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Leviticus 12

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Laws Concerning Childbirth and Impurity 1–5

1
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
2
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman conceive seed, and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean. ​
3
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. ​
4
And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
5
But if she bear a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. ​

Sacrifices for the Mother’s Cleansing 6–8

6
And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest: ​
7
and he shall offer it before Jehovah, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that beareth, whether a male or a female.
8
And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Leviticus 12

Verse 2

unclean seven days — Niddah, 'separation', is the word used of the monthly issue in Lev 15:19, 'she shall be put apart seven days', and the first week after a son's birth is counted the same way. Luke 2:22 records the law kept for Jesus: 'the days of her purification according to the law of Moses'.

Verse 3

the eighth day — Circumcision falls on the eighth day, as God told Abraham: 'he that is eight days old shall be circumcised' (Gen 17:12). Jesus was circumcised on that day (Luke 2:21). Christ notes that Moses 'gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;)' (John 7:22).

Verse 5

two weeks — For a daughter the first period is 'two weeks' (shabua, a unit of seven days) and the second 'threescore and six days', double the seven and thirty-three days of a son (v.4). The text gives no reason. In each case the term ends when 'the days of her purifying' are fulfilled (vv.4, 6).

Verse 6

a lamb of the first year — Two offerings close the days of purifying: a lamb (kebes) for the burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for the sin offering, brought 'unto the door of the tabernacle' to the priest. Verse 7 states the effect: 'make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood'.

Verse 8

two turtles, or two young pigeons — The Hebrew says, if her hand cannot find enough for a lamb. The same concession for the poor is given in Lev 5:7, 'if he be not able to bring a lamb'. It is the offering made for Jesus, 'A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons' (Luke 2:24), after 'the days of her purification' (Luke 2:22).