The Third Book of Moses, called Leviticus
Leviticus 12
Chapter XII · Vol. I, pp. 380–381
1 The purification of a woman after child-birth. 6 Her offerings for her purifying.
1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a 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.
a ch. 15.19, 20. Ps. 51.5. Ro. 5.12, 19. Job 14.4.
4 And she shall then c continue in the blood of her purifying d 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 e a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.1
e ver. 2, 4, with 1 Ti. 2.14. Ge. 3.13.
1 Thus the female sex was marked with dishonour till Christ came. [Though the venerable Brown and others look upon this doubling of the time for purification after the birth of a female as a mark of dishonour upon her sex, we dare not adopt the opinion; nothing seems more contrary to the spirit of the Scripture than any such dishonouring distinction. The original promise to 'the seed of the woman;' the dignity of Sarah, as representative of the covenant of grace, Ga. 4.24; Solomon's inspired and glowing description of female excellence, Pr. xxxi., combine, with many similar references and records, to induce us to search for an explanation, not implying dishonour, but embodying some important lesson. May not the explanation be found in the double transgression of the woman in Eden? 1. Her error of judgment, which lay in two things: viz. disregarding God's threatening, and believing Satan's promise. 2. Her actual sin, which also lay in two points: viz. herself first eating, then giving to her husband. This view seems clearly supported by Paul, 1 Ti. 2.14: 'And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.' We discover, therefore, in this law, not a stigma affixed, but an abiding memorial set up, and an instructive lesson delivered to all the daughters of Eve. It is a repeated memorial of the original sin and its heavy but deserved sentence: it is a solemn warning to guard against deception, to distrust specious promises, as those of the serpent were; to seek the wisdom that cometh from above, and to continue in the faith of 'the promised seed,' the 'child' to be born, the Son to be 'given,' 'the Saviour of the body,' Ep. 5.23. 1 Ti. 2.15.—C.]
6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled for a son, or for a daughter, she f shall bring a lamb of the first year2 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;
f ch. 1.10-13; 5.7, 10; 15.14, 29; 14.22. Nu. 6.10. Jn. 1.29. 1 Pe. 1.18, 19. He. 7.20. 2 Co. 5.21.
2 Heb. a son of his year.
7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an g atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born h a male or a female.
A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490.
g See ch. 4.20,26,31,35. He. 9.12-14. 1 Co. 7.14. Job 14.4. Ro. 3.23-26.
h Ga. 3.28.
8 And if i she be not able to 2 bring a lamb,3 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.
i ch. 5.7; 1.14; 14.22; 15.14,29. Nu. 6.10. Lu. 2.24. Col. 3.11. 2 Co. 8.9.
2 Heb. her hand find not sufficiency of.
3 It is interesting to remark, as has often been done, that she who was the mother of our Lord, according to the flesh, seems to have been too poor to offer a lamb, and was obliged to accept of the alternative of two turtle-doves or two young pigeons. How admirable and astonishing the condescension of the Son of God.—I.
Notes
Reflections.—What alarming stigmas the Lord put upon that sex by which sin entered into our race, till Jesus, the woman's seed, had finished transgression! but alas! sinful uncleanness cleaves to all, yea, even to our most natural and necessary actions, and would for ever exclude us from fellowship with God in his ordinances, and in heaven, had not he sent forth his Son to be the propitiation for our sins, and the fountain opened to purge away our sin and our uncleanness. So infectious is original corruption, and so infinitely necessary is it to improve Jesus' atonement and purifying influence, while we thank him for his mercies, and devote ourselves to his service.—Let parents consider what gratitude, what thanksgiving, what solemn dedication of themselves and seed to God ought to attend safe deliveries in childbirth, and how desirable, comfortable, and edifying to have children early circumcised with the circumcision which is of Christ!