Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 2:24

24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons.

In these Verses is a Record of the Virgins obedience to two Laws, The one concerning the Purification of the Woman after Child-Birth; the other concerning the presenting of the Male-Child before the Lord. We have the Law concerning Purification, Levit. 12.4. throughout. The Sum was, That if a Woman had brought forth a Male-Child, she should be unclean seven Days, and after that continue in the Blood of her Purifying thirty three Days. If she brought forth a Female, she was to be unclean fourteen days, and afterward to continue in the Blood of her Purifying, Sixty Six days. So that the time of the Womans Purification after the Birth of a Female, was fourscore Days, for a Male (which was the present case) forty. After the Expiration of which time, she was to bring a Lamb of a Year old, for a Burnt-offering, and a young Pigeon or a Turtle-Dove, for a Sin-Offering, to the Priest to the Tabernacle, who was to offer it for her, and to make an Atonement. If she were Poor and not able to bring a Lamb (which seems the present case) then she was to bring only two Turtle-Doves, or two young Pigeons, the one for a Burnt-Offering, the other for a Sin-Offering. The Evangelist takes no notice of any Lamb, but only a pair of Turtle-Doves, or, Two Young Pigeons. Which lets us know, she was Poor, and so obliged by the Law no further. Mary after her Forty Days were expired, cometh up to the Temple, to yield obedience to this Law. And not so only, but also to present her Child before the Lord. This depended upon two Laws. We find the one, Exod. 13.2. where in remembrance of Gods sparing the Israelites, when he smote the first Born of the Egyptians, he gave the Israelites this Law. Sanctify unto me all the first-Born, whatsoever openeth the Womb amongst the Children of Israel, both of Man and Beast it is mine. So Chap. 22.29. & 34.19. Instead of these, God took the Levites, as appears by Numb. 8.16. yet were the first-Born to be presented before the Lord, and Redeemed by the payment of Five Shekels apiece, for all those who were above the number of the Levites, as appeareth by Numb. 3.44, 45, 46, 47. and five Shekels was the Redemption-price of any Male upon a Singular Vow, Levit. 27.6. For these two ends, after six Weeks, Ioseph, and Mary, and Iesus come up to Ierusalem.

Marginal references: Lev. 12.[illegible: 1 letter].