Leviticus 11:42, commentary and pictures

Leviticus 11:42 belongs to the law of Moses in Leviticus 11:1-47, among the health and sanitary laws taught to Israel in the wilderness before entering Canaan, pronouncing certain meats unclean and forbidden to eat. It specifically forbids as an abomination creeping things that go on the belly, go on four feet, or have many feet. This stood within wider restrictions that also barred swine and certain other animals, birds, and fish classed as unclean, while even permitted meats were further restricted by bans on eating fat and blood. The prohibition was not arbitrary but was given to protect life and health. Unclean creeping things and other forbidden flesh such as swine are hurtful and not the best food, filling and polluting the blood with impurities and shortening life. The distinctions marked out the animals least objectionable for food to keep the blood pure and preserve physical and mental faculties, and submission to the command would have led to the removal of everything injurious to health so that no sickness would remain among Israel.

The meats appointed at the king's table in Babylon included these forbidden unclean meats, including swine's flesh and other forbidden meats. Daniel and his companions had been taught that this class of food would not keep mind and body in the best condition of health for God's service. Daniel refused to defile himself by eating it in order to acquire knowledge for honoring and glorifying God, even at risk to his position and life. Keeping this law keeps brain and muscle from being enfeebled, keeps mental powers clear and undimmed, and secures physical health. Obedience perfects Christian character and gives clear intellect to stand as representatives of true religion amid the false religions of heathenism, because the will of God is the supreme law of life.

Eating what is forbidden for indulgence of appetite imperils physical and moral powers and benumbs the fine sensibilities, so that sacred things are placed on a level with common things. Faithfulness therefore requires practicing temperance in eating and drinking, seeing perils on every side and meeting temptation by most decided personal effort and then trusting the rest with God. The command is perverted when pressed to unwarranted extremes beyond what God required, such as requiring all drinking water to be strained lest it contain the smallest insect classed with the unclean creeping things, while great sins are swallowed. That misuse drew the rebuke against blind guides who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.