What was the purpose of the food laws?

hedrick said:

I'm not aware of any explanations for the holiness code though.

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Exactly so perhaps no just means no. Man likes to define and self justify everything God says.

To those who point out that kosher laws were given as a cultural distinction --which is true-- why can't a cultural distinction be hygienically & dietarily advantageous (especially when prescribed by God)...?

I don't see a reason to reject the latter just because you adhere to the former. Gentiles have no obligation to the former, but can still benefit from the latter.

Tania11 said:

Were they to make the Jews a distinct people?

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I think so. To make Israel distinct, clean and holy.

I do think the ceremonial laws probably had health benefits (e.g. not eating unclean foods, circumcision, bathing and washing), but I think the primary purpose was to show/make Israel holy and separate.

dqhall said:

While eating pork may seem bad, eating beef is also risky as the World Health Organization categorizes red meat as a Group 2 carcinogen. At one time beef was defiled by mad cow disease. Nitrite processed meats are a Group 1 carcinogen like tobacco. Some bacon, ham, salami, pepperoni and lunch meats are in this group. A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol increases risk of arteriosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes and dementia. A high sodium diet increased blood pressure in some people.

Vegans may be at risk of B-12 deficiency.

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I guess it depends on one's own values, also. Pork may be unhealthy, but bacon is delicious! Isn't it worth sacrificing a little health for such a delicious food?

The WHO also recommends circumcision for health reasons, but in many countries, this procedure likewise hasn't attained the popularity one might have expected, given the benefits.

Thera said:

I think so. To make Israel distinct, clean and holy.

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Right, but there are implications in Lev that God disapproved of Gentiles for not being pure (by the Lev definition of pure). While later Jewish interpretation often understood these laws as part of the covenant with Israel, separating it from everyone else, I think the authors of Lev likely understood them as God's will for everyone.

If it were written today would it include fast food, processed food and GMOs. Would obesity from such be the 8th deadly sin?

Original Happy Camper said:

Sorry but those food laws were there before the Jewish nation existed.

Genesis 7:2
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Food laws are the same as an owners manual you get with most new products. The creator of those products knows best how to keep them running at peak performance.

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Noah was allowed to eat any animal. He was given no restrictions.

RaymondG said:

I serve a God who states that, by His strips, we are healed.....not by our good eating habits.

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Isaiah 53 isnt about physical illness, its about sin.


Isaiah 53:5 But He was [h]pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To [j]fall on Him.

12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out [r]Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.

Need answers said:

Noah was allowed to eat any animal. He was given no restrictions.

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That would explain the 7 of each. He stocked the freezer.

timothyu said:

That would explain the 7 of each. He stocked the freezer.

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Yup.

I believe the Law of Moses, not just dietary laws, but building regulations, sewage treatment, finance, dress codes, farming etc, were primarily about the physical and spiritual health and safety of the nation.
The clues can be found in some of the more obscure laws.

Deut22v8“When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring guilt of bloodshed on your household if anyone falls from it.

And today in the UK, we have Part K of the Building regulations=

Requirement K2. Protection from falling.
a) Any stairs ramps floors balconies and any roofs to which people have access.
b) etc...…...…….etc
c)...etc.....etc

….....…...shall be provided with barriers where it is necessary to protect people in or about the building from falling.

Obeying the laws of Moses were never meant to get people to Heaven, any more than our current laws do.
When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, they were a slave people, subject to the Laws of Egypt, many of which were appalling.
God was initiating a brand new independent nation. To do that, they need a brand new statute book of laws, otherwise they would end up bringing Egypt back into their culture.

That new statute book covered almost every eventuality.

Need answers said:

Noah was allowed to eat any animal. He was given no restrictions.

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I have to disagree according to the word of God you are mistaken

Genesis 7:2
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Original Happy Camper said:

I have to disagree according to the word of God you are mistaken

Genesis 7:2
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

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Genesis 5:3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

Original Happy Camper said:

I have to disagree according to the word of God you are mistaken

Genesis 7:2
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

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According to the word of God, tis you who are mistaken.

You quoted the animals taken into the Ark in Gen7, but Gen9 records God's instructions after he came out of the ark.

Gen9v3Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
Every moving thing means every animal fish and bird, with no delineation of clean or unclean. Plus of course the veg.
The only limitation was that they could not eat blood, that belonged to the Lord
4But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

Need answers said:

Genesis 5:3 Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

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Francis Drake said:

According to the word of God, tis you who are mistaken.

You quoted the animals taken into the Ark in Gen7, but Gen9 records God's instructions after he came out of the ark.

Gen9v3Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
Every moving thing means every animal fish and bird, with no delineation of clean or unclean. Plus of course the veg.
The only limitation was that they could not eat blood, that belonged to the Lord
4But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

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Then why were there unclean animals?

Original Happy Camper said:

Then why were there unclean animals?

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I dont know. But Noah was allowed to eat them.

Need answers said:

But Noah was allowed to eat them.

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I don't think so. There were no fast food outlets then.

timothyu said:

I don't think so. There were no fast food outlets then.

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wut?

Original Happy Camper said:

Then why were there unclean animals?

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The food laws of Moses were very much later, but to better understand Noah's day, we can go to what the apostles said.

Acts15v28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no further burden, except these necessary things: 29to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. Keeping yourselves from these, you will do well.
As can be seen, there is no restriction on animals under the New Covenant, just as with Noah. That doesn't mean shellfish and pork are suddenly good to eat again, just that it was health, not eternal damnation.
You will notice that as with Noah and Moses, blood still belongs to the Lord. That means the UK's black pudding also.

My wife and I have chosen to largely reduce pork from our diet, which is a shame because I love bacon and pork chops. But I'd rather take God's wisdom than man's.

However, on the occasion that I do eat pork, it is with relish and not guilt.

Francis Drake said:

The food laws of Moses were very much later, but to better understand Noah's day, we can go to what the apostles said.

Acts15v28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no further burden, except these necessary things: 29to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. Keeping yourselves from these, you will do well.
As can be seen, there is no restriction on animals under the New Covenant, just as with Noah. That doesn't mean shellfish and pork are suddenly good to eat again, just that it was health, not eternal damnation.
You will notice that as with Noah and Moses, blood still belongs to the Lord. That means the UK's black pudding also.

My wife and I have chosen to largely reduce pork from our diet, which is a shame because I love bacon and pork chops. But I'd rather take God's wisdom than man's.

However, on the occasion that I do eat pork, it is with relish and not guilt.

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Need answers said:

I dont know. But Noah was allowed to eat them.

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Malachi 3:6
For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.