Albert Barnes Commentary Leviticus 12
Albert Barnes Commentary
Leviticus 12
Albert Barnes Commentary
Leviticus 12
"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman conceive seed, and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall 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. But if she bear a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she shall continue in the blood of [her] purifying threescore and six days. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest: and he shall offer it before Jehovah, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that beareth, whether a male or a female. And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean." — Leviticus 12:1-8 (ASV)
This chapter would more naturally follow the 15th chapter of Leviticus. See the note to Leviticus 15:1.
"And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." — Leviticus 12:3 (ASV)
On circumcision, see Genesis 17:5 note.
"And she shall 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." — Leviticus 12:4 (ASV)
The Levitical law ascribed impurity exclusively to the mother, not at all to the Child.
"But if she bear a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she shall continue in the blood of [her] purifying threescore and six days." — Leviticus 12:5 (ASV)
Some have thought that this doubling of each of the two periods was intended to remind the people of the fact that woman represents the lower side of human nature and was the first to fall into temptation (1 Timothy 2:13–15; 1 Peter 3:7).
The ancients had a notion that the mother suffers for a longer time after the birth of a girl than after the birth of a boy. The period required for the restoration of her health in the one case was thirty days, and in the other, it was 40 or 42 days. This notion may have been connected with a general custom of observing the distinction as early as the time of Moses.
"And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest: and he shall offer it before Jehovah, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that beareth, whether a male or a female. And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean." — Leviticus 12:6-8 (ASV)
The sacrificial act expressed an acknowledgment of sin and a dedication of herself to Yahweh. See Leviticus 8:14.
Of the first year - literally, as in the margin, “a son of his year.” This expression is supposed to mean one less than a year old, while “the son of a year” is one that has just completed its first year.
A lamb - Rather, one of the flock; either a sheep or a goat; it is not the same word as in Leviticus 12:6.
Two turtles, or two young pigeons - See the note at Leviticus 1:14. The Virgin Mary availed herself of the liberty which the Law allowed to the poor and offered the inferior burnt-offering (Luke 2:24).
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