Leviticus 13:53-59

Lev 13:53 “And if the priest examines, and if he notices that the disease has not spread in the clothes, in the warp or the woof or in any container made of skin,
Lev 13:54 then the priest will command that they wash the thing in which is the disease, and he will shut it up for another seven days.
Lev 13:55 And the priest will examine the diseased thing after it has been washed. And if he notices that the appearance of the diseased area has not changed, though the disease has not spread, it is contaminated. You will burn it in the fire, whether the rot is on the back or on the front.
Lev 13:56 “But if the priest examines, and if the diseased area has faded after it has been washed, he will tear it out of the clothes or the skin or the warp or the woof.
Lev 13:57 Then if it appears again in the clothes, in the warp or the woof, or in any container made of skin, it is spreading. You will burn with fire whatever has the disease.
Lev 13:58 But the clothes, or the warp or the woof, or any container made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, will then be washed a second time, and be clean.”
Lev 13:59 This is the law for a case of leprous disease in wool or linen clothing, either in the warp or the woof, or in any container made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or contaminated.

clothes and containers

The rules regarding rescue of clothing or containers infected by leprous disease show a balance between two extremes. Instead of requiring immediate destruction, or disregarding the external factors altogether, the rules indicate that these external things are important enough to be saved if possible. In the Israelite community on the move in the wilderness, possessions were highly valued. The concern about these possessions by the priests are a reflection on the fact that God cares about what matters to us.

LORD, thank you for caring about what matters to us.