1 Ye [are] the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
2 For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth.
3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
4 These [are] the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.
6 And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, [and] cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.
7 Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; [as] the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; [therefore] they [are] unclean unto you.
8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it [is] unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.
9 These ye shall eat of all that [are] in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:
10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it [is] unclean unto you.
11 [Of] all clean birds ye shall eat.
12 But these [are they] of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
13 And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind,
14 And every raven after his kind,
15 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,
16 The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan,
17 And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant,
18 And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
19 And every creeping thing that flieth [is] unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.
20 [But of] all clean fowls ye may eat.
21 Ye shall not eat [of] any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that [is] in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.
22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; [or] if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
25 Then shalt thou turn [it] into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
27 And the Levite that [is] within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay [it] up within thy gates:
29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which [are] within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
Overview of Deuteronomy Chapter 14
Deuteronomy Chapter 14 is a significant passage in the Pentateuch that outlines dietary laws and regulations for the Israelites. It emphasizes the importance of holiness, distinguishing between clean and unclean animals, and the obligation to support the Levites. The chapter also addresses tithing and the celebration of feasts, reinforcing the communal and spiritual life of the Israelite people.
Key Themes
- Holiness and Distinction: The call for the Israelites to be a holy people set apart from other nations.
- Clean and Unclean Animals: The specific criteria for determining which animals are permissible to eat.
- Tithing: The importance of giving a portion of one’s produce to support the Levites and the community.
- Celebration of Feasts: Instructions for celebrating religious festivals and the role of food in worship.
Detailed Analysis
Verses 1-2: Identity as a Holy People
The chapter opens with a reminder that the Israelites are children of the Lord, emphasizing their unique identity. They are called not to mourn or cut themselves, reflecting cultural practices of surrounding nations. This establishes a clear distinction between the Israelites and other peoples, reinforcing their commitment to God’s commands.
Verses 3-21: Dietary Laws
These verses provide a detailed list of clean and unclean animals, which the Israelites are permitted or forbidden to eat. The criteria include:
- Land Animals: Must have a split hoof and chew the cud (e.g., cattle, sheep).
- Sea Creatures: Must have fins and scales (e.g., fish like salmon, but excluding shellfish).
- Birds: A list of specific birds that are considered unclean (e.g., vultures, owls).
- Insects: Only certain locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers are deemed clean.
These dietary restrictions serve multiple purposes, including promoting health, fostering community identity, and enhancing spiritual discipline. The chapter concludes this section by reiterating the importance of not consuming blood, as it is sacred.
Verses 22-29: Tithing and Support for the Levites
The Israelites are instructed to set aside a tithe of their produce each year. This tithe serves several functions:
- It supports the Levites, who have no land inheritance.
- It promotes communal worship and celebration.
- It encourages generosity and gratitude towards God.
In verses 26-29, the chapter outlines the practice of bringing the tithe to the designated place of worship, allowing the community to gather and celebrate before the Lord. This reinforces the connection between faith and community life.
Verses 28-29: Provision for the Poor and Foreigners
The final verses highlight the importance of caring for the less fortunate, including the Levites, the foreigners, and the orphans. This reflects a broader biblical theme of social justice and compassion, emphasizing that the act of giving is not merely a religious obligation but a moral imperative.
Conclusion
Deuteronomy Chapter 14 serves as a foundational text for understanding the dietary laws, the practice of tithing, and the importance of community in ancient Israelite society. It underscores the call to holiness, the significance of distinguishing between clean and unclean, and the necessity of supporting the Levites and the marginalized within the community. This chapter not only provides practical guidelines for living but also reinforces the spiritual and communal identity of the Israelites as God’s chosen people.
