Leopard
(Heb. namer) is invariably given by the Authorized Version as the translation of the Hebrew
word, which occurs in the seven following passages: (Song of Solomon 4:8; Isaiah 11:6; Jeremiah
5:6; 13:23; Daniel 7:6; Hosea 13:7); Habb 1:8 Leopard occurs also in Ecclus. 28:23 and in
(Revelation 13:2) From (Song of Solomon 4:8) we learn that the hilly ranges of Lebanon were in
ancient times frequented by these animals. They are now not uncommonly seen in and about
Lebanon and the southern maritime mountains of Syria. Under the name namer, which means
“spotted,” it is not improbable that another animal, namely the cheetah (Gueparda jubata), may be
included; which is tamed by the Mohammedans of Syria, who employ it in hunting the gazelle.
Leper, Leprosy
The predominant and characteristic form of leprosy in the Old Testament is a white variety,
covering either the entire body or a large tract of its surface, which has obtained the name of Lepra
mosaica. Such were the cases of Moses, Miriam, Naaman and Gehazi. (Exodus 4:6; Numbers
12:10; 2 Kings 5:1,27) comp. Levi 13:13 But, remarkably enough, in the Mosaic ritual diagnosis
of the disease, (Leviticus 13:1; Leviticus 14:1) ... this kind, when overspreading the whole surface,
appears to be regarded as “clean.” (Leviticus 13:12,13,16,17) The Egyptian bondage, with its studied
degradations and privations, and especially the work of the kiln under an Egyptian sun, must have
had a frightful tendency to generate this class of disorders. The sudden and total change of food,
air, dwelling and mode of life, caused by the exodus, to this nation of newly-emancipated slaves,
may possibly have had a further tendency to produce skin disorders, and severe repressive measures
may have been required in the desert-moving camp to secure the public health or to allay the panic
of infection. Hence it is possible that many, perhaps most, of this repertory of symptoms may have
disappeared with the period of the exodus, and the snow-white form, which had pre-existed, may
alone have ordinarily continued in a later age. The principal morbid features are a rising or swelling,
a scab or baldness, and a bright or white spot. (Leviticus 13:2) But especially a white swelling in
the skin, with a change of the hair of the part from the natural black to white or yellow, ch. (Leviticus
13:3,4,10,20,25,30) or an appearance of a taint going “deeper than the skin,” or, again, “raw flesh”
appearing in the swelling, ch. (Leviticus 13:10,14,15) was a critical sign of pollution. The tendency
to spread seems especially to have been relied on. A spot most innocent in other respects, if it
“spread much abroad,” was unclean; whereas, as before remarked, the man so wholly overspread
with the evil that it could find no further range was on the contrary “clean.” ch. (Leviticus 13:12,13)
These two opposite criteria seem to show that whilst the disease manifested activity, the Mosaic
law imputed pollution to and imposed segregation on the suffered, but that the point at which it
might be viewed as having run its course was the signal for his readmission to communion. It is
clear that the leprosy of Levi 13,14 means any severe disease spreading on the surface of the body
in the way described, and so shocking of aspect, or so generally suspected of infection, that public
feeling called for separation. It is now undoubted that the “leprosy” of modern Syria, and which
has a wide range in Spain, Greece and Norway, is the Elephantiasis graecorum. It is said to have
been brought home by the crusaders into the various countries of western and northern Europe. It
certainly was not the distinctive white leprosy, nor do any of the described symptoms in Levi 13
point to elephantiasis. “White as snow,” (2 Kings 5:27) would be a inapplicable to elephantiasis as
to small-pox. There remains a curious question as regards the leprosy of garments and houses.
Some have though garments worn by leprous patients intended. This classing of garments and
house-walls with the human epidermis, as leprous, has moved the mirth of some and the wonder
frankie
(Frankie)
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