Leviticus 15:1-33

Leviticus 15. Issues. Four kinds are considered; the first of these (Leviticus 15:1) is apparently pathological, though there is no reference to venereal diseases, which are unknown in the OT; the second (Leviticus 15:16) normal; the third (Leviticus 15:19), normal and periodic; the fourth (2 Leviticus 15:5), an abnormal occurrence or prolongation of the normal. Whether normal or not, all these occurrences are regarded as causing taboos in ethnic religions, and as connected with supernatural powers; the third kind is constantly associated with the bite of a demon (as, for example, in Australia). Possibly a similar belief existed originally among the Hebrews, but it is not necessary in order to account for the feeling of repulsion which causes all such phenomena to be regarded as unclean. The first, third, and fourth kinds need washing, and whether this was originally so intended or not, it is certainly in practice entirely hygienic. Only the abnormal kinds, the first and fourth, have prescribed for them an interval of a week, followed by a sacrifice; this, however, is of the cheapest kind (cf. Leviticus 5:7; Leviticus 14:22). The uncleanness is regarded as breaking the communion (Leviticus 15:31); hence, a sin offering is needed to remove its traces, and a burnt offering to signalise resumption of relations. To most primitive peoples, the sexual life is surrounded by taboos (cf. Crawley, Mystic Rose), The savage fear of evil spirits is here specially active. In this chapter, however, the entire absence of anything that could be called magical must be noted (the same is true of the early Heb. narratives in the form in which we now have them), as of initiation ceremonies at puberty (whether of boys or girls) or of marriage rites. For all their ethnic affinities, the codes, on this subject, are purity itself, although so often traditional customs connected with marriage have been made the ministers of impurity.