[Lev. 12:2] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
Law continues in v. 5. With a male child the mother was unclean for 7 days and on the 8th day he was circumcised. Gen. 17:12 and Romans 4:11-13; with a female child the mother was unclean for 14 days. Lev. 12:5 B stigma on the sexB1 Tim. 2:14-15 for sin, which was removed by the Messiah; everyone who came near the mother during that time contracted a similar defilement. After these periods, visitors might approach her though she was excluded from the public ordinances of religion. 12:4.
The impure person was only permitted to eat of sacred offerings after he immerses himself in a mikveh and waits until the sun sits. Plus these actions he has to bring an offering upon the completion of his purification period.
When this time elapses, she cleanses herself by immersing in a mikveh. During the Temple period it was forbidden for a woman to enter the Temple, eat certain foods.
6-8 though the occasion was of a festive character, yet the sacrifices appointed were not a peace offering, but a burnt offering and sin offering, in order to impress the mind of the parent with recollection of the original sin, and that the child inherited a fallen and sinful nature. The offerings were to be presented the day after the period of her separation had ended - 40 for a boy and 80 for a girl.
The childbearing women was obligated to bring 2 offerings of a burnt offering (lamb) as well as a sin offering of a pigeon or turtledove. The purpose of the burnt offering was for the woman to show her gratitude to Hashem, who delivered her safely from the dangers of childbirth. Tradition and commentary (Midrash) on this verse also point out that the burnt offering was also offered in case the woman in childbirth some evil words went up during the pain. The purpose of the sin offering was because during her condition she was unable to partake of any sacrificial food and the Torah states that atonement had to be made for her. Although the burnt offering is mentioned here first, the sin offering is always sacrificed first.
Two turtles - offering made by Miriam, the mother of Y’Shua, and it offers an incontestable proof and humble condition of the family. Lk. 2:22-24.
No comments:
Post a Comment