Sunday, February 6, 2022

Seder 90: Lev 17---Rules for Preparing and Eating Meat

At this point in the book of Leviticus, we transition from instructions for the priesthood to instructions for all Israelites.  The emphasis will be on holiness in all areas of life.

Chapter 17 specifies that during Israel's wilderness sojourn, all butchering of "sacrificeable" animals is to be for sacrifices (vv 1-4).  That restriction would be lifted once the nation settled in Canaan (Deut 12:13-15; 20-25).  

Both during the Exodus and afterward, all sacrifices were to to be made at the tabernacle or temple.  This restriction was meant to lessen the likelihood of idolatrous worship.  Lev 17 mentions, in particular, sacrifices to "goat demons, " which may have  been underworld deities.  (These entities are elsewhere mentioned in Isa 13:19-21).    

Israel was not to engage in syncretistic worship, a principle also emphasized in Isa 66:3-4, part of a traditional haftarah for this seder.  

Leviticus 17 goes on to repeat the commandment not to ingest blood (see Gen 9:4; Lev 3:17; 7:26-27).  This is out of respect for life, and also because blood had been set apart for the purpose of making atonement.  Certainly this commandment also had the effect of discouraging people from drinking blood for superstitious reasons---e.g., because they thought it would make them stronger.  

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