He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird go into the open field.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 7. Rightly. According to law. Bible.—The number seven is used to denote perfection, verse 15, and so forth Menochius.—Field. An emblem of the liberty which the leper would soon enjoy. Bible.—The pagans cast over their head the things which had been used for their purification. Virg. Ec. viii. 102. Fer cineres, Amarilli, foras, rivoque fluenti—Transque caput jace, ne respexeris.—There were afraid to trample upon them. Gell. x. 15. Metam. xiii. 954. There were also accustomed to set birds at liberty in honour of their gods. Demosthenes accuses Conon of having eaten those which had been used in his purification. Bonfrere believes that Moses does not here prescribe any sacrifice. Why then is a priest employed to make these aspersions? Calmet.