Leviticus 12:1-8 describes the purification system for women that give birth in ancient Israel. This is a part of the ritual purity laws and gives instructions on how a new mother is to be purified of niddah (womb bleeding) uncleanness after childbirth. One puzzling aspect of childbirth purification is why must the mother wait only 40 days after giving birth to a boy, but 80 days for a girl? Also, she has to give a burnt, and sin offering even though that is typically for people who were recently healed of a bodily discharge disorder caused by sin (Lev 15:13-15;28-30). Having a child isn’t a sin or a disorder so why?
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On Baptism
What is Baptism? Is it necessary to be saved, or is it something you do after believing in Jesus? Does baptizing babies overwrite apostasy as an adult?
Continue readingJephthah’s Sacrifice of his Daughter
Was Jephthah’s sacrifice of his daughter to YHWH in Judges 11:29-40 legitimate? God never required human sacrifices, and always told the Israelites to substitute their firstborn males that were dedicated to him with animals (Exodus 13:11-16, Numbers 3:40-51). The firstborn of all clean animals got burnt on the altar, for unclean animals they could be killed outside the camp (unclean animals don’t belong on the altar) or substituted with a clean animal. Humans however were never to be killed and to be substituted with a clean animal, just like how Abraham substituted Isaac with a ram. Substitution for humans was always God’s intent and this points to Jesus being substituted for our sins.
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