really, why did it matter what you ate or didn't in biblical times?

Question

Deuteronomy 14:3-20 has the definition:

Do not eat any detestable thing.

These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.
However, of those that chew the cud or that have a split hoof completely divided you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the coney. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a split hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you. The pig is also unclean; although it has a split hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.

Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales. But anything that does not have fins and scales you may not eat; for you it is unclean.

Answer 1

Although I am an evil atheist, I can attest to the fact that there is a logical answer to your question. Much of the "forbidden" foods (shellfish for instance) was potentially fatal back then due to their poor culinary/health standards. Shellfish carry a great deal of bacteria, as they eat the entrails and excrement of other fish. This is especially true of lobster, which can be logically categorized as the cockroach of the sea. It is worth noting that throughout much of the ancient world, medical science extended only to what could be shown through trial and error. Combine that limited knowledge with superstition and tradition, and all sorts of random rules will emerge. In this case in particular, the justification came form an invisible man in the sky.

Answer 2

I copied this from a site that explains much of this. It was primarily health-related. I've sited the website below:

These chapters deal specifically with the types of flesh proteins that are allowed. They involve other food groups as well, but the main restrictions are on “creatures.” Some interesting items to note are that while certain birds are listed, the implication is that no predators or scavengers are to be consumed. This eliminates hawks, birds, vultures, and in the ocean “fish without scales or fins” such as lobsters and shellfish. Shrimp and lobsters are considered “cockroaches” of the oceans as they scavenge the bottom and eat debris, while shellfish, mollusks, etc also clean muck and algae from the ocean floor. It stands to reason that the only sources of flesh protein allowed appear to be either animals that are vegetarians themselves, meaning it would be a direct source of amino acids (rather than amino acids processed from plants, dumped into an animal, processed into flesh, consumed by another animal, processed into flesh, then ultimately ending up in our stomach) and then fish.

Another interesting fact to note about the laws regarding clean animals is what modern science has uncovered. Shellfish, for example, are notorious for containing contaminants while fish with scales, like humans, have organs that filter toxins and prevent them from being deposited in their flesh. Pigs, another banned meat, are overeaters and very prone to parasitic infection.

Answer 3

In going a long with the theory, 'you are what you eat', everything has a chance to be questionable. And one must consider that these rules are not only biblical but also cultural. And if you consider the New Testament, the ruling is that there are no foods that follow this form, to eliminate discrimination of people due to diet.

However, one must remember that only recently have we developed forms of sustaining food healthily for extended lengths of time.

Answer 4

It could mean the difference between life and death.Primitive man learned early on that certain animals and fish when eaten meant bad news for the eater! So when the bible was written this knowledge was put in it so people would not get sick or die! A lot of these same foods can present modern man with problems, same as they did back then!

Answer 5

According to what I have read, these laws were get forth for the gentiles because of disease that was spreading due to eating the above mentioned animals. Apparently these laws are no longer applicable. You will find this exerpt in Leviticus, the same book that says a man shall not lie with another man yet again, these laws were only applicable for the gentiles during that time period in order to prevent the spread of disease.

Answer 6

The Mosaic Dietary Laws... were to Keep the Jews... separate and keep them from INTERMINGLING with the Heathen Nations... that GOD.... had Judged!

The Social Restriction ALSO... was to keep Israel... SEPARATE... and was not followed... as you can read about in Isaiah and Jeremiah... and Ezekiel!

(Deuteronomy 18:9-to-14) When you come to the land which Jehovah your God gives you, you shall not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations.

(Deu 18:10) There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or a fortune-teller, or a witch,

(Deu 18:11) or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who calls to the dead.

(Deu 18:12) For all that do these things are an abomination to Jehovah. And because of these abominations Jehovah your God drives them out from before you.

(Deu 18:13) You shall be perfect with Jehovah your God.

(Deu 18:14) For these nations whom you shall possess listened to observers of clouds and to diviners. But as for you, Jehovah your God has not allowed you to do so.

AND..... this can also be seen in the New Testament!

(2Corinthians 6:14-to-18) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness?

(2Co 6:15) And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?

(2Co 6:16) And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

(2Co 6:17) Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you

(2Co 6:18) and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

Thanks, Roger R.

Answer 7

varuious animals rot faster and their meat is likely to carry certain diseases. There is a good reason for everything that is restricted inthe bible, we are just now beginning to find out the reasons that they were forbidden. example. did you know that sex with animals is forbidden in the bible.? Did you know that sheep carry syphillis and horses carry herpes and some forms of Gonnorrhea? Nobody knew that in the old days but the bible forbade it. There are good reasons for anything that the bible forbids.

Answer 8

These rules come from the early science of these people. The animals listed as unclean are more likely to cause disease in humans unless properly raised, cleaned and prepared. As such, it would make sense to tell folks to steer clear of them.

Answer 9

God chose the Israelites to be His Holy people. What does that mean? How can we be holy? How are Christians holy?

Judaism is about separating the holy from the profane in every part of our life. Following God's 613 commandments is how Jews become a Holy people. Many of those commandments have to do with what we eat and how we eat it. The table is our altar and every meal creates holiness in our lives.

Again, how do you create holiness in your life?
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Answer 10

Handling dead carcus' can produce major diseases. It's like mixing red & blue to get purple ... but instead of getting color mixtures, you're playing with diseases that breed with each dead animal. So, when you mix pigs, poultry, and fish you will attract rats and a virus like "Bird Flu" will form. This is exactly what happened in Asia a few years ago!!!

There is also the psychological factor. When Moses & Aaron left Egypt (where cow's were worshiped) ... well God tell's them to eat cow's (god's) to free their mind from being slaves to cows.