Wednesday, April 19, 2017

OT: The Book of Leviticus, Chapter 11

Leviticus 11:1-47

11:1 Moses delivers God's commandments concerning animals. These commandments are given in regard to the health of the human body.

11:2-8 Humans should only consume animals with divided hooves and which "chew the cud" (specific way of chewing and swallowing). Yet from that group, the following animals are deemed unhealthy: camel, rock hyrax, hare, and swine.

11:9-12 Safe water animals to eat: whatever has fins and scales (rivers or sea). Anything without fins and scales is unhealthy.

11:13-19 Birds which should not be consumed: eagle, vulture, buzzard, kite, falcon, raven, ostrich, short-eared owl, seagull, hawk, little owl, fisher owl, screech owl, white owl, jackdaw, carrion vulture, stork, heron, hoopoe and the bat.

11:20-23 All flying insects that walk in four limbs should not be eaten, except: "those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth, locust, cricket, grasshopper. (Most of us do not need any encouragement abstain from eating insects).

11:24-28 Humans are not to touch the carcasses of these animals. Added clarification: no animals divided feet.

11:29-38 Do not eat: mole, mouse, lizard, gecko, sand reptile, sand lizard, chameleon. Moses also encourages humans not to contaminate water with these animals.

11:39-40 Clean self after exposure to carcasses! Our health system is well advanced (we, thankfully, know these things).

11:41-45 Do not eat: anything that crawls on its belly (gladly listen to that one!) God iterates His wisdom: everything He tells us or gives to us is for our benefit. 

11:46-47 Moses proclaims this law of animals and birds (land and water) which should not be consumed.