The answer is: Outside the camp

Num 5:1-4 - Or outside the city

Lepers had a precarious and isolating existence in biblical times, primarily relegated to living outside the camp or city. This was a significant component of the ancient laws outlined in Leviticus and Numbers as a means of maintaining societal purity and health. The thought was that if someone had leprosy, they posed a risk to the community, not just physically but also spiritually, as cleanliness and health were heavily tied to one's relationship with God.

Interestingly, the term "leprosy" in the Bible does not refer strictly to what we know today as leprosy (Hansen's disease), but could denote a range of infectious skin conditions. Thus, anyone showing signs of this ailment would face exile—a punishment that extended their suffering beyond physical ailment. They were considered unclean and were required to announce their condition for all to hear, calling out “Unclean! Unclean!” (Leviticus 13:45).

It is worth noting that the separation of lepers carries echoes of deeper themes in other biblical narratives about exile and redemption. Just as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness before reaching the Promised Land, so too did these afflicted individuals become symbolic figures of the need for community and greater inclusion. The progression awaits Christ’s era, where lepers were healed and welcomed back into society, showing the movement towards compassion and inclusion in a community bound by love and understanding. This evolution helps us recognize the push for unity among individuals regardless of their circumstances today.