How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #4
If she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count seven days, and after that she shall be clean. On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting. The priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement on her behalf before the Lord for her unclean discharge. (NRSV 15:28-30)
But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 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. 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. (KJV 15:28-30)
After a woman has her period, she has to go to the Tabernacle to make a couple of offerings for purification. One of these is a sin offering, because, um, having your period is a sin? In a manner of speaking, yes. For the Israelites, the flow of blood from a woman's body is not normal since blood belongs inside. The outflow of blood in menstruation is not a moral sin, but like an immoral act, it's inconsistent with the way things are supposed to be. A sin offering counteracts this, while a burnt offering covers the loss of blood as a loss of the woman's essence of life.
TLDR version: ancient law is weird.
Quote #5
Thus he shall make atonement for the Tabernacle, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins; and so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. (NRSV 16:16)
And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. (KJV 16:16)
Every year on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the high priest atones for all of Israel's uncleanness and sins. It used to be an occasion for a huge party, until that ended with the notorious Karaoke Incident of 453 B.C.E.
Quote #6
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord. You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. (NRSV 19:16-17)
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. (KJV 19:16-17)
In the book of Numbers, badmouthing someone is a way to get a nasty skin disease (see: our analysis). Scolding your neighbor, however, is an invitation for a good slap.