1And the LORDH3068 spokeH1696 to MosesH4872 and to AaronH175, sayingH559 to them, 2SpeakH1696 to the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478, sayingH559, TheseH2063 are the beastsH2416 which ye may eatH398 among all the beastsH929 that are on the earthH776. 3Whatever partethH6536 the hoofH6541, and is clovenfootedH8156 H8157, and chewethH5927 the cudH1625, among the beastsH929, that shall ye eatH398. 4NeverthelessH389 these shall ye not eatH398 of them that chewH5927 the cudH1625, or of them that divideH6536 the hoofH6541: the camelH1581, because he chewethH5927 the cudH1625, but dividethH6536 not the hoofH6541; he is uncleanH2931 to you. 5And the coneyH8227, because he chewethH5927 the cudH1625, but dividethH6536 not the hoofH6541; he is uncleanH2931 to you. 6And the hareH768, because he chewethH5927 the cudH1625, but dividethH6536 not the hoofH6541; he is uncleanH2931 to you. 7And the swineH2386, though he dividethH6536 the hoofH6541, and is clovenfootedH8156 H8157, yet he chewethH1641 not the cudH1625; he is uncleanH2931 to you. 8Of their fleshH1320 shall ye not eatH398, and their carcaseH5038 shall ye not touchH5060; they are uncleanH2931 to you. 9These shall ye eatH398 of all that are in the watersH4325: whatever hath finsH5579 and scalesH7193 in the watersH4325, in the seasH3220, and in the riversH5158, them shall ye eatH398. 10And all that have not finsH5579 nor scalesH7193 in the seasH3220, and in the riversH5158, of all that moveH8318 in the watersH4325, and of any livingH2416 creatureH5315 which is in the watersH4325, they shall be an abominationH8263 to you: 11They shall be even an abominationH8263 to you; ye shall not eatH398 of their fleshH1320, but ye shall have their carcasesH5038 in abominationH8262. 12Whatever hath no finsH5579 nor scalesH7193 in the watersH4325, that shall be an abominationH8263 to you. 13And these are they which ye shall have in abominationH8262 amongH4480 the fowlsH5775; they shall not be eatenH398, they are an abominationH8263: the eagleH5404, and the ossifrageH6538, and the osprayH5822, 14And the vultureH1676, and the kiteH344 after his kindH4327; 15Every ravenH6158 after his kindH4327; 16And the owlH1323 H3284, and the night hawkH8464, and the cuckowH7828, and the hawkH5322 after his kindH4327, 17And the little owlH3563, and the cormorantH7994, and the great owlH3244, 18And the swanH8580, and the pelicanH6893, and the gier eagleH7360, 19And the storkH2624, and the heronH601 after her kindH4327, and the lapwingH1744, and the batH5847. 20All fowlsH5775 that creepH8318, goingH1980 upon all fourH702, shall be an abominationH8263 to you. 21Yet these may ye eatH398 of every flyingH5775 creepingH8318 thing that goethH1980 upon all fourH702, which have legsH3767 aboveH4605 their feetH7272, to leapH5425 withH2004 upon the earthH776; 22Even these of them ye may eatH398; the locustH697 after its kindH4327, and the bald locustH5556 after its kindH4327, and the beetleH2728 after its kindH4327, and the grasshopperH2284 after its kindH4327. 23But all other flyingH5775 creeping thingsH8318, which have fourH702 feetH7272, shall be an abominationH8263 to you. 24And for these ye shall be uncleanH2930: whoever touchethH5060 the carcaseH5038 of them shall be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153. 25And whoever bearethH5375 any of the carcaseH5038 of them shall washH3526 his clothesH899, and be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153. 26The carcases of every beastH929 which dividethH6536 the hoofH6541, and is not clovenfootedH8157 H8156, nor chewethH5927 the cudH1625, are uncleanH2931 to you: every one that touchethH5060 them shall be uncleanH2930. 27And whateverH3605 H1992 goethH1980 upon its pawsH3709, among all manner of beastsH2416 that goH1980 on all fourH702, those are uncleanH2931 to you: whoever touchethH5060 their carcaseH5038 shall be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153. 28And he that bearethH5375 the carcaseH5038 of them shall washH3526 his clothesH899, and be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153: they are uncleanH2931 to you. 29These also shall be uncleanH2931 to you among the creeping thingsH8318 that creepH8317 upon the earthH776; the weaselH2467, and the mouseH5909, and the tortoiseH6632 after its kindH4327, 30And the ferretH604, and the chameleonH3581, and the lizardH3911, and the snailH2546, and the moleH8580. 31These are uncleanH2931 to you among all that creepH8318: whoever doth touchH5060 them, when they are deadH4194, shall be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153. 32And upon whatever any of them, when they are deadH4194, doth fallH5307, it shall be uncleanH2930; whether it is any vesselH3627 of woodH6086, or raimentH899, or skinH5785, or sackH8242, whatever vesselH3627 it is, in which any workH4399 is doneH6213, it must be putH935 into waterH4325, and it shall be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153; so it shall be cleansedH2891. 33And every earthenH2789 vesselH3627, into which any of them fallethH5307 H8432, whatever is in it shall be uncleanH2930; and ye shall breakH7665 it. 34Of all foodH400 which may be eatenH398, that on which such waterH4325 comethH935 shall be uncleanH2930: and all drinkH4945 that may be drunkH8354 in every such vesselH3627 shall be uncleanH2930. 35And every thing on which any part of their carcaseH5038 fallethH5307 shall be uncleanH2930; whether an ovenH8574, or rangesH3600 for pots, they shall be broken downH5422: for they are uncleanH2931, and shall be uncleanH2931 to you. 36Nevertheless a fountainH4599 or pitH953, in which there is plentyH4723 of waterH4325, shall be cleanH2889: but that which touchethH5060 their carcaseH5038 shall be uncleanH2930. 37And if any part of their carcaseH5038 shall fallH5307 upon any sowingH2221 seedH2233 which is to be sownH2232, it shall be cleanH2889. 38But if any waterH4325 shall be putH5414 upon the seedH2233, and any part of their carcaseH5038 shall fallH5307 on it, it shall be uncleanH2931 to you. 39And if any beastH929, of which ye may eatH402, shall dieH4191; he that touchethH5060 its carcaseH5038 shall be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153. 40And he that eatethH398 of its carcaseH5038 shall washH3526 his clothesH899, and be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153: he also that bearethH5375 its carcaseH5038 shall washH3526 his clothesH899, and be uncleanH2930 until the eveningH6153. 41And every creeping thingH8318 that creepethH8317 upon the earthH776 shall be an abominationH8263; it shall not be eatenH398. 42Whatever goethH1980 upon the bellyH1512, and whatever goethH1980 upon all fourH702, or whatever hath manyH7235 feetH7272 among all creeping thingsH8318 that creepH8317 upon the earthH776, them ye shall not eatH398; for they are an abominationH8263. 43Ye shall not makeH8262 yourselvesH5315 abominableH8262 with any creeping thingH8318 that creepethH8317, neither shall ye make yourselves uncleanH2933 with them, that ye should be defiledH2930 by them. 44For I am the LORDH3068 your GodH430: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselvesH6942, and ye shall be holyH6918; for I am holyH6918: neither shall ye defileH2930 yourselvesH5315 with any manner of creeping thingH8318 that creepethH7430 upon the earthH776. 45For I am the LORDH3068 that bringethH5927 you out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714, to be your GodH430: ye shall therefore be holyH6918, for I am holyH6918. 46This is the lawH8451 of the beastsH929, and of the fowlH5775, and of every livingH2416 creatureH5315 that movethH7430 in the watersH4325, and of every creatureH5315 that creepethH8317 upon the earthH776: 47To make a differenceH914 between the uncleanH2931 and the cleanH2889, and between the beastH2416 that may be eatenH398 and the beastH2416 that may not be eatenH398.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 BEASTS THAT MAY AND MAY NOT BE EATEN. (Lev. 11:1-47)
the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron--These laws, being addressed to both the civil and ecclesiastical rulers in Israel, may serve to indicate the twofold view that is to be taken of them. Undoubtedly the first and strongest reason for instituting a distinction among meats was to discourage the Israelites from spreading into other countries, and from general intercourse with the world--to prevent them acquiring familiarity with the inhabitants of the countries bordering on Canaan, so as to fall into their idolatries or be contaminated with their vices: in short, to keep them a distinct and peculiar people. To this purpose, no difference of creed, no system of polity, no diversity of language or manner, was so subservient as a distinction of meats founded on religion; and hence the Jews, who were taught by education to abhor many articles of food freely partaken of by other people, never, even during periods of great degeneracy, could amalgamate with the nations among which they were dispersed. But although this was the principal foundation of these laws, dietetic reasons also had weight; for there is no doubt that the flesh of many of the animals here ranked as unclean, is everywhere, but especially in warm climates, less wholesome and adapted for food than those which were allowed to be eaten. These laws, therefore, being subservient to sanitary as well as religious ends, were addressed both to Moses and Aaron.
3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud--Ruminating animals by the peculiar structure of their stomachs digest their food more fully than others. It is found that in the act of chewing the cud, a large portion of the poisonous properties of noxious plants eaten by them, passes off by the salivary glands. This power of secreting the poisonous effects of vegetables, is said to be particularly remarkable in cows and goats, whose mouths are often sore, and sometimes bleed, in consequence. Their flesh is therefore in a better state for food, as it contains more of the nutritious juices, is more easily digested in the human stomach, and is consequently more easily assimilated. Animals which do not chew the cud, convert their food less perfectly; their flesh is therefore unwholesome, from the gross animal juices with which they abound, and is apt to produce scorbutic and scrofulous disorders. But the animals that may be eaten are those which "part the hoof as well as chew the cud," and this is another means of freeing the flesh of the animal from noxious substances. "In the case of animals with parted hoofs, when feeding in unfavorable situations a prodigious amount of fśtid matter is discharged, and passes off between the toes; while animals with undivided hoofs, feeding on the same ground, become severely affected in the legs, from the poisonous plants among the pasture" [WHITLAW, Code of Health]. All experience attests this, and accordingly the use of ruminating animals (that is, those which both chew the cud and part the hoof) has always obtained in most countries though it was observed most carefully by the people who were favored with the promulgation of God's law.
4 the camel--It does to a certain extent divide the hoof, for the foot consists of two large parts, but the division is not complete; the toes rest upon an elastic pad on which the animal goes; as a beast of burden its flesh is tough. An additional reason for its prohibition might be to keep the Israelites apart from the descendants of Ishmael.
5 the coney--not the rabbit, for it is not found in Palestine or Arabia, but the hyrax, a little animal of the size and general shape of the rabbit, but differing from it in several essential features. It has no tail, singular, long hairs bristling like thorns among the fur on its back; its feet are bare, its nails flat and round, except those on each inner toe of the hind feet, which are sharp and project like an awl. It does not burrow in the ground but frequents the clefts of rocks.
6 the hare--Two species of hare must have been pointed at: the Sinai hare, the hare of the desert, small and generally brown; the other, the hare of Palestine and Syria, about the size and appearance of that known in our own country. Neither the hare nor the coney are really ruminating. They only appear to be so from working the jaws on the grasses they live on. They are not cloven-footed; and besides, it is said that from the great quantity of down upon them, they are very much subject to vermin--that in order to expel these, they eat poisonous plants, and if used as food while in that state, they are most deleterious [WHITLAW].
7 the swine--It is a filthy, foul-feeding animal, and it lacks one of the natural provisions for purifying the system, "it cheweth not the cud"; in hot climates indulgence in swine's flesh is particularly liable to produce leprosy, scurvy, and various cutaneous eruptions. It was therefore strictly avoided by the Israelites. Its prohibition was further necessary to prevent their adopting many of the grossest idolatries practised by neighboring nations.
9 These shall ye eat . . . whatsoever hath fins and scales--"The fins and scales are the means by which the excrescences of fish are carried off, the same as in animals by perspiration. I have never known an instance of disease produced by eating such fish; but those that have no fins and scales cause, in hot climates, the most malignant disorders when eaten; in many cases they prove a mortal poison" [WHITLAW].
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales, &c.--Under this classification frogs, eels, shellfish of all descriptions, were included as unclean; "many of the latter (shellfish) enjoy a reputation they do not deserve, and have, when plentifully partaken of, produced effects which have led to a suspicion of their containing something of a poisonous nature."
13 these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls--All birds of prey are particularly ranked in the class unclean; all those which feed on flesh and carrion. No less than twenty species of birds, all probably then known, are mentioned under this category, and the inference follows that all which are not mentioned were allowed; that is, fowls which subsist on vegetable substances. From our imperfect knowledge of the natural history of Palestine, Arabia, and the contiguous countries at that time, it is not easy to determine exactly what some of the prohibited birds were; although they must have been all well known among the people to whom these laws were given.
the ossifrage--Hebrew, "bone-breaker," rendered in the Septuagint "griffon," supposed to be the Gypśtos barbatus, the Lammer Geyer of the Swiss--a bird of the eagle or vulture species, inhabiting the highest mountain ranges in Western Asia as well as Europe. It pursues as its prey the chamois, ibex, or marmot, among rugged cliffs, till it drives them over a precipice--thus obtaining the name of "bone-breaker."
the ospray--the black eagle, among the smallest, but swiftest and strongest of its kind.
14 the vulture--The word so rendered in our version means more probably "the kite" or "glede" and describes a varying but majestic flight, exactly that of the kite, which now darts forward with the rapidity of an arrow, now rests motionless on its expanded wings in the air. It feeds on small birds, insects, and fish.
the kite--the vulture. In Egypt and perhaps in the adjoining countries also, the kite and vulture are often seen together flying in company, or busily pursuing their foul but important office of devouring the carrion and relics of putrefying flesh, which might otherwise pollute the atmosphere.
after his kind--that is, the prohibition against eating it extended to the whole species.
15 the raven--including the crow, the pie.
16 the owl--It is generally supposed the ostrich is denoted by the original word.
the nighthawk--a very small bird, with which, from its nocturnal habits, many superstitious ideas were associated.
the cuckoo--Evidently some other bird is meant by the original term, from its being ranged among rapacious birds. DR. SHAW thinks it is the safsaf; but that, being a graminivorous and gregarious bird, is equally objectionable. Others think that the sea mew, or some of the small sea fowl, is intended.
the hawk--The Hebrew word includes every variety of the falcon family--as the goshawk, the jerhawk, the sparrow hawk, &c. Several species of hawks are found in Western Asia and Egypt, where they find inexhaustible prey in the immense numbers of pigeons and turtledoves that abound in those quarters. The hawk was held pre-eminently sacred among the Egyptians; and this, besides its rapacious disposition and gross habits, might have been a strong reason for its prohibition as an article of food to the Israelites.
17 the little owl--or horned owl, as some render it. The common barn owl, which is well known in the East. It is the only bird of its kind here referred to, although the word is thrice mentioned in our version.
cormorant--supposed to be the gull. [See on
Deut 14:17.]
the great owl--according to some, the Ibis of the Egyptians. It was well known to the Israelites, and so rendered by the Septuagint (
Deut 14:16;
Isa 34:11): according to PARKHURST, the bittern, but not determined.
18 the swan--found in great numbers in all the countries of the Levant. It frequents marshy places--the vicinity of rivers and lakes. It was held sacred by the Egyptians, and kept tame within the precincts of heathen temples. It was probably on this account chiefly that its use as food was prohibited. MICHAELIS considers it the goose.
the pelican--remarkable for the bag or pouch under its lower jaw which serves not only as a net to catch, but also as a receptacle of food. It is solitary in its habits and, like other large aquatic birds, often flies to a great distance from its favorite haunts.
the gier eagle--Being here associated with waterfowl, it has been questioned whether any species of eagle is referred to. Some think, as the original name racham denotes "tenderness," "affection," the halcyon or kingfisher is intended [CALMET]. Others think that it is the bird now called the rachami, a kind of Egyptian vulture, abundant in the streets of Cairo and popularly called "Pharaoh's fowl." It is white in color, in size like a raven, and feeds on carrion; it is one of the foulest and filthiest birds in the world. [See on
Deut 14:17.]
19 the stork--a bird of benevolent temper and held in the highest estimation in all Eastern countries; it was declared unclean, probably, from its feeding on serpents and other venomous reptiles, as well as rearing its young on the same food.
the heron--The word so translated only occurs in the prohibited list of food and has been variously rendered--the crane, the plover, the woodcock, the parrot. In this great diversity of opinion nothing certain can be affirmed regarding it. Judging from the group with which it is classified, it must be an aquatic bird that is meant. It may as well be the heron as any other bird, the more especially as herons abound in Egypt and in the Hauran of Palestine.
the lapwing--or hoopoe; found in warm regions, a very pretty but filthy species of bird. It was considered unclean, probably from its feeding on insects, worms, and snails.
the bat--the great or Ternat bat, known in the East, noted for its voracity and filthiness.
20 All fowls that creep, &c.--By "fowls" here are to be understood all creatures with wings and "going upon all fours," not a restriction to animals which have exactly four feet, because many "creeping things" have more than that number. The prohibition is regarded generally as extending to insects, reptiles, and worms.
21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet--Nothing short of a scientific description could convey more accurately the nature "of the locust after its kind." They were allowed as lawful food to the Israelites, and they are eaten by the Arabs, who fry them in olive oil. When sprinkled with salt, dried, smoked, and fried, they are said to taste not unlike red herrings.
26 every beast . . . not cloven-footed--The prohibited animals under this description include not only the beasts which have a single hoof, as horses and asses, but those also which divided the foot into paws, as lions, tigers, &c.
29 the weasel--rather, the mole.
the mouse--From its diminutive size it is placed among the reptiles instead of the quadrupeds.
the tortoise--a lizard, resembling very nearly in shape, and in the hard pointed scales of the tail, the shaketail.
30 the ferret--the Hebrew word is thought by some to signify the newt or chameleon, by others the frog.
the chameleon--called by the Arabs the warral, a green lizard.
the snail--a lizard which lives in the sand, and is called by the Arabs chulca, of an azure color.
the mole--Another species of lizard is meant, probably the chameleon.
31 whosoever doth touch them, when . . . dead, shall be unclean until the even--These regulations must have often caused annoyance by suddenly requiring the exclusion of people from society, as well as the ordinances of religion. Nevertheless they were extremely useful and salutary, especially as enforcing attention to cleanliness. This is a matter of essential importance in the East, where venomous reptiles often creep into houses and are found lurking in boxes, vessels, or holes in the wall; and the carcass of one of them, or a dead mouse, mole, lizard, or other unclean animal, might be inadvertently touched by the hand, or fall on clothes, skin bottles, or any article of common domestic use. By connecting, therefore, the touch of such creatures with ceremonial defilement, which required immediately to be removed, an effectual means was taken to prevent the bad effects of venom and all unclean or noxious matter.
47 make a difference between the unclean and the clean--that is, between animals used and not used for food. It is probable that the laws contained in this chapter were not entirely new, but only gave the sanction of divine enactment to ancient usages. Some of the prohibited animals have, on physiological grounds, been everywhere rejected by the general sense or experience of mankind; while others may have been declared unclean from their unwholesomeness in warm countries or from some reasons, which are now imperfectly known, connected with contemporary idolatry.
