And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
The law given through Moses forbade Israel to eat any unclean thing, declaring certain meats unclean and unfit for food while specifying those least objectionable for food. Within that law the hare is pronounced unclean for food because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof. The prohibition was not arbitrary but a wise, just and reasonable restriction given for health, and there is health in obedience to it.
Such flesh fills the blood with impurities and shortens life, so the law guards purity of blood and was meant to remove what is injurious to health and keep sickness away. Since the hare is not the best article of food and is hurtful, the law was meant to preserve clear minds and sound mental and physical faculties for God's service through simple, healthful food. It was given with careful attention to health as strict training in the wilderness for a people coming from slavery with unclean and unhealthful habits before entering Canaan, teaching health principles and sanitary laws as part of the food plan God gave Israel to limit flesh eating.
Daniel and his companions chose to obey this dietary command rather than defile themselves with the king's food, avoiding such meat to preserve clear minds and sound bodies for service. The restriction was perverted when religious teachers carried it beyond what God required into excessive ceremonies and burdensome restrictions, such as straining all water lest the smallest insect classed as unclean be swallowed, while great actual sins were overlooked.
The law given through Moses forbade Israel to eat any unclean thing, declaring certain meats unclean and unfit for food while specifying those least objectionable for food. Within that law the hare is pronounced unclean for food because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof. The prohibition was not arbitrary but a wise, just and reasonable restriction given for health, and there is health in obedience to it.
Such flesh fills the blood with impurities and shortens life, so the law guards purity of blood and was meant to remove what is injurious to health and keep sickness away. Since the hare is not the best article of food and is hurtful, the law was meant to preserve clear minds and sound mental and physical faculties for God's service through simple, healthful food. It was given with careful attention to health as strict training in the wilderness for a people coming from slavery with unclean and unhealthful habits before entering Canaan, teaching health principles and sanitary laws as part of the food plan God gave Israel to limit flesh eating.
Daniel and his companions chose to obey this dietary command rather than defile themselves with the king's food, avoiding such meat to preserve clear minds and sound bodies for service. The restriction was perverted when religious teachers carried it beyond what God required into excessive ceremonies and burdensome restrictions, such as straining all water lest the smallest insect classed as unclean be swallowed, while great actual sins were overlooked.