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Leviticus 12 |
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| 12:1
And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying, |
(12:1-5) "She shall be unclean"
Women are dirty and sinful after childbirth,
so God prescribes rituals for their purification. If a boy is born, the mother
is unclean for 7 days and must be purified for 33 days; if a girl is born,
the mother is unclean for 14 days and be purified for 66 days. This is because,
in the eyes of God, girls are twice as dirty as boys.
(12:3)
"And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised."
Is circumcision required?
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| 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.
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| 12:3
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
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| 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.
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| 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. |
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| 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 dove, for a sin
offering, unto the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation, unto the priest: |
(12:6-8)
"She shall bring ... a young pigeon, or dove, for a sin offering."
After a woman gives birth, a priest must kill a lamb, pigeon, or dove as a
sin offering. This is because having children is sinful and God likes it when things are killed for
him.
Is childbearing sinful?
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| 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.
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| 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. |
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