XII. (1) AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. — As the reason why God graciously addressed the regulation about the clean and unclean animals to Moses and Aaron conjointly (see Leviticus 11:1), no longer operates here, the Lord now addresses the laws of purification to the Lawgiver alone. The laws of def... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A WOMAN HAVE CONCEIVED SEED. — Rather, _if a woman bringeth forth seed,_ that is, is delivered of a child. (See Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:29.) This general statement is afterwards specified by the phrases “and born a man child,” and “bear a maid child,” in the verse before us, and in Leviticus 12:5... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE EIGHTH DAY. — When the seven days had passed by during which the mother remained un clean, the boy is to be circumcised, since on the eighth day the first period of her extreme state of impurity ceases, and she no more imparts defilement to whomsoever or to whatsoever she touches. For the... [ Continue Reading ]
CONTINUE IN THE BLOOD OF HER PURIFYING. — Better, _continue in the blood of purification,_ that is, _pure blood._ Though the discharge consequent upon the birth ceases after two or three weeks, the period in this case, as in the former instance, is nearly doubled, to include exceptional cases. Durin... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF SHE BEAR A MAID CHILD. — Better, _but if she giveth birth to a female child._ (See Leviticus 12:2.) AS IN HER SEPARATION. — Better, _as in the time of her monthly courses._ (See Leviticus 12:2.) In the case of a daughter the days of purification in both stages is exactly double that prescribe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE DAYS... — Having described in the previous verses the conditions of defilement arising from childbirth, the legislator now prescribes the offerings to be brought for the purification of the woman. The offerings were brought at the expiration of the fortieth day in the case of a boy, and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL OFFER IT. — Better, _and he shall offer it,_ that is, the priest shall offer the sin offering. Though two sacrifices were brought — a burnt offering and a sin offering — yet stress is laid on the sin offering, for on it depended the purification and atonement of the mother. Even if the mot... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF SHE BE NOT ABLE. — As a merciful provision for those who were too poor to bring a lamb, the law permits them to bring a turtle-dove or a pigeon for a burnt offering, provided only it is the same kind of bird as the one brought for a sin offering; that is, they must either be both turtle-doves... [ Continue Reading ]