Leviticus 12:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
Speak unto the children of Israel,.... For this law only concerned them, and not other nations of the world:
If a woman have conceived seed; by lying with a man, and so becomes pregnant, and goes on with her pregnancy until she brings forth a child. The Jews from hence gather, that this law respects abortions; that if a woman has conceived and miscarries, eighty one days after the birth of a female, and forty one after a male, she must bring her offering {m}; but the law seems only to regard such as are with child, and proceed to the due time of childbirth, whether then the child is born alive or dead:
and born a man child; which is, generally speaking, not only matter of joy to the mother, but to the whole family, see John 16:21: then she shall be unclean seven days; be separate from all company, except those whose presence is necessary to take care of her in her circumstances, and do what is proper for her, and even these became ceremonially unclean thereby; yea, her husband was not permitted to sit near her, nor to eat and drink with her:
according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean; the same number of days, even seven, she was unclean on account of childbirth, as she was for her monthly courses, called here an infirmity or sickness, incident to all females when grown up, at which time they were separate from all persons; and the case was the same with a new mother; see Leviticus 15:14.
{m} Misn. Ceritot, c. 1. sect. 6. Maimon. & Bartenora, in ib.