The golden rule and the law

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Scrobulous

Scrobulous

Active member
#1
Sep 17, 2018
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#1
Deut 14:21. Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to an alien living in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God.

This injunction from the law seems to be in breach of the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Certainly God expected the Jews to behave differently from the other nations, but the intention was to be an example. To act in a superior way and thus draw the aliens in. Here it seems the jews are encouraged to engage in sharp practice.

Does this strike anyone else here as odd?
 
Hevosmies

Hevosmies

Well-known member
#2
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,633
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#2
Its not odd.

God works in COVENANTS.

The aliens were not in the mosaic covenant. Therefore it was permissable for them to eat non-kosher meats.

Noah was given permission to eat everything, and that covenant is still in effect. The mosaic covenant is no longer in effect.
 
Scrobulous

Scrobulous

Active member
#3
Sep 17, 2018
290
73
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#3
Hevosmies said:
Its not odd.

God works in COVENANTS.

The aliens were not in the mosaic covenant. Therefore it was permissable for them to eat non-kosher meats.

Noah was given permission to eat everything, and that covenant is still in effect. The mosaic covenant is no longer in effect.
Click to expand...
Indeed, but the covenants were part of an unfolding plan. The mosaic covenant was intended to demonstrate to jews and their neighbours, the benefits of keeping the law and the moral superiority of the Israelites. Part of the greatest commandment is to love your neighbour as yourself. Deut 14:21 seems to break the spirit of the law.
 
L

LPT

Guest
#4
#4
whole lot of washing going on.

Leviticus 11:40
Anyone who eats from the carcass must wash his clothes and will be unclean until evening, and anyone who picks up the carcass must wash his clothes and will be unclean until evening
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#5
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#5
Scrobulous said:
Here it seems the jews are encouraged to engage in sharp practice.
Click to expand...
Not sharp practice. Just plain prudence and common sense. A creature that had just died freshly would be perfectly good food, but it was forbidden to Israel. So rather than throw it away, it would be practical to give it to a non-Israelite. There was nothing evil or nefarious in this. It would be similar to leaving the gleanings in a field for the poor. The rest of that verse regarding the kid shows that God demanded compassion from Israelites.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#6
#6
I did wonder if it was also about God’s provision.

In that God provided for them so there was no need to go
scavenging for dead meat. Maybe it was to show they were
different in that way too.

By contrast when they were under seige they ate anything and
everything. The provision of food or the lack of it would have been
a powerful sign of God’s blessing ie flowing with milk and honey and
God’s judgement ie famine. In times of famine they would most certainly
have eaten dead anything.



Lamentations 4:8-10 NKJV
[8] Now their appearance is blacker than soot; They go unrecognized
in the streets; Their skin clings to their bones, It has become as dry
as wood. [9] Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who
die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits
of the field. [10] The hands of the compassionate women Have
cooked their own children; They became food for them In the
destruction of the daughter of my people.
 
Laish

Laish

Senior Member
#7
Jul 31, 2016
1,666
449
83
58
#7
Scrobulous said:
Deut 14:21. Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to an alien living in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God.

This injunction from the law seems to be in breach of the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Certainly God expected the Jews to behave differently from the other nations, but the intention was to be an example. To act in a superior way and thus draw the aliens in. Here it seems the jews are encouraged to engage in sharp practice.

Does this strike anyone else here as odd?
Click to expand...
Well let’s look at what God has instructed Israel concerning meat to be eaten that is not offered to God through the priests during worship and sacrifice.

Deuteronomy 12: 20 “When the LORD your God extends your border as He has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire. 21If the place which the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter of your herd and flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire. 22Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you will eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat of it. 23Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 24You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
The parts in bold shows that for even the everyday slaughtering and eating of meat requires a specific practice. If it’s not followed Isreal shall not eat it. God’s purpose is to keep His people distinct. It’s not about contempt or disrespect for non Jews. If that were the case God could say to destroy the carcass. No God in his compassion for His creation allowed the animal to be given or sold .
Nothing odd here it’s only odd when we whip out the microscope and neglect to look at the big picture.
Blessings
Bill
 
Scrobulous

Scrobulous

Active member
#8
Sep 17, 2018
290
73
28
#8
Nehemiah6 said:
Not sharp practice. Just plain prudence and common sense. A creature that had just died freshly would be perfectly good food, but it was forbidden to Israel. So rather than throw it away, it would be practical to give it to a non-Israelite. There was nothing evil or nefarious in this. It would be similar to leaving the gleanings in a field for the poor. The rest of that verse regarding the kid shows that God demanded compassion from Israelites.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply.
 
Scrobulous

Scrobulous

Active member
#9
Sep 17, 2018
290
73
28
#9
Laish said:
Well let’s look at what God has instructed Israel concerning meat to be eaten that is not offered to God through the priests during worship and sacrifice.

Deuteronomy 12: 20 “When the LORD your God extends your border as He has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire. 21If the place which the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter of your herd and flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire. 22Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you will eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat of it. 23Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 24You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
The parts in bold shows that for even the everyday slaughtering and eating of meat requires a specific practice. If it’s not followed Isreal shall not eat it. God’s purpose is to keep His people distinct. It’s not about contempt or disrespect for non Jews. If that were the case God could say to destroy the carcass. No God in his compassion for His creation allowed the animal to be given or sold .
Nothing odd here it’s only odd when we whip out the microscope and neglect to look at the big picture.
Blessings
Bill
Click to expand...
Thanks Bill. What you say makes sense.
 
Scrobulous

Scrobulous

Active member
#10
Sep 17, 2018
290
73
28
#10
Miri said:
I did wonder if it was also about God’s provision.

In that God provided for them so there was no need to go
scavenging for dead meat. Maybe it was to show they were
different in that way too.

By contrast when they were under seige they ate anything and
everything. The provision of food or the lack of it would have been
a powerful sign of God’s blessing ie flowing with milk and honey and
God’s judgement ie famine. In times of famine they would most certainly
have eaten dead anything.



Lamentations 4:8-10 NKJV
[8] Now their appearance is blacker than soot; They go unrecognized
in the streets; Their skin clings to their bones, It has become as dry
as wood. [9] Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who
die of hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruits
of the field. [10] The hands of the compassionate women Have
cooked their own children; They became food for them In the
destruction of the daughter of my people.
Click to expand...
Dying of starvation is something no one cam imagine unless he has been there. I used to think I would rather die than eat another person, but as I get older, I lose this confidence. In such a situation the jew would be in a terrible position, were he to find a dead animal. Particularly since a jew could only interpret such a calamity as a judgment of God. None the less, in obeying the law in such extremis, he would know he would find great favour with God.
 
G

Grandpa

Senior Member
#11
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,190
113
#11
Theres no reason to waste good food just because a certain people have laws and taboos against eating it.

Like cows in India.

Or pork in ancient Israel.

To certain people it is considered disgusting and rude to eat certain food. Other people who eat that food don't get it because it is delicious.

If there is nothing wrong with it why not give it to someone who has no qualms eating it??
 
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