1-3 What beasts may 4-8 and what may not be eaten 9-12 What fishes 13-23 What fowls 29-47 The creeping things which are unclean

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

De 14:3-8 Eze 4:14 Da 1:8 Mt 15:11 Mr 7:15-19 Ac 10:12,14 Ro 14:2,3,14,15 1Ti 4:4-6 Heb 9:10 13:9

3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

parteth Ps 1:1 Pr 9:6 2Co 6:17

cheweth De 6:6,7 16:3 Ps 1:2 Pr 2:1,2,10 Ac 17:11 1Ti 4:15 ------------------------------------------------------------------

Of the laws relative to clean and unclean beasts, which are re- corded in this chapter and Deut. ch.14 the following may be found a useful abstract.

1. In regard to {quadrupeds}, all beasts that have their feet completely cloven, above as well as below, and at the same time chew the cud, are clean. Those which have neither, or indeed want one of these distinguishing marks, are unclean. This is a systematic division of quadrupeds so excellent, as never yet, after all the improvements in natural history, to have become obsolete, but, on the contrary, to be still considered as useful by the greatest masters of the science. 2. With regard to {fishes}, Moses has in like manner, made a very simple systematic distinction. All that have scales and fins are clean; all others unclean. 3. Of birds, he merely specifies certain sorts as forbidden, thereby permitting all others to be eaten 4. Insects, serpents, worms, etc. are prohibited; but with regard, however to those winged insects, which besides four walking legs, also have two longer springing legs. (Pedes saltatorii) Moses makes an exception, and under the denomination of locusts, declares them clean in all four stages of their existence. In Palestine, Arabia, and the adjoining countries, locusts are one of the most common articles of food, and people would be very ill of if they durst not eat them: For, when a swarm of them desolates the fields, they prove in some measure themselves an antidote to the famine which they occasion. They are not only eaten fresh, immediately on their appearance, but the people collect them, and know a method for preserving them for a long time for food, after they have dried them in an oven. --{Niebuhr's Description of Arabia} pp. 170-175.

4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

no references listed for this verse.

5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

the coney Shapha, most probably an animal resembling the rabbit, called by Dr. Shaw, {daman} (probably for ganam) Israel, `Israel's lamb,' and by Bruce, {ashkoko}, which name he imagines is `derived from the singularity of these long herenacious?? hairs, which, like small thorns, grow about his back, and which an Amhara are called {ashok}.' This curious animal abounds in Judea, Palestine, Arabia, and Ethiopia; and is described as being about seventeen inches when sitting. It has no tail; and at first sight gives the idea of a rat. Its colour is grey, mixed with reddish brown; the belly white, the body covered with strong polished hairs, for the most part about two inches in length; the ears round, and not pointed; the feet round, of a soft, pulpy, tender substance; the toes projecting beyond the mails, which are rather broad than sharp, the upper jaw is longer than the other; it lives upon grain, fruit, and roots, and certainly chews the cud; and it does not burrow like the hare and rabbit, but lives in clefts of the rocks. Ps 104:18 Pr 30:26

but divideth Job 36:14 Mt 7:26 Ro 2:18-24 Php 3:18,19 2Ti 3:5 Tit 1:16

6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

the hare De 14:7

7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

swine De 14:8 Isa 65:4 66:3,17 Mt 7:6 Lu 8:33 15:15 2Pe 2:18-22

8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

they are unclean Le 5:2 Isa 52:11 Ho 9:3 Mt 15:11,20 Mr 7:2,15,18 Ac 10:10-15 10:28 15:29 Ro 14:14-17,21 1Co 8:8 2Co 6:17 Eph 5:7,11 Col 2:16 2:21-23 Heb 9:10

9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

De 14:9,10 Ac 20:21 Ga 5:6 Jas 2:18 1Jo 5:2-5

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

they shall be Le 7:18 De 14:3 Ps 139:21,22 Pr 13:20 29:27 Re 21:8

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.

no references listed for this verse.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

no references listed for this verse.

13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

the eagle In Hebrew, {nesher}, Chaldee, {neshar}, Syriac, {neshro}, and Arabic, {nishr}, the {eagle}, one of the largest, strongest, swiftest, fiercest, and most rapacious of the feathered race. His eye is large, dark, and piercing; his beak powerful and hooked; his legs strong and feathered; his feet yellow and armed with four very long and terrific claws; his wings very large and powerful; his body compact and robust; his bone hard; his body compact and robust; his bones hard; his flesh firm; his feathers coarse; his attitude fierce and erect; his motions lively; his flight extremely rapid and towering; and his cry the terror of every wing. De 14:12-20 Job 28:7 38:41 39:27-30 Jer 4:13,22 48:40 La 4:19 Ho 8:1 Hab 1:8 Mt 24:28 Ro 1:28-32 3:13-17 Tit 3:3

the ossifrage. {Peres}, from {paras to break}, probably the species of eagle anciently called {ossifraga} or {bone breaker} (from os, a bone, and frango, to break,) because it not only strips off the flesh, but {breaks} the bone, in order to extract the marrow. the {ospray}. Hebrew {dzniyah}, Arabic {azan}, (from azaz, to be strong,) a species of eagle, probably the {black eagle,) so remarkable for its {strength}.

14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;

no references listed for this verse.

15 Every raven after his kind;

Ge 8:7 1Ki 17:4,6 Pr 30:17 Lu 12:24

16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind,

De 14:15-18 Ps 102:6 Isa 13:21,22 34:11-15 Joh 3:19-21 Eph 2:2,3 4:18,19 5:7-11 Php 3:18,19 1Th 5:5-7 Re 18:2

17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

no references listed for this verse.

18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

no references listed for this verse.

19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

no references listed for this verse.

20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

Le 11:23,27 De 14:19 2Ki 17:28-41 Ps 17:14 Mt 6:24 Php 3:18,19 2Ti 4:10 1Jo 2:15-17 Jude 1:10,19

21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

no references listed for this verse.

22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

Ex 10:4,5 Isa 35:3 Mt 3:4 Mr 1:6 Ro 14:1 15:1 Heb 5:11 12:12,13

23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even.

Le 11:8,27,28,31,38-40 17:15,16 Isa 22:14 1Co 15:33 2Co 6:17 Eph 2:1-3 5:11 Col 2:16,17,20 Heb 9:26 1Jo 1:7

25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

wash his clothes, and be unclean Le 11:28,40 14:8 15:5,7-11,13 16:28 Ex 19:10,14 Nu 19:8,10,19,21 31:24 Ps 51:2,7 Zec 13:1 Joh 13:8 Ac 22:16 Heb 9:10 10:22 1Pe 3:21 1Jo 1:7 Re 7:14

26 The carcasses of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.

Le 11:20,23

28 And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.

beareth Le 11:24,25

shall wash Le 11:14

29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,

creeping things that creep Le 11:20,21,41,42 Ps 10:3 17:13,14 Hag 2:6 Lu 12:15 16:14 Joh 6:26 Joh 6:66 Eph 4:14 Php 3:19 Col 3:5 2Ti 3:2-5 Heb 13:5

30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.

31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

Le 11:8,24,25

32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.

it must be put into water Le 6:28 15:12 Tit 2:14 3:5

33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.

ye shall break it Le 11:35 14:45 Jer 48:38 2Co 5:1-8 Php 3:21

34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.

Pr 15:8 21:4,27 28:8 Tit 1:15

35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you.

they shall be Le 11:33 6:28 15:12 2Co 5:1-7

36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.

a fountain Zec 13:1 Joh 4:14

wherein there is plenty of water [heb] a gathering together of waters.

37 And if any part of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.

sowing seed 1Co 15:37 1Pe 1:23 1Jo 3:9 5:18

38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcass fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.

Le 11:24,28,31,40 15:5,7 Nu 19:11,16

40 And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

eateth Le 11:25 17:15,16 22:8 Ex 22:31 De 14:21 Isa 1:16 Eze 4:14 36:25 44:31 Zec 13:1 1Co 6:11 10:21 1Jo 1:7

shall wash Le 11:28 14:8,9 15:5-10,27 16:26,28 Nu 19:7,8,19

41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

Le 11:20,23,29

42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

goeth upon the belly Ge 3:14,15 Isa 65:25 Mic 7:17 Mt 3:7 23:23 Joh 8:44 2Co 11:3,13 Tit 1:12

hath more feet [heb] doth multiply feet

43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

Ye shall Le 11:41,42 20:25

yourselves [heb] your souls

44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

I am the Ex 20:2

ye shall Le 10:3 19:2 20:7,26 Ex 19:6 De 14:2 1Sa 6:20 Ps 99:5,9 Isa 6:3-5 Am 3:3 Mt 5:48 1Th 4:7 1Pe 1:15,16 2:9 Re 22:11

45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

that bringeth Ex 6:7 Ps 105:43-45

be holy Le 11:44 Ex 6:7 20:2 Ps 105:43-45 Ho 11:1 1Th 4:7

46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

This The distinction of clean and unclean animals existed even before the flood, though it probably then only related to sacrifices; but at this time we find there were very particular laws enacted respecting the diet of the people, and the ceremonial uncleanness contracted by touching the carcases of unclean animals. The reasons for the enactment of these laws seem to be:

1. As a test of obedience, and to teach the Israelites habits of self-denial, and the government of their appetites. 2. To keep them distinct from other nations, and consequently from their idolatrous usages, by throwing hindrances in the way of their social intercourse; for these distinctions were applicable both to persons and things. The Canaanites not only ate the animals prohibited by Moses, which we usually eat, but others also, among which dogs were one. Besides, many of those declared unclean were sacred among the heathen, and sacrificed to their gods. 3. Because those prohibited were innutritive and unwholesome; as the swine, the flesh of which being strong and difficult to digest, affords a very gross aliment, and produces, especially in hot climates, cutaneous, scrophulous, and scorbutic disorders, as the itch, leprosy, etc. Le 7:37 14:54 15:32 Eze 43:12

47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

Le 10:10 Eze 44:23 Mal 3:18 Ro 14:2,3,13-23