Women, (the visitor) and 7 days of separation?

[icebear]

i am not trying to start anything man vs woman, but simply want to understand the reasoning surrounding

Lev 15:19 ¶ 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.

i mean, sometimes i almost wonder if God were simply giving women 7 days off once a month where men had no excuse to bug them. :aha


i have never asked such a question before, so i have no study background or anything. i understand 'unclean' but i don't know if i get why.....

not really even sure what i am trying to ask without sounding contentious

is it just the menses that make the woman unclean?
the physical actuality of it being a rather messy thing?
is it the issue of blood being symbolic of the curse?
is it because life is in the blood and menses are caused by blood being 'unused' ?
is there something symbolic in the design of the 7 day issue?
was having your period seen as a sin that a woman could not prevent?

i understand that we are not under the levitical laws, but i just want a better understanding of them, socially, culturally and spiritually.
What did the women do during those 7 days?
Where exactly did they go to 'be apart'?
Who took care of the household while they were apart?
What is God's view of menses since Jesus died and rose for us?

according to witchcraft (and i'm sure other various paganisms), a womans supposed power was highest at that time, is that a supposition God wanted to make sure was squelched? do you think that has any spiritual significance given humanity's tendency to revert to pagan practices?

i hope this is an OK question for this board and that i put it in the right forum, if not, move or delete as needed.... thanks! :)

[Hootmon]

i mean, sometimes i almost wonder if God were simply giving women 7 days off once a month where men had no excuse to bug them. :aha...or vice-versa... :heh


was having your period seen as a sin that a woman could not prevent? It was a ritual uncleanliness, specifically in regards to the Temple.

Its not just about women either. Anyone who had an 'issue' (blood, pus, etc.) was considered 'unclean' as long as it lasted, and then for a time after that.

[icebear]

Anyone who had an 'issue' (blood, pus, etc.) was considered 'unclean' as long as it lasted, and then for a time after that.

was the declaration of unclean in its way meant to prevent the spread of infection or was it meant to magnify the imperfect state of humanity?


what if someone has acne :scratch

[Ashley]

Not sure if this will answer your question or even help at all but the way I see it is there were a lot of laws that didn't make scientific sense back then. However, today we know why they make sense:

Burn the metal but destroy the wood. Germs can be cleansed from metal with fire but not by wood. Circumcision on the 8th day -this is when the chemical that helps clot the blood is at it's highest. Wash hands before eating- more antibacterial purposes. Burning down dwellings with mold problems (mold can cause sickness). Sending a diseased person out of the camp until they were healed- medical quarantine.

So, I think the "unclean" edict for a woman on her period is to give her rest during this time that may be subject to pain. But also God could have known something we didn't! There could be some sort of "germ passing" in menstrual blood or some other medical correlation we're not aware of at this time.

Just one way to look at it. :)

[I Believe!!!]

Or perhaps giving her the space so she doesn't come to the temple pmsing with a nasty attitude.

[Khristy1]

:fear I'd like to send my daughter away for about 7 days during that time. :heh

[House of Light]

i am not trying to start anything man vs woman, but simply want to understand the reasoning surrounding

Lev 15:19 ¶ 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.

i mean, sometimes i almost wonder if God were simply giving women 7 days off once a month where men had no excuse to bug them. :aha


i have never asked such a question before, so i have no study background or anything. i understand 'unclean' but i don't know if i get why.....

not really even sure what i am trying to ask without sounding contentious

is it just the menses that make the woman unclean?
the physical actuality of it being a rather messy thing?
is it the issue of blood being symbolic of the curse?
is it because life is in the blood and menses are caused by blood being 'unused' ?
is there something symbolic in the design of the 7 day issue?
was having your period seen as a sin that a woman could not prevent?

i understand that we are not under the levitical laws, but i just want a better understanding of them, socially, culturally and spiritually.
What did the women do during those 7 days?
Where exactly did they go to 'be apart'?
Who took care of the household while they were apart?
What is God's view of menses since Jesus died and rose for us?

according to witchcraft (and i'm sure other various paganisms), a womans supposed power was highest at that time, is that a supposition God wanted to make sure was squelched? do you think that has any spiritual significance given humanity's tendency to revert to pagan practices?

i hope this is an OK question for this board and that i put it in the right forum, if not, move or delete as needed.... thanks! :)




My mom and I have often joked that this was a "time away" for those women...almost a long sabbath of sorts:lol2 Most of the women(from what I have read), actually were seperated from their family, and because they could not touch things(and make them unclean)....they got to rest. Wow....that would be wonderful! I would take those 7 days apart from my family just to rest:thumb

Regardless of why, the Lord had his reasons, and it just really isn't plain.

[Ashley]

My mom and I have often joked that this was a "time away" for those women...almost a long sabbath of sorts:lol2 Most of the women(from what I have read), actually were seperated from their family, and because they could not touch things(and make them unclean)....they got to rest. Wow....that would be wonderful! I would take those 7 days apart from my family just to rest:thumb

Regardless of why, the Lord had his reasons, and it just really isn't plain.

Exactly! "Here, Honey! Take the kids- I'm off to rest for one week. Oh, and I want the house to be clean when I get back!" :lol2

[TravisandJill]

I wonder if we could reinstate those old laws:) I need a vacation!! I would go to the hotel by the ocean every month and be pampered :aha

[ChayilWoman]

Icebear, you might be interested in the book "The Red Tent" (http://www.amazon.com/Red-Tent-Tenth-Anniversary-Novel/dp/0312427298/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197670334&sr=8-1) historical fiction account of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob. The "red tent" is where the women would go when during that time in order to be separated.

Also, I remember reading a verse that they were separated for seven days after the bleeding had stopped. I thought this was interesting as it would put the time that a husband and wife could come back together as +/-14 days after her period started, which would be about the time of ovulation. That would explain how the Israelites populated Egypt so quickly, and everywhere else they went.