Leviticus 15:26, commentary and pictures

Leviticus 15:26 belongs to the cleansing laws given to ancient Israel that regulated uncleanness and leprosy. Leprosy stands in those laws as a fitting type of sin. The verse is part of a simple, strict system of cleanliness rules for preventing the spread of disease. During the issue the bed and whatever she sits on were treated as unclean to keep others from becoming infected. Those who touched her or her bed or vessels had to wash and remain apart until evening, and after recovery she followed a further seven-day cleansing period, using washing and isolation to prevent contagion and epidemics.

Physical uncleanness had to be removed before the sanctuary's deeper cleansing by blood, so that visible cleansing prepared what had been defiled for reconciliation through the atonement. The regulation is included among the Levitical regulations that formed part of the sanctuary's yearly cycle of service, including the priestly service and the great Day of Atonement, which typified Christ's once-for-all ministry. All these sacrifices and regulations were types of the Lord Jesus Christ, and all the slain beasts pointed forward to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. The verse teaches the exceeding sinfulness of sin emphasized everywhere in Leviticus. Its uncleanness law is a mighty object-lesson given by God to teach that sinfulness.

The verse is to be read with the yearly round of service and the Day of Atonement in mind and with remembrance of Christ in them. Seeing Him in these laws keeps their otherwise dry details from being dry and wearisome and makes them a blessing to the reader. It illustrates the need for bodily cleansing and obedience to health principles so the body may be a fit dwelling for God's Spirit. Its lesson is not to abandon cleansing truths as Israel did, but to prepare clean vessels for the latter rain.