Chapter 12

1 The purification of women after childbirth. 6 Her offerings for her purifying.

1. The Lord spake. The preceding chapter dealt with uncleanness occasioned by contact with various “unclean” creatures. Chapters 12 to 15 deal with personal uncleanness, both physical and ceremonial, that does not involve moral transgression. Aaron is not mentioned here as in chs. 11 and 13.

2. A man child. This was the desire of every woman in Israel, for Messiah was to be of the “seed” of the “woman” (Gen. 3:15).

The separation for her infirmity. “Her menstruation” (RSV). The law here referred to is stated at length in ch. 15:19–33.

3. Circumcised. This was in recognition of the covenant relationship, and brought the child symbolically under the bond of the covenant. This rite was first practiced in the case of Isaac (Gen. 17:10, 11; 21:4), the son of the promise (Gal. 4:23), in token of the fulfillment of the covenant promise concerning his birth.

4. The blood. The first six days following childbirth were critical for the mother, and often there was a considerable loss of blood. After a week the crisis was supposed to be past. For 33 days the mother was not permitted to come into the sanctuary or to participate in religious ceremonies. She was not to attend any public gathering. It was the mother, and not the child, who was considered unclean.

5. A maid child. The reason for a period of uncleanness much longer than in the case of a male child is not given here or elsewhere.

6. A burnt offering. She was not to offer this herself. She only brought it to the tabernacle and gave it to the priest, who offered it for her. She was also to present a sin offering, which the priest offered for her.

This procedure was different from the usual order of early times, in which the offerer did his own slaying. There was another difference as well. When a sin offering and a burnt offering were brought, the sin offering always came first, and was followed by the burnt offering. In this case the burnt offering took precedence. Again, the sin offering was always the more prominent and expensive one. Here the reverse is true. The burnt offering came first and consisted of a lamb, whereas the sin offering came last and was the least animal offering ever brought, a pigeon or a turtledove.

Whatever man does bears the taint of sin. Hence sin offerings were prescribed in many cases where, to the uninstructed, it would seem needless to do so. This was especially apparent in the sin offerings at the dedication of the sanctuary and the installation of the priesthood, yet they deeply impressed the people with the sinfulness of sin. On the occasion of childbirth there appears to be an intentional minimum emphasis on sin, and the offering required was merely a token sacrifice. There was no confession or laying on of the hand.

7. She shall be cleansed. In ancient times the lot of woman was not a happy one. She did much of the hard work that would ordinarily fall to a man. This is the case even today in many lands, where work both in the house and in the field is done largely by women. Little consideration was given in the case of childbirth; in fact, cruel and inhuman practices were the rule.

It was under conditions such as these that God made provision for the mothers of Israel, prescribing for them a period of comparative rest and isolation lasting for some weeks. They were to enjoy rest and quiet, time in which to regain their strength.

The rules of childbirth in this chapter show God’s tender care for the mothers. Women have an honored place in the plan of God, and rightly so. Many of them have become leaders, and some, prophets. Through the trying experiences of life they have God’s protecting care, and are invited to come to Him with their perplexities (see DA 512). Let all give them due honor.