View Leviticus 12 in the note window.
Laws concerning the uncleanness of women in child - birth, ver. 1 - 5.
Concerning their purification, ver. 6 - 8.
1: From uncleanness contracted by the touching or eating of external
things, he now comes to that uncleanness which ariseth from ourselves.
2: Seven days - Not for any filthiness which was either in the
conception, or in bringing forth, but to signify the universal and deep
pollution of man's nature, even from the birth, and from the conception.
Seven days or thereabouts, nature is employed in the purgation of most
women. Her infirmity - Her monthly infirmity. And it may note an
agreement therewith not only in the time, (Le 15:19), but in the
degree of uncleanness.
4: In the blood of her purifying - In her polluted and separated
estate; for the word blood or bloods signifies both guilt, and
uncleanness, as here and elsewhere. And it is called the blood of her
purifying, because by the expulsion or purgation of that blood, which is
done by degrees, she is purified. No hallowed thing - She shall not eat
any part of the peace - offerings which she or her husband offered, which
otherwise she might have done; and, if she be a priest's wife, she shall
not eat any of the tythes or first fruits, or part of the hallowed meats,
which at other times she together with her husband might eat.
5: Threescore and six days - The time in both particulars is double
to the former, not so much from natural causes, as to put an honour upon
the sacrament of circumcision, which being administered to the males, did
put an end to that pollution sooner than otherwise had been.
6: For a son or a daughter - For the birth of a son, or of a
daughter: but the purification was for herself, as appears from the
following verses. A sin - offering - Because of her ceremonial
uncleanness, which required a ceremonial expiation.
8: The morality of this law obliges women who have received mercies
from God in child - bearing, with all thankfulness to acknowledge his goodness
to them, owning themselves unworthy of it, and (which is the best
purification) to continue in faith, and love, and holiness, with
sobriety.
