Menstruation
Well, I am sure if you are at least 14 years of age or older you are aware that during a certain time of the month a woman (or female child) will menstruate. A time where a female goes through an ovulation cycle that involves the often messy, uncomfortable and inconvenient process of bleeding for an average time of three to five days from her gentile area; hello period. Well, there are laws governing some do’s and don’ts concerning this time. Warning, this article contains graphic descriptions some readers may not find suitable for their children.
Leviticus 15:19 KJVS
And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.
Okay, so here we are dealing with a woman. If she is in a place where she is battling an issue and no not some problem per se but some discharge of some sort need it be a sickness or disease or in this case, what we identify as a menstrual cycle where she has an issue of blood for a time. She is to be put apart, primarily meaning to be separated, especially from anything consecrated or holy. Secondly, meaning if they could afford it, they would literally put her in a separate tent, room, or even guest home. While others may have had community “menstruation homes” where women who were unclean could live in temporarily while they were on their cycle. But this is for a period of seven days. And during that time whoever touches her in any way is unclean.
Leviticus 15:19 KJVS
[20] And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
Everything that this woman lays down on and everything she sits down on becomes unclean. Why? Well, have you ever had an odor? And when you or someone else sat down on something that odor was left on the chair or seat? Yeah, that is one reason. Now, have you ever had a time when you or someone you know wet the bed? It gets on them and the bed they lay on. Or if you were sitting down on something wet and now your butt is wet? Fluids seep through. Blood is a fluid, it can seep through and stain anything it touches and in doing so those things become unclean.
Leviticus 15:21
And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
Now if blood is possibly on her bed, couch, or wherever she sleeps that place becomes unclean. Now even if blood isn’t currently present God understands it may appear through carelessness or ignorance. A woman may not always know especially every month, year after year when her cycle is going to officially start. She may wake up and feel “wet” or her husband may notice, or another family member in the home. Which is why it says “whosoever” she may share a bed with her mom, dad, sister, brother etc. She may be 50 or 15. It still applies across a wide range of scenarios that may not be your specific situation. Nevertheless, now that person is unclean and he (or she) must now wash themselves and their clothes and be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 15:22
And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
Again, have you ever had Cheetos, Doritos, heck even some flavored fried chicken and it got on your fingers? What happens when you just start touching things without washing your hands first? Exactly! It gets everywhere. Now take that to handling raw meat like chicken or fish. Even if it isn’t very bloody, it has been proven that you can still risk cross contamination even if your fingers appear clean but have not been thoroughly washed. He that hath ears to hear let him hear! Likewise, when a woman is on her cycle blood can get very messy. Especially, the further back you go in time. Women didn’t always have a pad or tampon as they do now. So blood would often stain articles of clothing, furthermore, not everyone is as clean or sanitary as the next person, even just in regular hygiene, let alone when one is on their cycle. God didn’t leave anything to chance. He ensured we took on a mindset that if she is on her cycle she is unclean and anything or anyone she comes in contact with; in short…double tap.
Leviticus 15:23
And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.
The “it” being specified is her period blood. If her blood is literally on it or not, as stated above that item, garment, fabric, or person is still unclean. The Most High God is not taking any chances or risk. And this is really for our sakes so we don’t accidentally put ourselves to death thinking we are going to give The Most High an offering or go make a sacrifice and we get sacrificed instead because we were unclean, or didn’t sanitize the way we needed to.
Leviticus 15:24
And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
Now, we are dealing with a scenario where primarily a man has sexual relations but can include any scenario where fresh period blood is now on me and its not mine, I am not on my cycle or I don’t have a cycle. Or a man, with a woman, while she is on her cycle and he gets period blood on him. You are unclean seven days. Doesn’t matter if it is his rod or his finger or his tongue, whatever y’all were doing. That’s why it says if you lie with her AT ALL. Why? Because in the other scenarios we are dealing with, it is regarding the blood being on an item and you touching the item but not the blood itself or even if the blood is dry or old or just touching the woman herself maybe her arm, hand , or shoulder. But this is dealing with you literally touching the raw blood itself and it got on you. You are now unclean seven days. However, as it concerns sexual dealings, this is when it is done accidentally; in ignorance. You were unaware she was on her cycle and she was unaware she was on her cycle. FYI spotting, wisely includes being on her cycle and you should count it as the beginning of her cycle. If you were sexually involved with her and this happens you are unclean seven days. Now if it’s intentional there is a different judgement.
Leviticus 20:18 KJVS
And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
Now if you lie with this woman, no not lie down to take a nap but sexually. As it states, “uncover her nakedness.” Doesn’t matter if it is his rod or his finger or his tongue. You both were naked (or naked enough). You have discovered her fountain, meaning her menstruating and she uncovered herself and revealed her menstruation both of you can see period blood or its known by both of you she is actively bleeding… It is a sin worthy of death for both parties. You will be cut off meaning put to death. Like if you cut off a hand or foot from the body… It dies.
Leviticus 15:25
And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
Now what if a woman has a longer or abnormal cycle? What if it runs past seven days? She is still considered unclean every day it runs over.
Leviticus 15:26-27
[26] Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. [27] And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.
The same laws concerning being unclean still apply if she runs past her seven days and goes into unclean over time. Again, keep in mind that you are unclean seven days if the blood gets on you and one day (until evening, given you bathe) if you touch something that the person who was bleeding was laying on or sitting on.
Leviticus 15:28
[28] But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.
However, when she STOPS bleeding; need that be a day, a week, or a month later, THEN number seven days. And after that period of seven complete days (so seven days and seven nights) she shall be clean. It may not be fun, comfortable, or convenient but it can happen. And when it does, pray on it and ask The Most High for grace and mercy and to reveal any fault or sin that may be in me or my house that we may be made whole. And if it be no fault, it’s for a test or testimony. Endure with patience. Keep in mind these last couple of verses are dealing with if your cycle runs beyond seven days.
Leviticus 15:29-30
[29] And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [30] And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.
Now this is the only portion today we do not have to apply, that is versus 29-30. The day after her separation; day eight. She would bring forth these two animals to the priest to sacrifice to make atonement for her, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering, for her issue of uncleanness. As it is likely, a longer cycle is due to a sin of some sort, even if she is unaware. Take this example in Matthew as an extreme situation.
Matthew 9:20 KJV
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
This woman had a cycle that ran for years. She had to be unclean all that time. Nevertheless, she would number seven days at the time when her bleeding stopped, which all praises it stopped when she touched Christ’s fringes on his garment.
On another note, we do not currently have a levitical priesthood nor do we offer animal sacrifices to atone for our sins. Therefore, this portion does not apply. Righteousness, alms, fasting and prayer is all we are required of now.
Leviticus 15:31 KJVS
Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
All of these things need they be welcome or cringeworthy are needed to bring us into righteous compliance with the Heavenly Father. And I pray you take heed to all of these words and continue to study to show yourself approved to him. Because your life depends on it. Keep in mind that it is not a sin to be unclean.
P.S. These laws were put in place to keep us clean and prevent us from death when eating anything holy or going into any holy place. The tabernacle and temple was one of those places. So this primarily comes into play during something like Passover where we partake of a holy meal. Other than that, it is what we need to do concerning good hygiene or when we should abstain from sexual intercourse.
Leviticus 15:32-33
[32] This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;
[33] And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.