A wide variety of skin disorders were diagnosed as leprosy.
Generally lumps would form and turn red,
then form white scales progressing to open sores.
Often the disease would penetrate to the bone,
affecting internal organs and joints,
often causing limbs to distort.
Leprosy was the most feared disease in the Holy Land.
When infected, people were required
to be examined by the priest.
When a priest declared a leper unclean,
this meant he was unfit for sacred ordinances
and was banned from the community.
When healed, the leper could be pronounced clean by the priest
and be brought back into society.