Exposition of the Laws of Moses, Exegesis 1 · Part 2
Ceremonies belonging to the firſt Commandement. EXERCITAT. II. Of the purification of the woman after her child-birth.
Luk. 2.22. And when the dayes of her purification according to the Law of Moyſes were accompliſhed, they brought him to Ieruſalem to preſent him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb, ſhall be called holy to the Lord) and to offer a ſacrifice, according to that which is ſayd in the Law of the Lord, a paire of Turtle Doves, or two young Pigeons.
How this ceremoniall Law pertaineth to the firſt Commandement.IT may ſeeme ſtrange to ſome, how this ceremoniall Law ſhould belong to the firſt Commandement; but this is not ſtrange; for our conception in ſinne is condemned in the Commandements; but it is not condemned in any of the Commandements where the act and full deliberation of the minde is forbidden; therefore the negative part is eſpecially condemned in the laſt Commandement, and the affirmative is commanded in the firſt Commandement, which requireth the purity of our nature, that we may love the Lord with all our heart; and ſo the child muſt crave pardon for his ſinne, Pſal. 51.5. and the mother here muſt offer her ſacrifice for her ſelfe and her child.
Two ſorts of uncleaneneſſe, the greater and the …ſſer.The mother when ſhe conceived and bare a female, ſhe was uncleane in her great uncleanneſſe ſeventeene dayes, and in her leſſe uncleanneſſe ſhee was uncleane threeſcore and ſixe dayes, Levit. 12.4.
When ſhe conceived and bare a male ſhe was uncleane in her great uncleanneſſe ſeven dayes, and ſhee was in her leſſe uncleanneſſe thirtie three dayes. Ver. 5.
The reaſon why ſhe was longer uncleane when ſhee bare a female, than when ſhe bare a male,The reaſon why the mother was longer uncleane when ſhe bare a female than when ſhe bare a male. was not morall, becauſe the woman ſinned firſt and not the man; but the reaſon of this is naturall, becauſe the male is ſooner quickned in his mothers bellie, and mooveth more quickly by reaſon of the greater heat, and dryeth up ſooner the humidities than the female doth; the female againe is more ſlowly quickned by reaſon of the greater cold and humiditie, and therefore the mother had a longer time preſcribed to her for her purification.
The mother when ſhee was purified,The mother offered for her ſelfe and her child when ſhe was purified. ſhee was to offer a ſacrifice for herſelfe and her child.
Some hold that ſhee was to offer a ſacrifice for herſelfe, and not for her child; and therefore they read the words this wayes, When the dayes of her purification are fulfilled for a ſonne or for a daughter; ſhee ſhall bring a lambe of the firſt yeere for a burnt offering, &c. But the Text ſeemeth rather to be read this wayes, When the dayes of her purification are fulfilled; for a ſonne or for a daughter ſhe ſhall bring a lambe of the firſt yeere for a burnt offering. Mary offered a ſacrifice for herſelfe and for her ſonne.And the practiſe of Mary the Virgin confirmeth this, that day that ſhe was purified ſhee brought a paire of Turtle Doves, or two young Pigeons, and offered them to the Lord for herſelfe and for her child.
Object. But it may be ſayd, Luk. 2.22. Cum impleti eſſent dies foreign and when the dayes of her purification were fulfilled, and not of their purification.
Anſw. foreign is put for foreign, here, according to the Hebrew phraſe, and ſo it is in the Syriack, for the Hebrews put the plurall number for the ſingular,The Hebrewes put the plurall number for the ſingular, and the ſingular for the plurall oft times. as Iud. 12.17. He was buried in the Cities of David, that is, in one of the Cities of David, ſo Matth. 27.44. the Theeves railed upon him, that is, one of the Theeves railed upon him, So Ionas 1.5. he went downe into the ſides of the ſhip, that is, to one of the ſides, So Pſal. 1.3. A tree planted by the rivers of waters, that is, one of the rivers. So likewiſe they put the ſingular number for the plurall number as here, the dayes of her purification, The child was uncleane as long as the mother was uncleane.for the dayes of her and his purification. For ſo long as the mother was uncleane, the child who ſuckt her was alſo uncleane; and Chriſt who was ſubject to the Law, although there was no morall uncleanneſſe in him, yet he was legally uncleane all this time, untill his mother was purified, and this ſerveth for our great comfort, that hee became uncleane legally, to take away our morall uncleanneſſe.
Queſt. But if Chriſt was uncleane all this time, how could he be circumciſed the eight day?
Anſw. Chriſt was but in his great uncleaneneſſe untill the ſeventh day, as his mother was; and therefore he was circumciſed the eight day: but the females who were not circumciſed, were uncleane untill the foureteenth day.
Queſt. It may be asked, why Mary offered a ſacrifice for her purification, ſeeing ſhe conceived not her child in originall ſinne, and this ſacrifice was appointed as a remedie againſt originall ſinne?
Anſw. As Chriſt who knew not ſinne yet became legally uncleane for our cauſe; ſo he would have his mother alſo for her legall uncleaneneſſe to offer that ſacrifice, which all other women were bound to offer, who were both legally and morally uncleane.
Concluſion. The Concluſion of this is, as Eliſha when he cured the unſavory waters of Iericho did caſt ſalt into the ſpring of the waters, 2 King. 2.21. So we muſt crave of God, that he would firſt purge the bitter roote of originall ſinne, before he come to purge our other ſinnes. David craved pardon of the Lord for this ſinne, Pſalme 51.5.