Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled." (vv.1-4)
After the laws concerning clean and unclean food in Ch.11, we come to the laws concerning clean and unclean persons. Chapter 12 speaks of the ceremonial purification of women, after childbirth.
The mother of a boy was ceremonially unclean for a seven days, at the end of which the child was circumcised as God commanded Abraham that his male covenant descendants (through Isaac and Jacob) should be circumcised when eight days old (Genesis 17:12). This was a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham and his covenant descendants (Genesis 17:11). The mother would then continue her purification for an additional thirty three days for a total of 40 days of ceremonial impurity after giving birth to a male child.
There were several reasons for this, but one important reason was to give an Israelite mother an ancient equivalent to the modern maternity leave. Here ceremonial uncleanness relieved her of many social obligations. Mothers welcomed these days of rest, seclusion, and bonding with the newborn. Mary, the mother of Jesus, also fulfilled these days of purification (Luke 2:22-24). It was on this occasion that Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) and Anna (Luke 2:36-38) met Jesus and His family and spoke their words of blessing and thanks. When Mary gave birth to Jesus, she was not responsible for bringing a sinner into the world. Nevertheless, Jesus identified with sinful humanity – even as an infant.
Our text goes on to say that, if she (a mother) bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks (v.5): The time period for each phase was double what was required when giving birth to a son. For the birth of a daughter, a woman was unclean for 14 days followed by 66 days. A mother of a female child then received double of the ancient equivalent of maternity leave.
Finally, when the days of her purification were fulfilled, whether for a son or a daughter, the mother shall bring to the priest a lamb of the first year as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting (vv.6-7). Then the priest shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female.
God knew that not every family in Israel could afford to bring a lamb for sacrifice at the birth of a child. Therefore, He also allowed the lesser sacrifices of two turtledoves or two young pigeons. When the Lord Jesus was born, Mary (and Joseph) brought a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24). This not only emphasizes the poverty of Mary and Joseph, but it also shows that Mary did not consider herself to be sinless.
Today, we are still all born in sin (Psalm 51:5), but no longer is there a need for a ceremonial purification of sacrifice, because Jesus paid it all through His sacrificial death on the cross. His blood covers our sin, His blood cleanses our impurities.
The Truth: “You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
