1 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
2 Speake vnto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman haue conceiued seed, and borne a man child, then she shal be vncleane seuen dayes: according to the dayes of the separation for her infirmitie shall she be vncleane.
3 And in the eight day, the flesh of his foreskinne shall be circumcised.
4 And she shal then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirtie dayes: Shee shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the Sanctuary, vntill the dayes of her purifying be fulfilled.
5 But if she beare a maid child, then she shalbe vncleane two weekes, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and sixe dayes.
6 And when the dayes of her purifying are fulfilled, for a sonne, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lambe of the first yeere for a burnt offring, & a yong pigeon, or a turtle doue for a sinne offering, vnto the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, vnto the Priest:
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 borne a male or a female.
8 And if she be not able to bring a lambe, then she shall bring two turtles, or two yong pigeons, the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sinne offering: and the Priest shall make an atonement for her, and shee shall bee cleane.
Ceremonial purification.
- After the laws concerning clean and unclean food, come the laws concerning clean and unclean persons. Man imparts his depraved nature to his offspring, so that, excepting as the atonement of Christ and the sanctification of the Spirit prevent, the original blessing, "Increase and multiply," #Ge 1:28|, is become to the fallen race a direful curse, and communicates sin and misery. Let those women who have received mercy from God in child-bearing, with all thankfulness own God's goodness to them; and this shall please the Lord better than sacrifices.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.