Leviticus 16

This is the dietary code. Many say that we no longer have to keep this. I do not say that keeping it is a salvation issue, but it is a health issue. Let us walk through it.

[Leviticus 11:1-2 KJV] 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 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.

First of all, many say that this was just for Israel but who is among Israel at the time Moses wrote this? Simply put, the elect. So, this is to God’s elect.

[Leviticus 11:3 KJV] 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

God was giving us a way to identify a group of land animals we can eat. So, let’s examine this.

First I asked Google, “what does the bible mean by chew the cud”? I came up with this article: https://jesusalive.cc/chew-cud-leviticus-meaning/. I don’t really think I need to go further. Thanks Steve Shirley.

[Leviticus 11:5 KJV] 5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he [is] unclean unto you.

OK, just what is a coney? It is a guinea pig like relative to the rabbit. Kind of makes you wonder about Coney Island, doesn’t it?

Now to the pig. Many do love bacon and I was in that camp. Do you know that there is such a thing as beef bacon?

My next question Google was “why is the pig unhealthy”? I came up with this article: https://naturallivingfamily.com/why-is-pork-bad-for-you/. Thank you, Dr. David Jockers.

One quote from the article that I think is important: The Biblical books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy focus on health principles intended to minimize sickness and infections. This logic is very easy to understand because infection was one of the greatest health threats in the pre-medical world to tribes and cities.

The hostile world in the Old Testament has to do with the push for the Israelite culture to not only survive but thrive. It is very logical that God should warn His people that animals can pose a hazardous relationship to tribal health.

Was God giving us a health warning in His message written in the Bible? Does this message convey the uncleanliness of some meat and the need to avoid these products to limit infection and avoid severe health problems? Based on the understanding of the toxic load carried in pigs, the biblical principle to avoid pig seems best to optimize health.

We should be concerned about infection from these unclean animals today very much. Remember, the stated cause of COVID-19 was from a bat consumed in China. Bats are not on God’s menu.

So, now let us look at animals from the sea.

[Leviticus 11:9-12 KJV] 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. 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: 11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that [shall be] an abomination unto you.

Again, we have been given something to look for; fins and scales. What does that leave out? Among other things, shrimp, clams, oysters, crabs, lobsters, sharks, whales, and so on.

My next question to Google was, “why should we only eat sea animals with fins and scales”? I came up with this article: https://www.anchorpointfilms.com/blog/bible/49-science-verifies-the-bible-again. Thank you Chad. BTW, watch the movie.

Now to the fowls. God gives an unclean list:

[Leviticus 11:13-20 KJV] 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, 14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 20 All fowls that creep, going upon [all] four, [shall be] an abomination unto you.

So what is common to the ones on the list? Many are scavengers or raptors.

Chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks, pigeons, doves, parrots, and sparrows. OK, I would not eat a  sparrow, pigeon, dove, or parrot, but it looks like we can.

OK, what about insects?

[Leviticus 11:13, 21-23 KJV] 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, ... 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; 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. 23 But all [other] flying creeping things, which have four feet, [shall be] an abomination unto you.

So we have a list. John the Baptist ate locusts. I’m not into them but we can.