Leviticus 12:2-4 - Exposition

She shall be unclean seven days. The mother is to be unclean seven days, and after that to be in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days ( Leviticus 12:4 ). The difference between these two states maybe seen by looking on to Le Leviticus 15:19-28 , and comparing that passage with Leviticus 15:4 of this chapter. In the first stage, during the seven days, she made all that she touched unclean; in the second stage, during the thirty-three days, she was only required to touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary , as she was progressing towards cleanness. The number of days during which she is to be altogether unclean is to be according to the days of the separation for her infirmity , that is, seven days, as in the case of her monthly courses (see Le Leviticus 15:19 ). In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. The Levitical legislation recognizes the regulation as to the day of the circumcision made at the time of the covenant with Abraham. "And he that is eight days old (or a son of eight days) shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations" ( Genesis 17:12 ). Until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. "When in a state of impurity, the Hebrews were forbidden to enter the sanctuary, to keep the Passover, and to partake of holy food, whether of sacrificial meat, of sacred offerings and gifts, or of shew-bread, because the clean only were fit to approach the holy God and all that appertains to him ( Leviticus 7:19-21 ; Leviticus 22:3 ; Numbers 9:6 ; Numbers 18:11 ; 1 Samuel 21:5 )' (Kalisch).