Leviticus 12:1-8
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 flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
4 And she shall then 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 separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the firsta year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, 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 cleansed 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 12:2. Speak unto the children of Israel: that every man may convey the law to his wife, and assist in the ceremony of purification.
Leviticus 12:3. Circumcised. To this law our Saviour submitted, that he might fulfil all righteousness.
REFLECTIONS.
By this holy law of ceremonial defilement during the season of parturition, we are reminded of the original stain and depravity of human nature, which must be cleansed with sacrificial blood, or we shall all be cut off from the congregation of the Lord. David, viewing original sin, connected with actual transgression, said, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Hence the mother and the child both need the atonement of the Saviour's blood, in order to inherit the blessings of the covenant. The body of an infant evidently partakes of disease and death from its parents, and the mind, however inexplicable, is most assuredly tainted from the same source. Else why should the righteous God afflict the unoffending babe with severe pain, and even with death. Let us not therefore complain, like the enemies of revelation, but rather avail ourselves of the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, that we may approach the Lord with boldness, and live through the sprinkling of the Redeemer's blood.
When a male child was born, forty days were fixed for the purification of the mother; and when a daughter was born, the time was eighty days. The text itself suggests a reason for this which ought to satisfy us; namely, that the male was circumcised the eighth day, to which females were not subject.
We learn from this law, that a woman and her family ought to offer up gratitude and praise to God after her delivery; for though the peculiarities of the law are abolished, gratitude is of equal force and obligation in all ages. And where is the place so proper to render thanks for family mercies so signal, as the house and the altar of God. It becomes the just to be thankful; and he that offereth praise glorifieth God. As the woman was forty days after the birth of a son before she could approach the sanctuary, so it is very remarkable that Moses was forty days on the mount; Elijah was forty days in approaching God at Horeb; our Lord was forty days in the desert, and forty days after his resurrection before he approached the Father in glory.