The leper in whom the plague is, his clothes, &c.— When the priest discovered the symptoms of leprosy in a man, and declared him unclean, he was not only to be separated from the people, but in all respects to appear and behave as a mourner; rending his clothes, (Genesis 37:34.Job 2:12.) uncovering his head, (ch. Leviticus 10:6.) and putting a covering upon his upper lip, that is, concealing the lower part of his face with the skirt of his garment, which was with the Jews a sign of mourning and of shame, (Ezekiel 17:22.Micah 3:7.) and, consequently, very proper for the leper, who was to proclaim himself unclean, that all might avoid him, as well on account of the infection, as of legal pollution; see Lamentations 4:15.
REFLECTIONS.—1. A bald head, or freckled face, must not be mistaken for leprosy. Not every failing is the proof of a bad heart. 2. But if in the bald head the plague is found, he is utterly unclean. A conscience defiled with sin makes a man unclean; but a head filled with infidelity, and enmity against the Gospel, for the most part renders the state utterly desperate. 3. The leper convicted must cry out, Unclean, unclean; and, no doubt, it was an exceeding bitter cry, when from that hour he was in a manner buried alive, by his exclusion from human society and removal from the congregation of God's people. Every soul convinced of sin will adopt the leper's cry, and own itself through original sin, and still more through actual transgression, unclean, unclean, justly deserving to be cast out from God to all eternity! 4. He must dwell alone, or only with lepers like himself, without the camp; and none must approach him for fear of defilement. Note; (1.) It is dangerous to come into the company of open sinners, lest, by seeing and partaking of their sins, we partake of their plagues. (2.) The soul that dies in an unconverted state, with the leprosy of sin not cured by the blood of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of the living God, will be for ever banished from the presence of God and his people, and shut up with sinners like himself in the belly of hell.