Bible Commentaries

Leviticus 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.

Ver. 2. If a woman have conceived seed.] Or yielded seed, as Genesis 1:11. Urgendum hoc adversus Anabaptistas; qui, ut suos de humanae Christi naturae origine errores stabiliant, faeminas semen habere praefracte negant. {a} Hebraeorum magistri, ex eodem loco, [Genesis 1:11-12] colligunt marem edi quoties mulier semen mittere prior coeperit; foeminam, ubi vir. ^(b)

Then she shall be unclean.] This signified that corruption of man’s nature wherein he is conceived, [Psalms 51:5] being condemned as soon as conceived, Damnatus antequam natus, ^(c) and the remedy we have in Christ.

Leviticus 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

Ver. 3. And in the eighth day.] {See Trapp on "Genesis 17:13"} {See Trapp on "Genesis 17:14"}

Leviticus 12:4 And she shall then 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.

Ver. 4. She shall touch no hallowed thing.] Preparation must go before participation of holy ordinances. [Haggai 2:13]

Leviticus 12:5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.

Ver. 5. But if she bear a maid child.] To intimate, it may be, the woman’s being first in the transgression. [1 Timothy 2:14]

Leviticus 12:6 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:

Ver. 6. And when the days of her purifying.] The Virgin Mary also observed this law, [Luke 2:21] not in conscience of any particular sin, which in the conception of our Saviour she was free from; nor in show, to satisfy the law, much less upon hypocrisy; but in conscience of her natural corruption, which by this oblation, according to the law, she did confess holily and religiously before God and his congregation, as one well observeth.

Leviticus 12:7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This [is] the law for her that hath born a male or a female.

Ver. 7. And make an atonement.] Whereby her faith was confirmed, that by Christ her sin was remitted and the curse removed. [1 Timothy 2:15]

Leviticus 12:8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Ver. 8. And if she be not able.] As the blessed Virgin was not. [Luke 2:22; Luke 2:24] Who now can despise any one for want, when the mother of our Lord was not rich enough to bring a lamb for her purification? We may be as happy in russet ^(a), as in tissue.