Leprosy was the most fearful and loathsome disease of the East. It was looked upon with great dread by all classes on account of its contagious character and its horrible effect upon its victim. Great precautions were taken to prevent the disease from spreading among the people: With the Hebrews the leper was pronounced unclean. He was isolated from his family, restricted from the privileges of society, and cut off from the congregation of Israel. He was doomed to associate only with those who were similarly afflicted with himself. {2SP 226.2}

Spedalskhed var den forfærdeligste og væmmeligste sygdom, som forekom i østerlandene. Alle mennesker frygtede den meget på grund af den smitsomme natur og forfærdelige virkninger på den, som led deraf. Mange brugte strenge forsigtighedsregler for at hindre sygdommens udbredelse blandt folket. Hebræerne anså den spedalske for uren. Han blev afsondret fra sin familie og fra alle samfundets privilegier og afskåret fra Israels menighed. Han blev dømt til blot at holde selskab med dem, der led af samme sygdom som han selv.