⁴ No descendant of Aaron who is stricken with a scaly infection,^(A) or who suffers from a genital discharge,^(B) may eat of the sacred offerings, until he again becomes clean. Moreover, if anyone touches a person who has become unclean by contact with a corpse,^(C) or if anyone has had an emission of semen,^(D)

⁶ Again the Lord said to him: Put your hand into the fold of your garment. So he put his hand into the fold of his garment, and when he drew it out, there was his hand covered with scales, like snowflakes.

² Order the Israelites to expel from camp everyone with a scaly infection, and everyone suffering from a discharge, and everyone who has become unclean by contact with a corpse.^{[a](A) 3} Male and female alike, you shall expel them. You shall expel them from the camp so that they do not defile their camp, where I dwell in their midst.^(B)

Skin Diseases. ^8 (A)In an attack of scaly infection^[a] you shall be careful to observe exactly and to carry out all the instructions the levitical priests give you, as I have commanded them: observe them carefully.

²⁹ May the blood of Abner, son of Ner, be on the head of Joab and all his family. May Joab’s family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or one with a skin disease, or a man who holds the distaff, or one falling by the sword, or one in need of food!”^[a]

Chapter 5

Elisha Cures Naaman’s Leprosy. ¹ Naaman, the army commander of the king of Aram, was highly esteemed and respected by his master, for through him the Lord had brought victory to Aram. But valiant as he was, the man was a leper.^[a]

³ She said to her mistress, “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

⁴ Naaman went and told his master, “This is what the girl from the land of Israel said.” ⁵ The king of Aram said, “Go. I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman set out, taking along ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments.

⁶ He brought the king of Israel the letter, which read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” ⁷ When he read the letter, the king of Israel tore his garments and exclaimed: “Am I a god with power over life and death, that this man should send someone for me to cure him of leprosy? Take note! You can see he is only looking for a quarrel with me!”^(A)

¹¹ But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand there to call on the name of the Lord his God, and would move his hand over the place, and thus cure the leprous spot.

²⁷ The leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And Gehazi went out, a leper with skin like snow.^[a]

The Cleansing of a Leper. ^40 (A)A leper^[a] came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”^{(B) 42} The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.^{(C) 43} Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. ⁴⁴ Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”^{(D) 45} The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.