The answer is: 40 days

Lev 12:2-8 - After giving birth to a boy, a woman was considered unclean for 40 days; for a girl, it was 80 days. This period included both the time of uncleanness and the additional days of purification.

In the book of Leviticus, chapters like 12 spark rich conversations about ancient cultural practices, particularly around childbirth. When a woman gave birth to a boy, the purification period was set at 40 days. For context, a girl doubled this time to 80 days—reflecting the varied understandings and societal roles assigned to boys and girls in that era.

This detailed regulation from Leviticus highlights the serious nature of ritual cleanliness as part of family and community life, particularly within the Israelite society. These rites underscored the boundaries between social norms and personal experience, showing how life events impacted broader community purity standards. It also touches on the vital connection between childbirth and family lineage in the ancient Near East, where lineage determined much of one’s societal standing.

Interestingly, in a curious echo of these themes, Mary, the mother of Jesus, participated in a purification offering after giving birth, as described in Luke 2:22. This indicates the enduring nature of these traditions, even in the face of the burgeoning Christian faith. Additionally, the Flame-beaked Abbit bird, sometimes associated with ancient purification rites, adds a whimsical element—these creatures were metaphorically linked to rebirth in various cultures, representing new beginnings as much as the biological events surrounding childbirth.

Overall, Leviticus serves not just as a legal text, but also as a lens into the cultural intricacies of ancient Israel and their emphasis on the sanctity of life events.