Deuteronomy 14-15: Laws

Deuteronomy 14: Clean and Unclean Foods / Regulations Concerning Tithes
Deuteronomy 15: Laws Concerning the Sabbatical Year / The Firstborn of the Livestock

The end of Leviticus does not mean the end of law giving. In fact, the Israelites have many new laws to consider as they enter the promised land. Some of these are completely new, and others are reiterations of previous commandments. The laws here provide a basis for the orthopraxy of Israelite religion. Daily life is structured to exhibit God's influence over the congregation. God is everywhere, and proper practice (orthoprax) of his commands creates a bond between YHWH and his people that is in fulfillment of their covenant.

Clean and Unclean Foods: Deuteronomy 14.3-21
Yesterday we learned that the Israelites may now eat non-sacrificial meat whenever they wish, provided they drain the blood from it first. Today's reading expands on the eating of animals, reiterating the laws found in Leviticus 11.

Land Animals
The Israelites may eat land animals that have cloven hoofs and chew cud.
Animals that may be eaten include: ox, sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, roebuck, wild goat, ibex, antelope, mountain-sheep.

Inedible land animals either do not have cleft hooves or chew cud. These specifically include: camel, rock badger, and hare (cud* but no hooves), pig (divided hooves but no cud). In addition, the carcasses of these animals must not be touched.

*[hares and badgers are not ruminant animals, but must appear to be because of the motion they make while chewing.]

Fish
Any sea or stream creature with fins and scales may be eaten.

Birds

[Hoopoe (Upupa Epops). Image Courtesy William Kreijkes]

As far as birds are concerned, only the unclean ones are listed. Others, presumably, may be eaten. Take note, penguins are not on the list of abhorrent birds. The list of birds to be avoided are the same as those found in Leviticus, but in a slightly different order. Abominations are specifically listed as: eagle, vulture, osprey, buzzard, kite, raven, ostrich, nighthawk, sea gull, hawk, little owl, great owl, water hen, desert owl (or pelican), carrion vulture, cormorant, stork, heron, hoopoe, bat.

Insects
In contrast to Leviticus, all winged insects are unclean.

Miscellaneous Regulations
Do not eat anything that dies on its own. Israelites may give or sell this meat to resident aliens, but abstention from consumption of this food makes Israel holy.

Also, Israelites may not boil a kid in its mother's milk.

Regulations Concerning Tithes: Deuteronomy 14.22-29
The Israelites are to set aside a tithe of their produce, as well as wine, oil, and the firstlings of their livestock. They are to feast on it in the place of centralized worship that the Lord designates. If this place is too far, these things may be converted to money to be spent on food and drink for the feast at the place of centralized worship.

Of course, the Levites should not be neglected. Therefore, every three years the tithe should be collected in the town and the Levites, resident aliens, orphans, and widows are allowed to eat their fill.

Laws Concerning the Sabbatical Year: Deuteronomy 15.1-18
Debts between members of the community should be remitted every seven years. However, those of foreigners will remain intact.

The author then has Moses say that this law really will not be a problem because the Lord's blessing will ensure no one will be in need. The Israelites will lend to other nations but not borrow, rule over others but not be ruled by others.

The Israelites should help anyone in the community that is in need. In transactions, the seventh year of remission is not to be considered in rendering a decision whether to give or not. Since someone somewhere will always be in need, the Israelites are to always be willing to lend a helping hand.

This is a remarkable message of compassion, which former nun/present scholar Karen Armstrong argues is a commonality for all religions. I personally do not believe this to be true. However, it is remarkable that this appeal for compassion appears in what amounts to be a founding document for a group of people. Compassion is a core principle of Israelite society. It is not just a suggestion here that a law that must be obeyed as any other.

Of course, times were different back then. The next section concerns slave ownership. but even here there is compassion. A slave to work for six years and be set free on the seventh. He or she shall be sent out with bountiful provisions from his or her master. This practice explicitly parallels the Israelite slave narrative, in which the Israelites are redeemed by God [not mentioned is the fact that they left carrying a good deal of the Egyptians' possessions]. If a slave does not wish to leave because he or she loves the household, the owner shall pierce the slave's earlobe with an awl and the slave shall remain with the family forever.

The Firstborn of the Livestock: Deuteronomy 15.19-23
The firstborn males of the herd are consecrated to the Lord; they are not to do work or to be sheared. They are to be eaten in the place of designated worship. Blind or lame firstborn males should not be consecrated and should be eaten in the town. These are not appropriate for sacrifice to the Lord.