“And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest”
Leviticus 12 outlines the requirements for a woman’s purification period after giving birth to a child. In ancient Israelite culture, childbirth was considered to render a woman ceremonially unclean for a certain period. This period varied depending on whether the child born was a boy or a girl. Let’s break down the key elements of this verse:
Purifying period: The verse states, “And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled…” This refers to the specific duration of the woman’s ceremonial impurity following childbirth. In the case of a male child, this period was forty days, whereas for a female child, it was eighty days (Leviticus 12:2-5).
Offerings: After the completion of the purification period, the woman was required to bring offerings to the tabernacle. The verse specifies two offerings:
- Burnt offering: The woman was to bring a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering. The burnt offering was a sacrifice entirely consumed by fire on the altar. It signified complete dedication and submission to God.
- Sin offering: In addition to the burnt offering, the woman was to bring a young pigeon or turtledove as a sin offering. The sin offering was made to atone for sin and seek forgiveness from God.
Presentation to the priest: The woman was instructed to bring the offerings to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation and present them to the priest. The priest would then offer the sacrifices on her behalf.
It’s important to note that the laws and regulations outlined in Leviticus, including Leviticus 12, were specific to the Israelites and were part of the Old Covenant established between God and the nation of Israel. These laws served as a framework for their religious, moral, and social practices during that time. Jesus Christ’s coming marked the establishment of the New Covenant, which fulfilled and superseded many of the ceremonial and sacrificial laws of the Old Testament.
