Topic summary
Leviticus 12
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Tazria.
Leviticus chapter 12
Leviticus 12:8 called for "two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons: the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering." Rav Ḥisda taught that the designation of one of the birds to become the burnt-offering and the other to become the sin-offering was made either by the owner or by the priest's action. Rabbi Shimi bar Ashi explained that the words of Leviticus 12:8, "she shall take ... the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering," indicated that the mother could have made the designation when taking the birds, and the words of Leviticus 15:15, "the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering," and of Leviticus 15:30, "the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering," indicated that (absent such a designation by the mother) the priest could have made the designation when offering them up.