Keraia
Numbers 5

Numbers 5:3

Cleansing the Camps · Numbers 5:1–4
Read Numbers 5

Translations

Modern
You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”
Traditional
Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
Literal
From male to female you shall put out, toward the outside of the camp you shall put them, that they may not defile their camps in the midst of which I dwell.”
Latin
…tam masculum quam feminam ejicite de castris, ne contaminent ea cum habitaverint vobiscum.

Original

Hebrew
English
You must send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.”

Notes

Numbers 5:1–4

  • Modern Western people may find it difficult to understand the Old Testament laws of purity. Today, things like skin diseases, bodily discharges, or contact with a dead body are viewed mainly as health concerns. But in the Old Testament, the main concern was protecting God’s holiness from ceremonial uncleanness (see Leviticus 11–15).

    The community had to keep the camp holy. Nothing unclean could touch what belonged to the Lord (Numbers 5:2–3). They had to choose between having God in the camp or allowing a ceremonially polluted person stay. Both could not remain (5:3).

  • The importance of purity continues from Leviticus and Numbers to the book of Revelation. Nothing ceremonially unclean will enter the New Jerusalem where God lives (see study note on Revelation 21:27). In the New Testament, impurity most often refers to what is morally impure (Acts 10:28; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:3; 4:7).

Numbers 5:1–31

These laws speak about cleanliness, repayment, and staying faithful in marriage.

Numbers 5:1–10:10

These legal matters were meant to protect the purity of the Israelites, their priests, and the tabernacle. Purity here refers to being clean and set apart for worship.

These rules helped the people remember who they were. Israel was a theocracy (a nation ruled directly by God). God was their true king.

Moses served as God’s main spokesman. Through him, God gave laws and instructions to the people.

Parallels

Leviticus 13:1–46

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Miscarriage Numbers, Book of Shekinah

Topics

Church of Israel: Members of Separated From, While Unclean Defilement: Ceremonial Caused by Having a Leprosy Defilement: Those Under, Removed from the Camp God: Grace of Leprosy: Law Concerning Sanitation: Contagion Sanitation: Quarantine