06 July 2014

EJ&T Leviticus 12: The sinful and unclean nature of childbirth (It's twice as sinful and dirty for baby girls)

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.

  1. A woman is unclean for seven days after delivering a male child. She then must be purified for 33 days, during which time she must not come into the sanctuary or touch any holy thing.
  2. 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.... 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. Leviticus 12:2-4

  3. A woman is unclean for two weeks after delivering a female child. She then must be purified for 66 days, during which time she must not come into the sanctuary or touch any holy thing. (Because baby girls are twice as dirty as baby boys.)
  4. 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. Leviticus 12:5

  5. After a woman is finished her postpartum purifying, she must kill a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. (Because having babies is sinful.)
  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: 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. 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. Leviticus 12:6-8

1 comment:

Chan Kobun said...

But remember: It's not misogynistic and patriarchal, no sirree.