v2-3: The priest came to the infected person outside the camp; where he was. In the same way, Christ identified with us; see Heb 13.11-14. Only then could the leprous man be brought back in, having been declared clean. There is real hope here also, since the one smitten with leprosy could be healed, and be restored to the community of God's people.

v12: There was guilt, so there was a guilt (trespass) offering for the man being cleansed. A sacrifice had to be made, a price to be paid, that He might approach and worship God. Thus, sacrifice was made not just for an act of sin, but for 'ritual uncleanness.'

v14-18: Blood and oil applied, giving assurance of cleansing, anointing, atonement, and acceptance. When the man was poor, a smaller offering could be made (v21-22), but there remained the need for blood and oil.

v23-31: A separate offering was made on the eighth day, v10-11.

v34-42: The Lord puts the mildew into a house. We must consider the character of God, to understand why He should do this; He may put mildew in a house as a punishment for personal disobedience; or as a test of a man's obedience. Our confidence is that God does act capriciously or in a random way. Once we accept that such things are from God, then the removal of the mildew will be achieved by simple obedience to His instructions.

As a principle, if all things in our lives are from God, then we can have confidence that He will change our circumstances, and mould our character, as He sees fit.

These commands would not have applied in the wilderness, as the people lived in tents. These instructions were for when the people entered Canaan, and lived in houses there.

v43-45: An incurable, or destructive mildew. This necessitated the destruction of the house; fitting with Rev 2-3, where a local church is corrupt, and the removal of certain individuals achieves no lasting change, then the lampstand is removed.

v46-47: Again, we see that contamination spreads.

v54-57: Summarising the section, ch 13-14.