Purification ceremonies
Jul 10, 2012 12:51:19 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Jul 10, 2012 12:51:19 GMT -5
Does the bible view women as UNCLEAN?
Some claim that the fact that childbirth rendered a women "unclean" under the Mosaic law reflected a biblical disregard for the value of women.
CEREMONIAL UNCLEANESS
Firstly it should be noted that ceremonial uncleaness was not a reflection of an individuals intrinsic value. Ritual impurity in the Old Testament law is separate from sin and did not always mean the person had done something "wrong" - indeed the Israelites considered childbirth a great blessing from God.
Further, any individual could be rendered ceremoniously unclean regardless of sex or status. For example a man's semen rendered his wife just as unclean as the female menstral flow but obviously his transmitted "uncleaness" wasn't teaching that normal seminal emmissions during sex meant the man had less value than a woman or sex with him was "dirty", it simply called the seriousness of procreation and in connection with the human condition. (see - Leviticus 15:16-24; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12). The rules regarding sex and childbirth were to emphasis that sex and procreation passed on adamic (inherited) sin by creating another human being that sadly would be subject to the same illnesses, shortcoming and tribulation common to mankind. It reminded the israelites of their need for a Messiah to save them from heriditary sin.
CHILDBIRTH
The cleansing sacrifice for childbirth was exactly the same whether the child was male or female Leviticus 12 verse 7 states "This is the law about her who bears either a male or a female. " The post-natal purification period had little effect on a womans daily life except that she was excempt from attending temple ceremonies. It can be argued that this period post natual period of recuperation would be emotionally and physically benefitial for both mother and child and is an integral part of many cultures.
The difference in the number of days of impurity (40 for a boy; 80 for a girl) no doubt emphasised that while both sexes initiate procreation, it is women that are the safekeepers and carriers of it life. In any case the equality of the sacrifice indicates that neither sex was viewed as superior or inferior in a religious sense.
*Note: The post-natal ceremonial "uncleaness" did not bar the woman from any sort of social contact or from sexual intercourse.
MENSTRUAL IMPURITY
Medically there may also have been physical advantages for the observance of the law in regard to menstrual impurity. Studies partially credit the low incidence of uterine cancer among Jewish women to their abstaining from intercourse during menstruation and the regulation would remind the Israelite husband to take into consideration his wife’s biological cycles and limitations during the month. Socially the days in month a woman was ceremonially unclean with her menstral cycle meant she could desist from certain activities like cooking and household duties which could afford her needed rest.