Leviticus 14:5

“And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed, etc.] That is, shall command another priest to kill one of them, or an Israelite, as Aben Ezra; and who also observes, that some say the leper, or the butcher, as the Targum of Jonathan; the killing of this bird, not being a sacrifice, might be done without the camp, as it was, and not at the altar, near to which sacrifices were slain, and where they were offered: and this was to be done in an earthen vessel over running water: this vessel, according to the Jewish traditions f478, was to be a new one, and a fourth part of a log of running water was to be put into it, and then the bird was to be killed over it, and its blood…”

“the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed . . . over running water--As the blood of a single bird would not have been sufficient to immerse the body of another bird, it was mingled with spring water to increase the quantity necessary for the appointed sprinklings, which were to be repeated seven times, denoting a complete purification. (See Kg2 5:10; Psa 51:2; Mat 8:4; Luk 5:14). The living bird being then set free, in token of the leper's release from quarantine, the priest pronounced him clean; and this official declaration was made with all solemnity, in order that the mind of the leper might be duly impressed with a sense of the divine goodness, and that others might be…”

“Running water - literally, living water, i. e. water fresh from the spring Genesis 26:19; Numbers 19:17. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Killed - By some other man. The priest did not kill it himself, because it was not properly a sacrifice, as being killed without the camp, and not in that place to which all sacrifices were confined. In an earthen - vessel - That is, over running water put in an earthen - vessel - Thus the blood of the bird and the water were mixed together, partly for the conveniency of sprinkling, and partly to signify Christ, who came by water and blood, Jo1 5:6. The running water, that is, spring or river water by its liveliness and motion did fitly signify the restoring of liveliness to the leper, who was in a manner dead before. Leviticus 14:7”

“14:5-7 Killing the bird and sprinkling its blood (14:7) reflects Exod 24:6-8, where all of Israel was sprinkled with blood to establish the people as God’s covenant community. Here the individual was cleansed by being sprinkled with blood and allowed to return to community membership. Fresh water was also used in cleansing ceremonies (Num 8:7) and in sacrifice preparation (Lev 1:9, 13).”

“earthen vessel: Lev 14:50; Num 5:17; Co2 4:7, Co2 5:1, Co2 13:4; Heb 2:14 Leviticus 14:6”