Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Bill Ross" <wross AT farmerstel.com>]

<Ray>
Much discussion has surrounded the reason for the different periods of
uncleanness which resulted after the birth of a son or a daughter. Common
explanations include: (1) females were understood in some since seen as
inferior
to males [A variation of this position would be the fact that female infants
are
smaller than males and thus would need a longer time of personal care from
their
mothers in order to survive (Harris,

<Bill>
Given the trauma of birth, perhaps it works the other way - the reason
mothers are pronounced **ritually** clean in a week for male babies is so
that they can be present when their babies are presented to the Lord and
circumcised.

Other physical differences that might play a part might be hormone levels
and fragility.

Bill Ross