SCRIPTURE: LEVITICUS 12
BIBLE VERSES:
“The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. ” (Leviticus 12:1-2)
REGULATIONS FOR A MARRIED WOMAN WHO GIVES BIRTH TO A BOY OR A GIRL:
- If a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for 7 days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period.
- If she gives birth to a boy, she must wait for 33 days to be purified from the bleeding
- If she gives birth to a girl, she will be unclean for 2 weeks and wait for 66 days to be purified by bleeding.
- She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over.
- After purification is over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting a year old lamb for burnt offering and a young pigeon or dove for sin offering.
- The priest shall offer them before the Lord to seek atonement for her and she will be declared ceremonially clean.
- If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring a2 doves and 2 young pigeon; one for bunt offering and the other for sin offering.
THOUGHTS:
A woman was considered ceremonially unclean after childbirth because of the bodily emissions and secretions during and after childbirth. That makes the woman unprepared to enter the pure surroundings ot the Tabernacle.
Israel religion kept worship and sex entirely separated to avoid conformity with pagan rites. . Pagans worship their fertility gods and goddesses and incorporated prostitution and immoral rites. But the Israelites worship God as their loving creator and provider and thank him for bountiful crops and safe childbirth.