15:1-33

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Discharges from sexual organs

(Le 15:1-33)

Strict precautions were to be taken when a man was found to have venereal disease or some other infection connected with his sexual organs, to prevent the infection spreading to others (Le 15:1-12).

After apparent healing, the man had to wait a further week to ensure he was fully healed. He then carried out cleansing rites, offering a sin offering and a burnt offering (Le 15:13-15).

After sexual intercourse, ceremonial uncleanness remained only till evening and was removed by bathing (Le 15:16-18).

A woman was ceremonially unclean for seven days during her normal menstruation, and again it seems that the uncleanness was removed by bathing (Le 15:19-24).

If she suffered from abnormal or lengthy discharge, she was not ceremonially clean till seven days after her return to normal health.

In this case a sin offering and a burnt offering were also required (Le 15:25-33).