Quarantine in the Old Testament
Numbers 12:1-16
Aaron and his sister Miriam spake against Moses because he married an Ethiopian woman (a black
person) . God was not pleased that they had spoken against Moses and he called them together.
He told them he would make himself known to a prophet in a vision and he would speak to him in a
dream. God said, I will speak to Moses mouth to mouth. God said, were you not afraid to speak
against my servant Moses, and God departed. Then Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron
beseeched God not to lay the sin upon them, we have done foolishly and have sinned. Moses cried
out to God to heal her. God shut her out from camp for 7 days and then she was received again.
2 Chron. 26
Uzziah was made king when he was 16 years old, to take the place of his father Amaziah. He
reigned 52 years in Jerusalem. He did what was right in the sight of God. He did many things with
the Lord’s help, but he transgressed against God when he went into the temple to burn incense.
Azariah the priest went in after him and told him only priests were allowed to burn incense. Go out
of the sanctuary for thou hast trespassed. Uzziah then became wroth and while he was wroth,
Leposy arose on his forehead.
Azariah, the chief priest, and all the priests, thrust him out of the temple.
2 Chron. 26:21
Uzziah the king was leper until he died and because he was a leper he had to dwell separate. He
was cut off from the house of the Lord
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease is a bacterial infection and can lead to damage of the
nerves, respiratory tract, skin and eyes. Nerve damage can lead to the lack of ability to feel pain,
loss of limbs, muscle weakness, poor eyesight. Leprosy symptoms may begin within one year, but in
some people it has taken up to 20 years.
Leprosy has affected humans for thousands of years. The Greek word “lepis” means “scale”.
Separating people affected is still done in some areas of India, China, and Africa, where they are
placed in Leper Colonies; however most have closed, because Leprosy is not very
contagious.
Taken from the holy word of God and Wikipedia, by Brother Don Henderson, April 18, 2020