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Leviticus 12:6-8

King James Version (KJV)

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Scripture focus

6. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7. Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This [is] the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Leviticus 12:6-8 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Leviticus 12:6

Theological / Devotional

A burnt offering. She was not to offer this herself. She only brought it to the tabernacle and gave it to the priest, who offered it for her. She was also to present a sin offering, which the priest offered for her.

This procedure was different from the usual order of early times, in which the offerer did his own slaying. There was another difference as well. When a sin offering and a burnt offering were brought, the sin offering always came first, and was followed by the burnt offering. In this case the burnt offering took precedence. Again, the sin offering was always the more prominent and expensive one. Here the reverse is true. The burnt offering came first and consisted of a lamb, whereas the sin offering came last and was the least animal offering ever brought, a pigeon or a turtledove.

Whatever man does bears the taint of sin. Hence sin offerings were prescribed in many cases where, to the uninstructed, it would seem needless to do so. This was especially apparent in the sin offerings at the dedication of the sanctuary and the installation of the priesthood, yet they deeply impressed the people with the sinfulness of sin. On the occasion of childbirth there appears to be an intentional minimum emphasis on sin, and the offering required was merely a token sacrifice. There was no confession or laying on of the hand.

By SdaBc