A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Leviticus · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Verſ. 2. SPeak unto the children of Iſrael, ſaying unto them, If a woman have conceived ſeed, &c.]
As former laws concerned uncleanneſſe which came from without, ſo thoſe which next follow in this and the following chapters concern uncleanneſſe which came from within: and the firſt which we have in this chapter is concerning the uncleanneſſe of women in childbirth, to wit, that if a woman had conce…ved ſeed, and born a man-child, then ſhe ſhould be unclean ſeven dayes, according to the dayes of her ſeparation for her infirmity, that is, for thoſe firſt ſeven dayes ſhe ſhould be unclean with as contagious a pollution as in the ſeven dayes of her ſeparation for the infirmity of her monethly fluors, wherein as we may reade in the law, Levit. 15. 19. 24. ſhe was not onelyonly debarred from going to the Sanctuary, but was alſo ſeparated from all communion with others, and defiled whatſoever ſhe did ſit or lie upon or touch, &c. and was therefore reſtrained to her chamber though not ſhut out of the camp, as lepers and others were. Now this law was delivered as others were to the children of Iſrael in generall, though it principally concerned women, even becauſe the men were to take care that their wives did duly obſerve this courſe according to the commandment: And the end and drift of it doubtleſſe was to ſhew how exceedingly corrupt man is from the very conception, who rendreth his mother unclean that conceives and bears him. But why then did the Virgin Mary accompliſh the dayes of her purifi…ation according to this law of Moſes, Luke 2. 22. ſeeing the child ſhe bare had no unclean…ſſe nor corruption in him, being neither conceived nor born in ſinne, no nor▪conceived of the ſeed of man as other children are? I anſwer, firſt, Becauſe Chriſt was made after the ſimilitude of ſinfull fleſh, and taking upon him the perſon of all ma… kind he ſo became ſinne for us; and ſecondly, Becauſe even the Virgin Mary by reaſon of the bloud of her purifying (whatſoever Papiſts without warrant from the Scripture ſay to the contrary) was legally unclean, and ſo became obedient to the Law.
Verſ. 3. And in the eighth day the fleſh, &c.]
Wherein one reaſon ſeems implyed why God ſet a part the eighth day for circumciſion, becauſe till then the mother becauſe of her ſeparation, and the child becauſe of the mother wer… unclean.
Verſ. 4. And ſhe ſhall continue in the bloud of her p…rifying three and thirty dayes.]
That is, the bloud whereby her body is cleanſed and purified: in which time ſhe might converſe with others, though not communicate in holy things, becauſe her greateſt uncleanneſſe had an end at ſeven dayes.
Verſ. 5. But if ſhe bear a maid-child, &c.]
Both the time of her uncleanneſſe and the dayes of her cleanſing are doubled for a female child, either becauſe the womans infirmity is then in greater meaſure upon her by the ordinary courſe of Nature, and ſo longer time of purgation is required; or becauſe thereby the Lord would ſignifie that the woman had the firſt and great hand in bringing ſinne into the world, 1. Tim. 2. 14. Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the tranſgreſſion; or 3. becauſe the man-child being circumciſed on the eighth day, then the uncleanneſſe of the mother ceaſed, but the female-child not being circumciſed, the uncleanneſſe of the mother continued the longer.
Verſ. 6. When the dayes of her purifying are fulfilled, &c. ſhe ſhall bring a lambe, &c.]
This ſinne-offering was doubtleſſe for the ſinne of the mother, to wit, the pollution ſhe had contracted by the originall pollution of her child; and therefore it is added in the following verſe, that by the offering thereof the prie…t ſhould make an at onement for her, and ſo hereby the faith of the mother was confirmed that by Chriſt her ſinne was forgiven her, and that the curſe of her pains and ſorrow in child-bearing was taken away, ſo that, if ſhe made a good uſe of them, they might now be a bleſſing and means of good to her, rather then a curſe, accordiug to that of the Apoſtle, 1. Tim. 2. 15. Nothwithſtanding ſhe ſhall be ſaved in child-bearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holineſſe with ſobriety.
Verſ. 8. And if ſhe be not able to bring a lambe▪ th…n ſhe ſhall bring two t…tle dov…s, or two young pigeons, &c.]
This was the offering which the Virgin Mary brought, Luke 2. 24. for her purifying, which was an evident proof that Joſeph and Mary lived in a poore and mean condition.