John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 12:4
And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days ,.... That is, so many more, in all forty; for though at the end of seven days she was in some respects free from her uncleanness, yet not altogether, but remained in the blood of her purifying, or in the purifying of her blood, which was more and more purified, and completely at the end of forty days: so with the Persians it is said, a new mother must avoid everything for forty days; when that time is passed, she may... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 12:1-5
The law here pronounces women lying-in ceremonially unclean. The Jews say, ?The law extended even to an abortion, if the child was so formed as that the sex was distinguishable.? 1. There was some time of strict separation immediately after the birth, which continued seven days for a son and fourteen for a daughter, Lev. 12:2, 5. During these days she was separated from her husband and friends, and those that necessarily attended her were ceremonially unclean, which was one reason why the... read more