Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
Every creature in the waters that lacks both fins and scales is unclean, an abomination, and forbidden as food. The rule is part of the law of Moses giving health and sanitary principles to Israel for life in Canaan after settlement, distinguishing between clean and unclean. Meats that were allowed were subject to careful limits, while creatures declared unclean were prohibited. The king's provisions offered to Daniel included swine's flesh and other meats prohibited by that law.
The prohibition was given to preserve health and keep mind and body sound. The flesh of creatures designated unfit for food fills the blood with impurities and shortens life, being hurtful and not the best food. Connected with this law, swine's flesh fills the system with humors and in the warm climate of Israel often produced leprosy, acting far more injuriously there than in a colder climate. Swine were never designed to be eaten under any circumstances but are useful alive roaming free to devour decaying matter on the ground that would otherwise poison the atmosphere, which preserves health.
Had Israel submitted to these wise prohibitions, God would have removed everything injurious to health and allowed no sickness among them, but because they would not submit He gave them what they lusted for. The law explains the refusal by Daniel and his companions of the king's provisions, which they believed would defile them, violate God's command, and impair health and ability to serve God. Daniel chose obedience despite risk to his position and life.
The restrictions gave no authority for added human rules, yet the Pharisees perverted them to unwarranted extremes. They burdened people with traditions and continual scrutiny over clean and unclean. They required all water for use or drinking to be strained to remove the smallest speck or insect that might be classed as unclean.
Every creature in the waters that lacks both fins and scales is unclean, an abomination, and forbidden as food. The rule is part of the law of Moses giving health and sanitary principles to Israel for life in Canaan after settlement, distinguishing between clean and unclean. Meats that were allowed were subject to careful limits, while creatures declared unclean were prohibited. The king's provisions offered to Daniel included swine's flesh and other meats prohibited by that law.
The prohibition was given to preserve health and keep mind and body sound. The flesh of creatures designated unfit for food fills the blood with impurities and shortens life, being hurtful and not the best food. Connected with this law, swine's flesh fills the system with humors and in the warm climate of Israel often produced leprosy, acting far more injuriously there than in a colder climate. Swine were never designed to be eaten under any circumstances but are useful alive roaming free to devour decaying matter on the ground that would otherwise poison the atmosphere, which preserves health.
Had Israel submitted to these wise prohibitions, God would have removed everything injurious to health and allowed no sickness among them, but because they would not submit He gave them what they lusted for. The law explains the refusal by Daniel and his companions of the king's provisions, which they believed would defile them, violate God's command, and impair health and ability to serve God. Daniel chose obedience despite risk to his position and life.
The restrictions gave no authority for added human rules, yet the Pharisees perverted them to unwarranted extremes. They burdened people with traditions and continual scrutiny over clean and unclean. They required all water for use or drinking to be strained to remove the smallest speck or insect that might be classed as unclean.