteous who take refuge in Him from those who want to destroy them; therefore be righteous and trust, help is on the way.

Prayer: God, You are my refuge and portion in this world; please protect me as the apple of Your eye, from those who seek to harm me. Thanks that You're all I need. Amen.

Proverbs 5:13-14 Listen or Groan

5:11 “(You will groan when your flesh and your body are consumed, 12 and say, "How I have hated instruction/correction, and my heart despised reproof) 13 neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me! 14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin, in the midst of the gathered assembly."

Observations: 5:13 The proud sinner hates correction and reproof, because they want to think of themselves as perfect. If they were perfect, they'd be seeking and obeying truth, and listening to advice and counsel. But they don't listen, and as a result, will come to ruin in front of all from whom they sought to hide their sin.

Application: “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.” ESV Proverbs 19:20

Prayer: God, I don't want to be a groaning ruined fool, so help me humbly listen and learn. Thanks. Amen.

Leviticus 11-15 Clean Or Unclean Food, And Leprosy

Leviticus 11 Diet of Distinction

11:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. 3 Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud...9 These may you eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales...13 These you shall have in abomination among the birds...20 All winged creeping things that go on all fours are an abomination to you. 23 But all winged creeping things, which have four feet, are an abomination to you. 24 By these you shall become unclean: whoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even; 27 Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you...31 These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep: whoever does touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even. 41 Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on the belly...you shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled thereby. 44 For I am Yahweh your God: sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that moves on the earth. 45 For I am Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth; 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.

Observations: 11:44 Believers are to be holy (separate or distinct) because the God they follow and serve is holy.

11:47 Regardless of whatever health benefits may accrue, the main purpose of the distinctive diet was to make the Israelites distinct from those around them.

Application: How do you daily demonstrate your distinctiveness as a follower of the Holy God?

Prayer: Holy God, who redeems His people and requires them to be holy, help me see how to demonstrate Your kind of holiness in my daily life. Amen.

Leviticus 12 Purification after Childbirth

12:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a woman conceive, and bear a male-child, then she shall be unclean seven days 3 In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 She shall continue in the blood of purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no holy thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. 6 When the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, to the door of the tent of meeting, to the priest: 7 and he shall offer it before Yahweh, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her who bears, whether a male or a female. 8...one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Observations: 12:2 Childbirth resulted in ritual uncleanness, perhaps because of contact with blood and non-living tissue. The child was not said to be unclean.

12:4 If you had a daughter you had to wait twice as long.

Leviticus 13 Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Leprosy and Then Some

Mycobacterium leprae, is one of the
oldest bacteria to inhabit the Earth. 

13:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons the priests: 3 and the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and if the hair in the plague be turned white, and the appearance of the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and the appearance of it isn`t deeper than the skin, and the hair of it isn`t turned white, then the priest shall shut up him who has the plague seven days: 5 and the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if in his eyes the plague be at a stay, and the plague isn`t spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven days more: 6 and the priest shall look on him again the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be dim, and the plague hasn`t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean...59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woolen or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Observations: You can skip a lot of verses if you understand 15:31

15:31 Thus shall you separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they not die in their uncleanness, when they defile my tent that is in the midst of them.

Just like Leviticus 11 separated Israel from what God considered the uncleanness of their neighbors, with reference to their diet, so chapters 13-15 are designed to separate Israel from their physical uncleanness. Spiritual uncleanness is discussed in future chapters.

Some things worth noting on the physical level:

• God is concerned about containment, and preventing contamination.
• Uncleanness/unholiness results in separation.
• Cleansing results in fellowship.
• Physical cleansing alone was inadequate for fellowship, both burnt and sin offerings were required to reinstate the unclean into the holy community.

Application: The applications to spiritual uncleanness and contamination aren't specified, but it's probably a good idea to avoid contact with anything that causes us to be out of fellowship with God.

Prayer: Holy God thank You for having a standard for being clean in Your sight that benefits me in ways I haven't even considered. Thanks too, that you provide a path to get back into fellowship with You and Your people. Amen.

Leviticus 14 And Even More About Leprosy

14:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought to the priest: 3 and the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper, 4 then shall the priest command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 The priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go the living bird into the open field. 8 He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days. 9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 On the eighth day he shall take two he-lambs without blemish, and one ewe-lamb a year old without blemish, and three tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 The priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed, and those things, before Yahweh, at the door of the tent of meeting. 12 The priest shall take one of the he-lambs, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave-offering before Yahweh: 13 and he shall kill the he-lamb in the place where they kill the sin-offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary: for as the sin-offering is the priest`s, so is the trespass-offering: it is most holy: 14 and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot. 15 The priest shall take of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand; 16 and the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before Yahweh: 17 and of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot, on the blood of the trespass-offering: 18 and the rest of the oil that is in the priest`s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh.

33 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 34 When you are come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a Leviticus possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession...

Leviticus 15 Other Uncleanness

15:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, When any man has an issue/discharge out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. 13 When he who has an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 On the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before Yahweh to the door of the tent of meeting, and give them to the priest: 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 atonement for him before Yahweh for his issue... 30 The priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Yahweh for the issue of her uncleanness. 31 Thus shall you separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they not die in their uncleanness, when they defile my tent that is in the midst of them.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God is holy, and He requires holiness of His people; uncleanness is not allowed among His worshipers. Uncleanness causes separation until it is contained and nullified. God specifies the path back into fellowship with a Holy God.

Us in a nutshell: We need to be separate from the uncleanness around us and within us in order to experience the blessings of a relationship with God. If we become defiled, we miss out on fellowship, and must wait until our uncleanness is contained and nullified. Only then can we come back into God's presence, according to the means He has specified.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Leviticus 11-15 (complete text)

Leviticus 11

11:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. 3 Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, [and] chews the cud, among the animals, that may you eat. 4 Nevertheless these shall you not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who part the hoof: the camel, because he chews the cud but doesn`t have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you. 5 The rabbit, because he chews the cud but doesn`t have a parted the hoof, he is unclean to you. 6 The hare, because she chews the cud but doesn`t part the hoof, she is unclean to you. 7 The pig, because he doesn`t part the hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn`t chew the cud, he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you. 9 These may you eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that may you eat. 10 All that don`t have fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you, 11 and they shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall have in abomination. 12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination to you. 13 These you shall have in abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray, 14 and the kite, and the falcon after its kind, 15 every raven after its kind, 16 and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the seamew, and the hawk after its kind, 17 and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 and the horned owl, and the pelican, and the vulture, 19 and the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat. 20 All winged creeping things that go on all fours are an abomination to you. 21 Yet these may you eat of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have legs above their feet, with which to leap on the earth. 22 Even these of them you may eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. 23 But all winged creeping things, which have four feet, are an abomination to you. 24 By these you shall become unclean: whoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even; 25 Whoever bears [anything] of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26 Every animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you: everyone who touches them shall be unclean. 27 Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the even. 28 He who bears the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean to you. 29 These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its kind, 30 and the gecko, and the landcrocodile, and the lizard, and the sand-lizard, and the chameleon. 31 These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep: whoever does touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even. 32 On whatever any of them, when they are dead, does fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever vessel it be, with which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean. 33 Every earthen vessel, into which any of them falls, whatever is in it shall be unclean, and it you shall break. 34 All food [therein] which may be eaten, that on which water comes, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every [such] vessel shall be unclean. 35 Every thing whereupon [any part] of their carcass falls shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you. 36 Nevertheless a spring or a pit in which is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean. 37 If [anything] of their carcass fall on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. 38 But if water be put on the seed, and [anything] of their carcass fall thereon, it is unclean to you. 39 If any animal, of which you may eat, die; he who touches the carcass of it shall be unclean until the even. 40 He who eats of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that bears the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 41 Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on the belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled thereby. 44 For I am Yahweh your God: sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that moves on the earth. 45 For I am Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth; 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.

Leviticus 12

12:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a woman conceive seed, and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean. 3 In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 She shall continue in the blood of [her] purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no holy thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. 5 But if she bear a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she shall continue in the blood of [her] purifying sixty-six days. 6 When the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, to the door of the tent of meeting, to the priest: 7 and he shall offer it before Yahweh, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her who bears, whether a male or a female. 8 If her means isn`t sufficient for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Leviticus 13

13:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons the priests: 3 and the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and if the hair in the plague be turned white, and the appearance of the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and the appearance of it isn`t deeper than the skin, and the hair of it isn`t turned white, then the priest shall shut up [him who has] the plague seven days: 5 and the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if in his eyes the plague be at a stay, and the plague isn`t spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven days more: 6 and the priest shall look on him again the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be dim, and the plague hasn`t spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the scab spread abroad in the skin, after that he has showed himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again: 8 and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the scab be spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is leprosy. 9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest; 10 and the priest shall look; and, behold, if there be a white rising in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising, 11 it is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean: he shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. 12 If the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of [him who has] the plague from his head even to his feet, as far as appears to the priest; 13 then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce [him] clean [who has] the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean. 15 The priest shall look on the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean: it is leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed to white, then he shall come to the priest; 17 and the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce [him] clean [who has] the plague: he is clean. 18 When the flesh has in the skin of it a boil, and it is healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then is shall be showed to the priest; 20 and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance of it be lower than the skin, and the hair of it be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it has broken out in the boil. 21 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and it isn`t lower than the skin, but is dim; then the priest shall shut him up seven days: 22 If it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stay in its place, and hasn`t spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 24 Or when the flesh has in the skin of it a burning by fire, and the quick [flesh] of the burning become a bright spot, reddish-white, or white; 25 then the priest shall look on it; and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and the appearance of it be deeper than the skin; it is leprosy, it has broken out in the burning: and the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. 26 But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the skin, but be dim; then the priest shall shut him up seven days: 27 and the priest shall look on him the seventh day: if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy. 28 If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn`t spread in the skin, but be dim; it is the rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is the scar of the burning. 29 When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard, 30 then the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the appearance of it be deeper than the skin, and there be in it yellow thin hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a scall, it is leprosy of the head or of the beard. 31 If the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, the appearance of it isn`t deeper than the skin, and there be no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up [him who has] the plague of the scall seven days: 32 In the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the scall isn`t spread, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the appearance of the scall isn`t deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the scall; and the priest shall shut up [him who has] the scall seven days more: 34 and in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall; and, behold, if the scall hasn`t spread in the skin, and the appearance of it isn`t deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 35 But if the scall spread abroad in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the scall be at a stay, and black hair be grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 38 When a man or a woman has in the skin of the flesh bright spots, even white bright spots; 39 then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull white, it is a harmless rash, it has broken out in the skin; he is clean. 40 If a man`s hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; [yet] is he clean. 41 If his hair be fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald; [yet] is he clean. 42 But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddishwhite plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh; 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his plague is in his head. 45 The leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 46 All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be unclean; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; outside of the camp shall his dwelling be. 47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woolen garment, or a linen garment; 48 whether it be in warp, or woof; of linen, or of woolen; whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin; 49 if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be showed to the priest. 50 The priest shall look on the plague, and shut up [that which has] the plague seven days: 51 and he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever service skin is used for; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean. 52 He shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in woolen or in linen, or anything of skin, in which the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire. 53 If the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague hasn`t spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin; 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more: 55 and the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed; and, behold, if the plague hasn`t changed its color, and the plague hasn`t spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire: it is a fret, whether the bareness be inside or outside. 56 If the priest look, and, behold, the plague be dim after the washing of it, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof: 57 and if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is breaking out: you shall burn that in which the plague is with fire. 58 The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it be, which you shall wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean. 59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woolen or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Leviticus 14

14:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought to the priest: 3 and the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper, 4 then shall the priest command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 The priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go the living bird into the open field. 8 He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days. 9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 On the eighth day he shall take two he-lambs without blemish, and one ewe-lamb a year old without blemish, and three tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 The priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed, and those things, before Yahweh, at the door of the tent of meeting. 12 The priest shall take one of the he-lambs, and offer him for a trespassoffering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave-offering before Yahweh: 13 and he shall kill the he-lamb in the place where they kill the sin-offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary: for as the sin-offering is the priest`s, so is the trespass-offering: it is most holy: 14 and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot. 15 The priest shall take of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand; 16 and the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before Yahweh: 17 and of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot, on the blood of the trespass-offering: 18 and the rest of the oil that is in the priest`s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh. 19 The priest shall offer the sin-offering, and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness: and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering; 20 and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal -offering on the altar: and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 If he be poor, and can`t get so much, then he shall take one he-lamb for a trespass-offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth part [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering, and a log of oil; 22 and two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt offering. 23 On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting, before Yahweh: 24 and the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass-offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before Yahweh. 25 He shall kill the lamb of the trespass-offering; and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass-offering, and put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot. 26 The priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand; 27 and the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yahweh: 28 and the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the trespass-offering: 29 and the rest of the oil that is in the priest`s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before Yahweh. 30 He shall offer one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he is able to get, 31 even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meal-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before Yahweh. 32 This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, who is not able to get [that which pertains] to his cleansing. 33 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 34 When you are come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a Leviticus possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, There seems to me to be as it were a plague in the house. 36 The priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goes in to see the plague, that all that is in the house not be made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house: 37 and he shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and the appearance of it be lower than the wall; 38 then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. 39 The priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house; 40 then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which the plague is, and cast them into an unclean place outside of the city: 41 and he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the mortar, that they scrape off, outside of the city into an unclean place: 42 and they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house. 43 If the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he has taken out the stones, and after he has scraped the house, and after it is plastered; 44 then the priest shall come in and look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean. 45 He shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber of it, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place. 46 Moreover he who goes into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. 47 He who lies in the house shall wash his clothes; and he who eats in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 If the priest shall come in, and look, and, behold, the plague hasn`t spread in the house, after the house was plastered; then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 He shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 50 and he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: 51 and he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: 52 and he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: 53 but he shall let got the living bird out of the city into the open field: so shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean. 54 This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and for a scall, 55 and for the leprosy of a garment, and for a house, 56 and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot; 57 to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy.

Leviticus 15

15:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, When any man has an issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. 3 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 who has the issue lies shall be unclean; and everything whereon he sits shall be unclean. 5 Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 6 He who sits on anything whereon he who has the issue sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 7 He who touches the flesh of him who has the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 8 If he who has the issue spit on him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 9 Whatever saddle he who has the issue rides on shall be unclean. 10 Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he who bears those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 11 Whoever he who has the issue touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 12 The earthen vessel, which he who has the issue touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. 13 When he who has an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 On the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before Yahweh to the door of the tent of meeting, and give them to the priest: 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 atonement for him before Yahweh for his issue. 16 If any man`s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. 17 Every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. 18 The woman also with whom a man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even. 19 If a woman have an issue, [and] her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the even. 20 Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean: everything also that she sits on shall be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 If it be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24 If any man lie with her, and her impurity be on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies shall be unclean. 25 If a woman have an issue of her blood many days not in the time of her impurity, or if she have an issue beyond the time of her impurity; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness she shall be as in the days of her impurity: she is unclean. 26 Every bed whereon she lies all the days of her issue shall be to her as the bed of her impurity: and everything whereon she sits shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. 27 Whoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 On the eighth day she shall take to her two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting. 30 The priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Yahweh for the issue of her uncleanness. 31 Thus shall you separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they not die in their uncleanness, when they defile my tent that is in the midst of them. 32 This is the law of him who has an issue, and of him whose seed of copulation goes from him, so that he is unclean thereby; 33 and of her who is sick with her impurity, and of him who has an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.