Israel was a society heavily influenced by the patriarchal customs
However, one aspect that makes Hebrew law and customs different from their neighbors is the high and holy status of women within its society
It may see at first that women didn't have a lot of rights but they were never subjugated to a status level below their dignity. In early Jewish society, they were a protected class to be honored, valued and respected
This makes sense because of the importance placed on women in bringing forth the Messiah (Genesis 3:15)
Leviticus treats the concept of sacrifice in three ways:
1. Reason: Because man is sinful
2. Rule: That the sacrificial offering is given as a substitute for man's debt
3. Ritual: The ceremony of action which God has stipulated, to be carried out by humans in order to approach God
Ritual is what this chapter deals with, emphasizing a woman's value in presenting a sacrifice
Also, it deals with blood
Blood of sacrifices: life is in the blood
Later, it's essential to life (17:11) and a woman's monthly cycle is dealt with in 15:19-24
A discharge of blood would make you unclean, which acknowledges the importance of blood. A woman's uncleanness made it obvious that something momentous happened when she lost blood in childbirth
Gordon J. Whenham wrote, "A bleeding or discharging body lacks wholeness and is therefore unclean. Loss of blood can lead to death, the antithesis of normal, healthy living. Anyone losing blood is at least in danger of becoming less than perfect and therefore unclean. Thus, blood is at once the most effective ritual cleanser (the blood makes atonement, 17:11), and the most polluting substance when it is in the wrong place."
Verse 1 - In other ancient societies, priests of various idol sects would originate lass which governed childbirth. This law came from God
Verse 2 - "If a woman has conceived..." (NKJ) Translated, "If a woman conceive seed..." The force emphasizes that the birth process begins at conception. Therefore, the life begins at conception!
Verse 3 - Why the 8th day? "The presence of certain characteristics in the human blood (most notably vitamin K) are at their highest levels on the 8th day following birth. This suggests the male infant's ability for blood coagulation is at its greatest" at this time.
Why circumcision? Other cultures had rituals and rites of passage for males, why this? It was a very conscious separation between them and other people. Throughout the Bible, how are other people referred to? "Uncircumcised"
Circumcision was not simply a cultural initiation, nor was it a means to achieve just an ethnic separation. It had a much deeper spiritual significance.
First given to Abraham in Genesis 12
"Not only was it an act of initiation into the family of God but a symbolic representation that the physical means of presentation of the seed, which would ultimately bring forth the Messiah, was that which itself had been devoted to God and marked for service to the Divine." (Joseph Meador)
The need for physical circumcision ended with the coming of Christ. At that point, the emphasis on it takes on a deeper and more spiritual meaning
Colossians 2:11 (Entrance into the community of His people)
Romans 2:25-29
Philippians 3:3 "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh"
Our minds, our hearts should be marked as a sign of devotion to God. The mind of a Christian should be just as discernible to other people as the physical mark would've been to the ancient people
Verse 5 - Why the longer period of uncleanness for having a girl? Not a matter of gender bias. Possibly because a daughter would be a future mother, again stressing the importance of the female. Also gave them twice as long to bond
Keep this in mind: medical reasons
Don DeWelt, "Hygienic-medicinal reasons for the strict laws of separation at childbirth immediately come to mind. A very high mortality rate at birth is almost always associated with contamination through contact. If the mother and child are isolated for 40 or certainly 80 days, the chances for survival are greatly increased."
Verses 6-8 - Purification offering
1. Ended the period of her purification
2. Allowed her to assemble with the congregation at the tabernacle
Could give a lamb or two turtledoves or two pigeons
See Mary in Luke 2:22-24
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