Leviticus 11
The Lord instructs Moses and Aaron to inform the Israelites about the animals they can and cannot eat. Animals that have a divided hoof and chew their cud, such as cattle, are considered clean and can be eaten. However, animals that do not meet these criteria, such as camels, rabbits, hares, and pigs, are considered unclean and should not be eaten. Similar guidelines are given for fish, birds, and insects, with certain species being considered clean or unclean. The Israelites are also instructed on how to handle the carcasses of unclean animals and how to purify themselves if they come into contact with them. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between clean and unclean animals and the need for the Israelites to be holy, just as God is holy.
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, sayingSay to the sons of Israel: These are the animals that you ought to eat out of all the living things of the earthAll that has a divided hoof, and that chews over again, among the cattle, you shall eatBut whatever certainly chews over again, but has a hoof that is not divided, such as the camel and others, these you shall not eat, and you shall consider them to be among what is uncleanThe rock rabbit which chews over again, and whose hoof is not divided, is uncleanand so also is the hare, for it too chews over again, yet its hoof is not dividedand also the swine, which, though its hoof is divided, does not chew over againThe flesh of these you shall not eat, nor shall you touch their carcasses, because they are unclean to youThese are the things that breed in the waters, and which it is lawful to eat. All that has little fins and scales, as much in the sea, as in the rivers and ponds, you shall eatBut whatever does not have fins and scales, of those things that live and move in the waters, shall be abominable to youand detestable; their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall avoidAll that does not have fins and scales in the waters shall be pollutedThese are those things among the birds which you must not eat, and which are to be avoided by you: the eagle, and the griffin, and the ospreyand the kite, as well as the vulture, according to their kindand all that is of the raven kind, according to their likenessthe ostrich, and the owl, and the gull, and the hawk, according to its kindthe owl, and the sea bird, and the ibisand the swan, and the pelican, and the marsh henthe heron, and the plover according to its kind, the crested hoopoe, and also the batOf all that flies, whatever steps upon four feet shall be abominable to youBut whatever certainly walks upon four feet, and also has longer legs behind, with which it hops upon the earthyou shall eat, such as the beetle in its kind, and the cricket, and grasshopper, and the locust, each one according to its kindBut among flying things, whatever has only four feet shall be detestable to youAnd whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be defiled, and he shall be unclean until eveningAnd if it will be necessary to carry any of these dead things, he shall wash his clothes, and he shall be unclean until the sun setsEvery animal that certainly has a hoof, but which is not divided, nor does it chew over again, shall be unclean. And whoever will have touched it shall be contaminatedWhatever walks upon its hands, out of all the animals that advance on all fours, shall be unclean. Whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be polluted until eveningAnd whoever will have carried this kind of carcass shall wash his clothes, and he shall be unclean until evening. For all these are unclean to youLikewise, these shall be considered among the polluted things, out of all that moves upon the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the crocodile, each one according to its kindthe shrew, and the chameleon, and the gecko, and the lizard, and the moleAll these are unclean. Whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be unclean until eveningAnd anything upon which something from their carcasses will have fallen shall be defiled, whether it is a vessel of wood, or a garment, or skins, or haircloths, or anything by which work is done. These shall be dipped in water and shall be defiled until evening, but then afterwards these shall be cleanBut an earthen vessel, into which something from these will fall, shall be defiled; and therefore it is to be brokenAny of the foods that you eat, if water from such a vessel will have been poured upon it, it shall be unclean. And every liquid which one may drink from such a vessel shall be uncleanAnd if anything from among these kinds of dead things has fallen upon it, it shall be unclean, whether it be an oven, or a pot with feet, these shall be unclean and shall be destroyedYet truly, fountains and cisterns, and all reservoirs of water shall be clean. Whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be defiledIf it falls upon seed grain, it shall not defile itBut if anyone has poured water upon the seed grain, and afterwards it was touched by the carcasses, it shall be immediately defiledIf any animals will have died, from which it is lawful for you to eat, whoever will have touched its carcass shall be unclean until eveningAnd whoever will have eaten or carried anything of these shall wash his clothes, and he shall be unclean until eveningAll that creeps across the earth shall be abominable, neither shall it taken up as foodWhatever advances by four feet upon the chest, or that has many feet, or that drags across the soil, you shall not eat, because it is abominableDo not be willing to contaminate your souls, nor shall you touch any of these, lest you become uncleanFor I am the Lord your God. Be holy, for I am Holy. Do not pollute your souls with any creeping thing, which moves across the landFor I am the Lord, who led you away from the land of Egypt, so that I would be your God; you shall be holy, for I am HolyThis is the law of animals and flying things, and of every living soul that moves in the waters or creeps upon the landso that you may know the difference between clean and unclean, and so that you may know what you ought to eat, and what you ought to refuse
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