The Lord spoke to Moses to give Israel instructions concerning restrictions and purification following childbirth. Moses spoke and gave the laws as God's instrument and not on his own authority, so the order that follows came directly from God as the one Lawgiver. Circumcision was thus incorporated into the law given through Moses even though it existed before him, distinguishing the giving of a practice through Moses from its origin with him. The purification required a lamb for a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon for a sin offering, with a poor person permitted to offer a second bird instead of the lamb, which Mary offered after Jesus' birth, showing that the family had modest means. The law that follows requires male children to be circumcised on the eighth day even when that day falls on the Sabbath without violating the Sabbath commandment, because the Sabbath forbids ordinary work for livelihood and not service required by God, while the yearly round of sanctuary service in which these laws stood typified Christ and His priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary.
Context and Divine Authority
The Lord speaking to Moses opens the instructions of Leviticus 12, which set restrictions following childbirth. That opening begins the laws in chapters 12 to 15 regulating uncleanness and leprosy. Those laws are sanitary instructions that include laws concerning childbirth and ceremonial or ritual uncleanness. In them ritual uncleanness is regulated, while leprosy is a fitting type of sin.
The Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for Israel, and Moses spoke and gave the laws as God's instrument and not on his own authority. The order concerning circumcision that follows came directly from God and was delivered through Moses, making Jehovah the one Lawgiver. Circumcision was thus incorporated into Moses' law even though it existed before Moses. This distinguishes the giving of a practice through Moses from its origin with him.
The verse introduces the law of purification after childbirth. Under its rule a woman considered unclean could not touch anything holy or enter the sanctuary until her appointed days of purification were complete. This bodily uncleanness had to be removed before the sanctuary's cleansing with blood.
Typology and Practical Teaching
The verse stands within the account of the complete round of service performed every year in the sanctuary of the Levitical dispensation built by Moses in the wilderness and later giving way to the temple. That sanctuary in its building, appointments, priesthood, and service was typical of Christ and his priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary, which Jesus began when he ascended on high, the yearly round typifying in each year the service of Christ, which was once for all. These laws concern ritual uncleanness, while leprosy is a fitting type of sin.
Leviticus 12 describes the ceremonial purification required of Mary after Jesus' birth, requiring a lamb for a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon for a sin offering, with a poor person permitted to offer a second bird instead of the lamb. Mary made this substitute offering, showing that the family had modest means. The law that follows requires male children to be circumcised on the eighth day, even when that day falls on the Sabbath. Carrying out this required work does not violate the Sabbath commandment, because the Sabbath forbids ordinary work for livelihood, not service required by God.
The Lord spoke to Moses to give Israel instructions concerning restrictions and purification following childbirth. Moses spoke and gave the laws as God's instrument and not on his own authority, so the order that follows came directly from God as the one Lawgiver. Circumcision was thus incorporated into the law given through Moses even though it existed before him, distinguishing the giving of a practice through Moses from its origin with him. The purification required a lamb for a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon for a sin offering, with a poor person permitted to offer a second bird instead of the lamb, which Mary offered after Jesus' birth, showing that the family had modest means. The law that follows requires male children to be circumcised on the eighth day even when that day falls on the Sabbath without violating the Sabbath commandment, because the Sabbath forbids ordinary work for livelihood and not service required by God, while the yearly round of sanctuary service in which these laws stood typified Christ and His priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary.
Context and Divine Authority
The Lord speaking to Moses opens the instructions of Leviticus 12, which set restrictions following childbirth. That opening begins the laws in chapters 12 to 15 regulating uncleanness and leprosy. Those laws are sanitary instructions that include laws concerning childbirth and ceremonial or ritual uncleanness. In them ritual uncleanness is regulated, while leprosy is a fitting type of sin.
The Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for Israel, and Moses spoke and gave the laws as God's instrument and not on his own authority. The order concerning circumcision that follows came directly from God and was delivered through Moses, making Jehovah the one Lawgiver. Circumcision was thus incorporated into Moses' law even though it existed before Moses. This distinguishes the giving of a practice through Moses from its origin with him.
The verse introduces the law of purification after childbirth. Under its rule a woman considered unclean could not touch anything holy or enter the sanctuary until her appointed days of purification were complete. This bodily uncleanness had to be removed before the sanctuary's cleansing with blood.
Typology and Practical Teaching
The verse stands within the account of the complete round of service performed every year in the sanctuary of the Levitical dispensation built by Moses in the wilderness and later giving way to the temple. That sanctuary in its building, appointments, priesthood, and service was typical of Christ and his priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary, which Jesus began when he ascended on high, the yearly round typifying in each year the service of Christ, which was once for all. These laws concern ritual uncleanness, while leprosy is a fitting type of sin.
Leviticus 12 describes the ceremonial purification required of Mary after Jesus' birth, requiring a lamb for a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon for a sin offering, with a poor person permitted to offer a second bird instead of the lamb. Mary made this substitute offering, showing that the family had modest means. The law that follows requires male children to be circumcised on the eighth day, even when that day falls on the Sabbath. Carrying out this required work does not violate the Sabbath commandment, because the Sabbath forbids ordinary work for livelihood, not service required by God.