Leviticus 12

Leviticus 12:1-5

The ceremonial uncleanness of women in childbirth, ver. 1—5. And their purification from that uncleanness, ver. 6—8.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3. And ‘in the eighth day, the fifth of his four-skin shall be circumcised. 4. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days: she shall touch on hallmark things, 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 separation, and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying therefore and six days.

Women in child-bed were ceremonially unclean; as were also their attendants. If the child were a male, they were counted unclean seven days, till the child was circumcised. If a female, fourteen; during which their husbands came not near them; and thirty-three days more for a son, and twice as long for a daughter, they were separated from the sanctuary, and from all holy things. As the woman was left in the transgression, she suffers by child-bearing; and her separation from the sanctuary shews us the just desert of every soul that now comes into the world, who is more than ceremonially unclean, even born in sin, and conceived in wickedness, and therefore deserving death from the womb.

6. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter; she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering, and ‘a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7. Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her, and she shall be cleaned from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring ’two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Leviticus 12:6-8

When her days were fulfilled, she must bring her offerings: 1. A thanksgiving for mercies; and a great mercy it is to be delivered from the pain and peril of child-birth. 2. A sacrifice for her sin. They who come from the bed of labour, have need to acknowledge the sin that makes their suffocacy, and their impatience or unthankfulness under them.

The offering was according to the quality of the persons; for the rich, a lamb and a pigeon; for the poor, a pair of pigeons or turtles. The mother of our Lord was reduced to the meanest sacrifice; but it was her honour, that she bore him, who taketh away the sin of the world.