Leviticus 11:2
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Dietary laws distinguishing clean from unclean animals, teaching Israel holiness and separation from pagan practices. Chapters 11-15 address ritual purity, teaching Israel to distinguish clean from unclean. These laws served multiple purposes: promoting health, teaching spiritual lessons about sin's defilement, and separating Israel from pagan practices. Archaeological evidence shows Canaanite worship involved practices Israel's laws explicitly prohibited. Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. Archaeological discoveries at sites like Ugarit reveal Canaanite religious practices Israel's laws explicitly rejected, confirming the Bible's historical reliability and the distinctiveness of Israelite worship.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways does this verse challenge contemporary cultural values or your personal attitudes?
- How does this verse help you understand both God's justice and His mercy in salvation?
- How does this verse reveal God's character, and how should that revelation shape your relationship with Him?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
This verse falls within the section on Clean and Unclean Animals. Dietary laws distinguishing clean from unclean animals, teaching Israel holiness and separation from pagan practices.
Hebrews 9-10 explains how Christ's once-for-all sacrifice supersedes the repeated Levitical offerings, providing permanent cleansing from sin.