Purification after Childbirth
The LORD gives Moses instructions for Israel: after the birth of a son, the mother enters a seven-day period of uncleanness, and the boy is circumcised on the eighth day.
T1hen the LORD said to Moses, 2“Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation. 3And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.
After the first period, the mother remains in purification for a further set number of days and stays away from sacred things and the sanctuary. The birth of a daughter brings a longer period under the same pattern.
4The woman shall continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch anything sacred or go into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete. 5If, however, she gives birth to a daughter, the woman will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstruation. Then she must continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days.
When the days are complete, the woman brings offerings to the priest, who presents them before the LORD and makes atonement so that she is clean. A reduced offering is allowed if she cannot afford a lamb.
6When the days of her purification are complete, whether for a son or for a daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. 7And the priest will present them before the LORD and make atonement for her; and she shall be ceremonially cleansed from her flow of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or to a female. 8But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”