Leviticus 12 Summary: A Short Breakdown in 5 Minutes

Leviticus 12 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Leviticus picks up where Exodus left off. The children of Israel are on their way through the wilderness to the Canaan land.

• According to Leviticus 8, the Tabernacle had already been erected, which would place the year at approximately 1490 B.C. (one year after the Israelites left Egypt).

DEFINITIONS:

• Turtledove - The turtledove is a small species of dove which gets its name from the sound of its call. They average around 140 grams and are smaller than the mourning dove and common pigeon.

TABERNACLE DIAGRAM

OUTLINE:

• THE DAYS OF PURIFICATION FOR A WOMAN WHO BORE A SON (12:1-4):

  • If a woman bore a male child, she was considered unclean for 7 days.

  • On the eighth day, her son was to be circumcised.

  • She was then to complete 33 more days of “purifying” before she was allowed to touch anything holy or come to the Tabernacle.

• THE DAYS OF PURIFICATION FOR A WOMAN WHO BORE A DAUGHTER (12:5):

  • If a woman bore a female child, she was considered unclean for 14 days.

  • Following the 14 days, she was to complete 66 days of purification.

• SACRIFICES FOLLOWING THE DAYS OF PURIFICATION (12:6-8):

  • When the days of purification were complete the woman was to bring a year-old lamb to the Tabernacle for a burnt offering and a pigeon or turtle dove for a sin offering.  

  • The sacrifices would act as an atonement for her and the purification process would be complete.

  • If the woman came from a poor family, she was allowed to bring two turtle doves or two pigeons (a bird in place of the lamb).

APPLICATION:

• This chapter is relevant to the events surrounding Jesus’ birth.

• Luke 2:22-24 appears to suggest that after giving birth to Jesus, Mary went to Jerusalem to offer two birds as sacrifices for her purification.

• Jesus didn’t come from a wealthy family.

• Isn’t it amazing that God came to earth and chose a place amongst the poor?!

• “What a glimpse into our Master’s humiliation! He owned the cattle on a thousand hills, yet He so emptied Himself that His parents were compelled to bring the poorest offering the law allowed. He stooped that we might rise; emptied Himself that we might be full; became poor that we might be made rich” (F.B. Meyer).