And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,
Leviticus 11:17 is part of the law of Moses that declares the little owl, the cormorant, and the great owl unclean and forbids their flesh as food. The prohibition belongs to the wider system in Leviticus 11 distinguishing clean from unclean animals, covering swine and other animals as well as birds, given as health and sanitary laws limiting what Israel could eat after settling in Canaan.
The restriction was given for health and to preserve life, not as an arbitrary requirement, because these birds were not the best food. Eating them injures health, fills and pollutes the blood with impurities, shortens life, and harms soundness of mind and body. If Israel had submitted to the prohibition, God would have removed everything injurious to health and allowed no sickness among them, whereas indulgence of appetite brings disease.
Daniel and his companions avoided food declared unclean under this law in order to preserve clear minds and physical strength for serving God. Obeying this dietary command was among the teachings Daniel chose rather than defiling himself with the king's food, even at the risk of losing his position and life. The Pharisees did not leave these restrictions as God gave them but carried them beyond what God required. They went to unwarranted extremes by requiring the people to strain all water used lest it contain the smallest insect that might be classed with unclean animals, while committing great sins, which Jesus exposed as straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. No particular explanation is given for the specific birds named in this verse.
Leviticus 11:17 is part of the law of Moses that declares the little owl, the cormorant, and the great owl unclean and forbids their flesh as food. The prohibition belongs to the wider system in Leviticus 11 distinguishing clean from unclean animals, covering swine and other animals as well as birds, given as health and sanitary laws limiting what Israel could eat after settling in Canaan.
The restriction was given for health and to preserve life, not as an arbitrary requirement, because these birds were not the best food. Eating them injures health, fills and pollutes the blood with impurities, shortens life, and harms soundness of mind and body. If Israel had submitted to the prohibition, God would have removed everything injurious to health and allowed no sickness among them, whereas indulgence of appetite brings disease.
Daniel and his companions avoided food declared unclean under this law in order to preserve clear minds and physical strength for serving God. Obeying this dietary command was among the teachings Daniel chose rather than defiling himself with the king's food, even at the risk of losing his position and life. The Pharisees did not leave these restrictions as God gave them but carried them beyond what God required. They went to unwarranted extremes by requiring the people to strain all water used lest it contain the smallest insect that might be classed with unclean animals, while committing great sins, which Jesus exposed as straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. No particular explanation is given for the specific birds named in this verse.