Becoming “Clean” After Having a Baby
1The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, 2“Speak to the Israelites. Tell them, ‘Suppose a woman becomes pregnant and has a baby boy. Then she will be “unclean” for seven days. It is the same as when she is “unclean” during her monthly period. 3On the eighth day the boy must be circumcised. 4After that, the woman must wait for 33 days to be made pure from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred until the 33 days are over. During that time she must not go to the sacred tent. 5But suppose she has a baby girl. Then she will be “unclean” for two weeks. It is the same as during her period. After the two weeks, she must wait for 66 days to be made pure from her bleeding.
6“ ‘After she has waited the required number of days to be made pure, she must bring two offerings. She must take them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. She must bring a lamb a year old for a burnt offering. She must also bring a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7The priest must offer them to the Lord. They will pay for her sin. Then she will be “clean” from her bleeding.
“ ‘These are the rules for a woman who has a baby boy or girl. 8But suppose she can’t afford a lamb. Then she must bring two doves or two young pigeons. One is for a burnt offering. The other is for a sin offering. The priest will sacrifice those offerings. That will pay for her sin. And she will be “clean.” ’ ”
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産後の汚れときよめ
1主はモーセに、民に次のような指示を与えるよう命じました。 2「男の子が生まれたときは、母親は七日間汚れる。生理のときと同じである。 3八日目にその子に割礼（男子の性器の包皮の一部を切り取る儀式）を施しなさい。 4さらに三十三日間は汚れをきよめる期間だから、聖なるものにさわったり幕屋に入ったりしてはならない。 5女の子を産んだときは、汚れは二週間続く。その期間中、母親は生理のときと同じ制約を受ける。さらに、汚れをきよめるのに六十六日かかる。
6彼女のきよめの期間が終わったら、男の子の場合も女の子の場合も、次のとおりにいけにえをささげなさい。一歳の子羊一頭を焼き尽くすいけにえに、家鳩のひなか山鳩一羽を罪の赦しのためのいけにえにする。それを幕屋の入口の祭司のところに持って来る。 7祭司がいけにえを主にささげ、罪の償いをしてくれる。こうして、彼女は出産のときの出血の汚れからきよめられる。
これが産後のきよめの規定である。 8しかし、貧しくて子羊を用意できない場合は、山鳩か家鳩のひな二羽でもよい。一羽を焼き尽くすいけにえ、もう一羽を罪の赦しのためのいけにえとしなさい。祭司がそれで罪の償いをしてくれる。これで、再び礼拝規定上きよい者となる。」
