Leviticus 12 Study Notes

12:5 The rationale for doubling the period of isolation for the birth of a female child was not a matter of gender bias since the purification rite was the same for the male child. Possibly the circumstance of bearing a future mother doubled the period of time.

12:6-7 The sin offering is better understood as a “purification offering,” since no sin was committed by the mother or child. The mother was in a state of ritual uncleanness because of the discharge of blood.

Nega‘ derives from naga‘, a verb that basically means touch but often indicates infliction of a painful blow. The noun implies a negative touch, either an affliction sent by God; a diseased condition of skin, clothing, or housing; or a physical assault. God may send a plague (Gn 12:17). Nega‘ denotes skin disease when combined with another word that by itself can mean skin disease or leprosy (tsara‘at, Lv 13:3). In these cases nega‘ may stress the affliction or divine stroke that the disease represents. Nega‘ alone can mean a person’s sore (Lv 13:6) or the contamination of objects (Lv 13:49). With a definite article it sometimes refers to the infected person. Each individual knows his afflictions (1Kg 8:38). Victims of assault (Dt 17:8) go to court for redress, probably for blows they have suffered (2Sm 7:14). The Suffering Servant bore a nega‘ that mankind deserved (Is 53:8).

12:8 The grace of the Lord provided a concession for the poor (5:7,11; cp. Lk 2:22-24); it was the willing spirit of the worshiper that was foremost, not the value of the gift.