I love this. Another thing that we totally miss when reading the OT on menstruation is that it was not typically happening nearly as often as it does for most modern women. I know this because I have 5 kids and breastfed each one for about 2.5 years. I went years and years with only one or two periods between pregnancies. This would have certainly been the case for ancient near east women who married young, breastfed for extended periods, slept with their babies, and had as many children as God and nature allowed. We read Leviticus and wring our hands: oh my, they would have been “unclean” half the time! No, they would only be unclean once or twice every 3 or 4 years. This was probably one of the reasons why the experience of barrenness was so excruciating. Not only were they missing out on motherhood, but frequent menstruation without the break provided by pregnancy and lactation would mean a level of uncleanness and social isolation that was abnormal.
So yes, a period would carry a lot of feelings of disappointment and grief, much more so than an “ick” factor.
This is a great point. I read an interesting archeological assessment that suggested in some cultures menstruation might have been so irregular as to think of it more as something going wrong. I raised my eyebrows at that, though, because I suspect a man wrote it, lol. But the point still stands—there just would have been much less going on, especially if you add in food insecurity or drought or other things that might have interfered.
Thoughtful reframing of Isaiah's metaphor that challenges how we've projected shame onto bodily functions God designed. The distinction between ritual uncleanliness and moral contamination is crucial but often collased in modern preaching. I hadn't considered the fertility angle before, but the connection to barrenness and waiting for life beyond human capacity fits the Advent themes way better than just shock value. The image of Mary cleaning her newborn with cloth is a perfect bookend.
I love this. Another thing that we totally miss when reading the OT on menstruation is that it was not typically happening nearly as often as it does for most modern women. I know this because I have 5 kids and breastfed each one for about 2.5 years. I went years and years with only one or two periods between pregnancies. This would have certainly been the case for ancient near east women who married young, breastfed for extended periods, slept with their babies, and had as many children as God and nature allowed. We read Leviticus and wring our hands: oh my, they would have been “unclean” half the time! No, they would only be unclean once or twice every 3 or 4 years. This was probably one of the reasons why the experience of barrenness was so excruciating. Not only were they missing out on motherhood, but frequent menstruation without the break provided by pregnancy and lactation would mean a level of uncleanness and social isolation that was abnormal.
So yes, a period would carry a lot of feelings of disappointment and grief, much more so than an “ick” factor.
This is a great point. I read an interesting archeological assessment that suggested in some cultures menstruation might have been so irregular as to think of it more as something going wrong. I raised my eyebrows at that, though, because I suspect a man wrote it, lol. But the point still stands—there just would have been much less going on, especially if you add in food insecurity or drought or other things that might have interfered.
Thoughtful reframing of Isaiah's metaphor that challenges how we've projected shame onto bodily functions God designed. The distinction between ritual uncleanliness and moral contamination is crucial but often collased in modern preaching. I hadn't considered the fertility angle before, but the connection to barrenness and waiting for life beyond human capacity fits the Advent themes way better than just shock value. The image of Mary cleaning her newborn with cloth is a perfect bookend.
So good, Marissa
This is why I often read and listen to women voices. We need a multiperspectivity encounter with Scripture. Thank you.