Dietary Laws Deuteronomy 14

Deuteronomy 14:6 "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."

v9 "These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:"

v11 "Of all clean birds ye shall eat."

Before the lesson goes into what is good to eat, there is a mention that they are not to cut themselves or shave between their eyes. v1-2. This is a terrible practice that is still carried on among some young people today. I don't understand it but apparently it is part of depression. In this chapter, I suspect it is a reference to a practice carried out in some of the nations to be conquered and a warning is given in advance.

The chapter gives a detail list of the unclean beasts and fowl. Fish are rather simple they should have fins and scales. You might notice in the list that the unclean mentioned are scavengers that primarily feed on dead carcases. We have read how they are not to even touch a dead carcase and if they do, they must go through a cleansing process. Leviticus 22:4 So, it is not surprising that these are considered unclean. I might add that this was under the law and there are New Testament passages that deal with this under the church age.

For beast, they must part the hoof, cleaveth the cleft into two claws and chew the cud. Some may meet one standard but not another and so are unclean.

Unclean: swine, camel, hare, coney, eagle, ossifrage, ospray, glede, kite, vulture, raven, owl, night hawk, cuckow, hawk, little owl, great owl,swan, pelican, gier eagle, cormorant, stork, heron, lapwing, bat. Check to see if I missed any. I am glad chicken was not on that list.:)
It would be interesting to look up all these and see what some of those unfamiliar are.

Next the chapter deals again with making the trip to a place yet to be declared to pay tithes and make sacrifices. Here it gives the option to turn the items into money, if the trip is too far to bring the raw material. Then a reminder to not forget the Levite, stranger, fatherless and widow and to share their blessings with them.

All this in preparation for the journey into Canaan. These things are setup for after they arrive but I expect the diet is already in force.

v29 "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."

Romans 14:1-3 "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations, v2 For one believeth that he may eat all things, another, who is weak, eateth herbs. v3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him."

Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

We will get into law and grace later but it is important to know that while both are given of God, there is a difference between being under the law and under grace.

Psalms 63:1 "O God thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry, and thirsty land, where no water is;"