Shemini Leviticus Chapters 9-11
SAN DIEGO — The text boringly reports yet again the various categories and performances of sacrifice. This is followed by the puzzling episode of sudden fiery death of two of Aaron’s ordained sons, Nadab and Abihu, for having offered ‘alien fire’ on the altar. Moses orders Aaron to be quiet over this, and soon he proceeds to chastise the two surviving sons of Aaron, over a trivial error of not eating a sin offering in the prescribed area. Lastly the text lays out the dietary laws.
I have chosen two passages, from which I sought internet sources for pagan comparison of them.
I. Leviticus 10:1-2 “…Aaron’s sons…offered before the Lord…alien fire..And fire came forth…and consumed them…”
A search of the internet yields no similar pagan episode/cause of death of a person making a sacrifice. The closest reference that emerged is that of pagan sacrifice of a child to the god Molech, via a ritual fire. This practice is outrightly prohibited in the Hebrew text, and is indeed one justification for conquering the land and eradicating its pagan inhabitants. Of interest is that Isaiah 1:22 describes such sacrifice in the image of metal-smelting. A pagan inference of this is that of alchemy, the elusive seeking of making gold from lesser elements. [1]
II. Leviticus 11:2-22 “These are the creatures that you may eat…any animal that has true hoofs, with clefts through the hoofs, and that chews the cud (swine is therefore unclean)…”
“These you may eat of all that live in water…has fins and scales…”
“The following you shall abominate among the birds–not be eaten, …the eagle…vulture…kite… falcons… raven…ostrich…sea gull, hawks…owl(s)…pelican…bustard…stork …herons…hoopie…and the bat…”
“All winged swarming things…shall be an abomination for you..But these you may eat…locusts…crickets…and grasshopper(s).”
The internet yields relatively few similar food restrictions in the non-Hebrew ancient world. Much of what I learned is tangential when compared to Judaism. Hindus (origin c. 2300-1500 BCE) generally don’t eat beef, and some apply the concept of ‘non-violence’ to what’s permitted, and so consider vegetarianism as ideal. Also Hinduism historically has advocated certain foods to be exclusive to its ‘classes.’ i.e. The Brahman ate only those foods prepared in the finest manner, whereas others took inferior food. A ritually observant Brahman did not allow a low-caste person to draw water from his well, or even accept ‘ritually pure milk’ from an untouchable. Also Brahmans were proscribed from consuming alcohol because of the caste value of self-control. Alcohol’s manufacture and trade were confined to members of lower castes.
To Hindus food is a principle index of rank, and thus it was used as a strategic element in negotiating social advance. For example, a member of a low caste might try to gain dominance over persons in a higher caste by successfully ‘feeding them,’ a route to raised status. [2]
Early Christianity exempted the new Christians from the diet rules of Mosaic Law. It settled on the formula that meat offered to idols and meat of strangled animals were to be abstained. Also eating of blood was proscribed, though not still today. The apostle Peter had a vision of a sheet lowered from heaven containing all types of animals, thus all were dietarily okay. There is a famous quote from Matthew, “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” (Matthew 15: 10-11) [3]
As for atypical meat preferences in the world, dog meat is eaten in Korea, Vietnam, and China. Likewise horse meat, generally avoided in English-speaking countries, is part of national cuisine in Kazakhstan, Japan, Italy, and France.
Of interest in this matter, Hong Kong, though now part of ‘mainland China,’ persists in banning meat of dogs and cats, which was imposed during British rule. [5]
Notes
[5] Wikipedia, Food and drink prohibitions
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Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who delights in Torah analysis. He often delivers a drosh at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, and at his chavurah.