INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 12 This chapter treats of the purification of a new mother, the time of whose purification for a man child was forty days, and for a maid child eighty, Leviticus 12:1 at the close of which she was to bring her offerings to the priests, to make atonement for her, Leviticus... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES,.... The laws in the preceding chapter were delivered both to Moses and Aaron, but what follows in this only to Moses; but inasmuch as the priest had a concern in it, it being his business to offer the sacrifices required by the following law, it was no doubt given to M... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... For this law only concerned them, and not other nations of the world: IF A WOMAN HAVE CONCEIVED SEED; by lying with a man, and so becomes pregnant, and goes on with her pregnancy until she brings forth a child. The Jews from hence gather, that this law respect... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE EIGHTH DAY THE FLESH OF HIS FORESKIN SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED. Or the foreskin of his flesh, that is, of the man child born according to the law, Genesis 17:12 and this seems to furnish out a reason why a male child was not circumcised before the eighth day, and why it was then, because befor... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE SHALL CONTINUE IN THE BLOOD OF HER PURIFYING THREE AND THIRTY DAYS,.... That is, so many more, in all forty; for though at the end of seven days she was in some respects free from her uncleanness, yet not altogether, but remained in the blood of her purifying, or in the purifying of her bloo... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF SHE BEAR A MAID CHILD,.... A daughter, whether born alive or dead, if she goes with it her full time: THEN SHE SHALL BE UNCLEAN TWO WEEKS; or fourteen days running; and on the fifteenth day be free or loosed, as the Targum of Jonathan, just as long again as for a man child: AS IN HER SEPARA... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE DAYS OF HER PURIFYING ARE FULFILLED, FOR A SON, OR FOR A DAUGHTER,.... For a son forty days, and for a daughter eighty; but the ancient Jews formerly, that they might not break it, ordered, that the offering enjoined as follows should not be brought until the next day after the time was... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL OFFER IT BEFORE THE LORD,.... Upon the altar of burnt offering: AND MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR HER; for whatsoever sin in connection with or that attended childbearing; as typical of the atonement by Christ both for sin original and actual: AND SHE SHALL BE CLEANSED FROM THE ISSUE OF HER BLOO... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF SHE BE NOT ABLE TO BRING A LAMB,.... As everyone was not in circumstances sufficient to be at the expense of buying a lamb for this purpose, having none of their own: THEN SHE SHALL BRING TWO TURTLES, OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS; which was a kind and merciful provision for the poorer sort; since it... [ Continue Reading ]