UNROLL
First light at a single black goat-hair tent in the wilderness camp, its door curtain tied back, a small clay lamp just gone out on the threshold with a thin curl of smoke, flocks resting beyond.

The Book of

Leviticus 12

A child is born in the camp. God makes a way for the mother to come back to His house.

8 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

  1. 1–7The offeringsHow sinners draw near
  2. 8–10The priestsOrdained, and a warning
  3. 11–15Clean and uncleanLife before a holy GodChapter 12
  4. 16The Day of AtonementSins carried away
  5. 17–27A holy peopleBe holy, for I am holy

Purification after Childbirth

The wilderness camp at evening seen from a low rise: rows of black tents with warm lamplight glowing in their open doors, the last light on the granite mountains beyond.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation.

0:11

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Inside a dim goat-hair tent, a tall clay water jar and a folded white linen cloth on a woven mat, a narrow band of daylight falling across them.

The law

Days of purification

  1. Forty days

    A son: thirty-three more days

    The woman shall continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days.

  2. Nothing sacred, no sanctuary

    She must not touch anything sacred or go into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete.

  3. Eighty days

    A daughter: two weeks

    If, however, she gives birth to a daughter, the woman will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstruation.

  4. Then sixty-six days

    Then she must continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days.

Reflect

A way back

For weeks after a birth, a mother in Israel could not “go into the sanctuary.” But the law did not leave her outside. It counted the days, and it named the day she would come back. God made a way home to worship after every birth. Think of the children and the people God has put in your life. Write down their names, and thank Him for each one. Then pray: Lord, every life is Your gift. Thank You for the people You have given me, and for making a way for me to come near.

God

But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons

Leviticus 12:8

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Leviticus 12

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A verse to carry with you

But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.

Leviticus 12:8

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