ABC:Leviticus 12

Verse 1
Don Morgan of Infidels asserts a contradiction exists among these passages while making the following comments (italicized):

God encourages reproduction.

Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

God requires purification rites following childbirth which, in effect, makes childbirth a sin. (Note: The period for purification following the birth of a daughter is twice that for a son.)

Leviticus 12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 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. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. 5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. 6 ¶ And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: 7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

The critic neglects to mention the following, even longer chapter in Leviticus 13 addressing diseases in men. As seen from Leviticus 15, the Mosaic Law provided regulations for both men (vv. 1-18) and women (vv. 19-33) to follow in case of sickness.

The fact is that heavy bleeding can be evident of disease after childbirth according to the CDC and other sources. Furthermore, since bleeding among baby girls immediately after pregnancy can occur (what is known as lochia) additional measures of cleanliness can be required for their safety to avoid disease.

The critic sees discrimination because they want to see it, not because it's there. If they actually cared about whether this is a serious medical concern for women they would have bothered doing the research per the above. This isn't just a case of the Bible providing pregnancy-related rules for women because it doesn't like women, but because those rules are as necessary today as they were then for female medical safety; preventive care.