Deuteronômio 14
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Deuteronômio 14
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO 14:1-16:17 Deuteronomy 14:1-2 is a preliminary affirmation that Israel, as YHWH's unique people (cf. Exod. 19:5-6), must live in a divinely guided way! Deuteronomy 14:3-16:17 is a recapitulation of some main covenant requirements of YHWH's people set forth in Exodus ‒ Numbers Clean vs. unclean food in Deut. 14:1-21 is originally found in Lev. 11:1-23 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOOD LAWS). Tithes in Deut. 14:22-29 are originally given in Num. 18:21-29 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHING). Debt cancellation in Deut. 15:1-11 is originally given in Lev. 28:8-38. Freeing Hebrew slaves in Deut. 15:12-18 is originally given in Lev. 25:38-55. Redeeming the firstborn in Deut. 15:19-23 is originally given in Exod. 13:1-16. The three annual pilgrim feasts in Deut. 16:1-17 are originally given in Lev. 23:4-8 and also Num. 28:16-29:40. (Outline from Old Testament Theology, by Paul R. House, p. 184) The summary nature of Deuteronomy is clearly seen. Often the laws are slightly changed for the new setting. It must be stated again that moderns do not know the who, how, or when of the structure of OT books.
Deuteronômio 14:1-2
14:1 "You are the sons of the Lord" Notice the family imagery used as covenant terminology (cf. Deut. 1:31; 8:5; 32:5). Note the three special titles for the Israelites used in Deut. 14:1-2. you are sons you are a holy people you are a chosen people SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD ▣ "cut yourselves" The VERB is BDB 151, KB 177, Hithpoel (a rare variant of the Hithpael stem) IMPERFECT and is often found in "gashing" or "cutting" texts. This was a pagan worship practice (either to get the attention of the deity or cause feelings of mourning for the dead, cf. Lev. 19:28; 21:5; 1 Kgs. 18:28; Jer. 16:6; 41:5; 47:5; 48:37). SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES ▣ "shave your forehead" This ("making baldness," BDB 901) also refers to the mourning rites of surrounding nations (cf. Jer. 16:6; 41:5; Ezek. 27:31; 44:20; Amos 8:10). Many of the laws of Israel were given in direct opposition to regular Canaanite practices! This was meant to separate Israel from all social and religious events of the Canaanites. ▣ "for the sake of the dead" The mourning rites described are connected to: ancestor worship (i.e. the dead could know about and affect current life) Ba'al worship (the dying [winter] and rising [spring] nature god of the Canaanite pantheon) 14:2 "holy people" The concept relates to Israel's task of revealing YHWH (cf. Exod.19:6; Deut. 7:6). Deuteronomy typifies covenant language, which describes deity as "the Lord your God" and His "holy," "chosen," "special treasure" people (cf. Deut. 4:20; 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; 28:9; 29:12-13). Also notice Jeremiah (cf. Jer. 7:23; 11:4; 13:11; 24:7; 30:22; 31:1,33; 32:38). And of course, who can forget the marital imagery of Hosea 1-3! SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY ONES ▣ "the Lord has chosen you" The VERB (BDB 103, KB 119, Qal PERFECT) is used of YHWH's sovereign choice of: Abraham, Gen. 12:1; Neh. 9:7 the Patriarchs, Deut. 7:8 the descendants of the Patriarchs, Deut. 4:37; 10:15 Israel, Deut. 7:6; Ps. 135:4; Isa. 44:1,8; 43:10; Ezek. 20:5 Jeshurun (Israel or Jerusalem), Deut. 32:15; 33:5,26; Isa. 44:2 an Israeli king (a symbol of YHWH's rule, which would foreshadow David [cf. 1 Sam. 10:24; 16:8,9,10; 2 Sam. 6:21], who became a Messianic figure), Deut. 17:14-17 place for His name to dwell (i.e. central sanctuary), Deut. 12:5,11,14,18,21,26; 14:24; 15:20; 16:2,6,7,11,15; 17:8,10; 31:11 God's sovereignty and purpose is expressed in His choice of Israel. God's "choice" in the OT is always related to service, not necessarily salvation, as it is in the NT. Israel was to reveal YHWH to the whole world, so that all the world might be saved (cf. Gen. 12:3; quoted in Acts 3:25 and Gal. 3:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: HE CHOSE US SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth" The term "possession" (BDB 688) means a special treasure (cf. Exod. 19:5; Ps. 135:4; Mal. 3:17). This very phrase is used in Syrian and Ugarit. This phrase is recurrent in Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18). Please read the SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TENSION BETWEEN OLD COVENANT PROPHETIC MODELS AND NEW COVENANT APOSTOLIC MODELS! From this you will see the way I view the interpretation of Scripture! It shows the integrating center of my worldview (i.e. the Great Commission)! "Bible Interpretation Seminar"
Deuteronômio 14:3-8
14:3 "You shall not eat" Verses 3-21 reflect Leviticus 11:2-19, but with differences. It is differences such as this which are so hard to explain that have caused the speculation of numerous literary sources (i.e. editors). Notice the VERB "eat" (BDB 37, KB 46) is used 17 times in this chapter. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE OT FOOD LAWS ▣ "detestable things" This phrase is BDB 481 CONSTRUCT BDB 1072. SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATIONS 14:5 "the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck" These are wild animals unclean which are for sacrifice but not for food. They are not mentioned in Leviticus 11 because they were unknown in Egypt. Several of the animals are difficult for moderns to identify specifically. See the UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pp. 3,20,26,46. 14:6 "Any animal that divides the hoof and. . .chews the cud" This is the basic guideline for a sacrificially clean animal given in Lev. 11:4. The phrase, "divides the hoof," is an intensified form (VERB BDB 828, KB 969, Hiphil PERFECT CONSTRUCT with the NOUN BDB 828) as in Deut. 14:7. To this description is combined a second intensified form (VERB BDB 1042, KB 1608, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE CONSTRUCT with the NOUN (BDB 1043). This description is very specific and clear. ▣ Some animals which only partially fulfill the two requirements ("divides the hoof" and "chews the cud") are listed in Deut. 14:7. 14:7 "shaphan" "rock hyrax" NRSV, TEV, REB "rock badger" LXX, NJB, NIV, Peshitta "the coney" "the daman" This animal (BDB 1050 I) is apparently mentioned in Lev. 11:6 as "hare" or "rabbit" (see UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pp. 69-70). It is interesting that Leviticus says (as assumed here) that the rabbit chews the cud. This is a good place to remind readers that the Israelites based their knowledge of nature on observable characteristic (phenomenological language). Rabbits do not, in actuality, chew the cud, but the rapid movement of their noses look as if they do. This is not an error in the Bible, but the recognition the ancients based their knowledge on observation, not modern, scientific methods or classifications. 14:8 "pig" The pig was eaten and used in sacrificial ritual by the Canaanites (cf. Isa. 65:4; 66:3,17). It was classified as unclean because of its eating habits (the same is true for dogs) and preferred resting places (mud holes). Pigs were sacrificed regularly in Hittites, Greek, and Roman cultures. They were also eaten (by some groups) in all of the Mediterranean cultures. For an extended discussion of food and sacrifices of the Ancient Near East see ABD, vol. 6, "Zoology," pp. 1109-1167, for pigs, see pp. 1130-1135; also note UBS Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pp. 80-81.
Deuteronômio 14:9-10
14:9 "anything that has fins and scales" This is the basic guideline of Lev. 11:9-12. Again the exact reasons for the prohibitions are not given anywhere in the OT. See note at Deut. 14:3.
Deuteronômio 14:11-20
14:11 This parallels Lev. 11:13-19. The reason for the "uncleanness" is not stated, but it seems obvious that the listed birds ate carrion. 14:13 Obviously, there is a textual problem here where the same bird is listed twice. None of us like these textual problems because of our commitment to inspiration (see SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION) and our view of the trustworthiness of Scripture. However, remember the MT is not the original Hebrew text. It seems there was a confusion between the Hebrew "R" and "D" which confused later scribes. והדאה, BDB 178, a bird of prey, possibly a kite והראה, MT, often translated "buzzard" See UBS Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pp. 40-41. 14:16 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA, Peshitta "little owl" "owl" "tawny owl" "heron" UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible, p. 61, mentions that "S. R. Driver in The Hastings Dictionary of the Bible suggests that there are eight Hebrew words for owls, arranged in descending order of size in the list of unclean birds in Lev. 11:16-18 and Deut. 14:15-17." ▣ NASB, NRSV, JPSOA "great owl" NKJV, REB "screech owl" "barn owl" "swan" "night hawk" See note above. ▣ NASB, NKJV, JPSOA "white owl" NRSV, NEB "water hen" NJB, LXX "ibis" "little owl" "bee eater" See note above. 14:18 "hoopoe" This type of bird (BDB 189) eats all kinds of insects, including dung beatles. It became known for its eating in unclean places and having a dung-filled nest, therefore, it became an "unclean" migratory bird. See UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible, p. 42. 14:19 "teeming life" This phrase (BDB 481 CONSTRUCT BDB 1056 and 733, cf Gen. 7:14,21) refers to flying insects. This is paralleled in Lev. 11:20-23, where some insects are clean to eat (i.e. locusts, cf. Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6). These insects are the food for many of the unclean birds listed.
Deuteronômio 14:21
14:21 "You shall not eat anything which dies of itself" This may reflect Exod. 22:31. One reason was because the blood was still in it (cf. Deut. 12:16,23-25; Gen. 9:4). This law did not apply to everyone in the Promised Land (i.e. aliens and foreigners were exempt, but note Lev. 17:15). These food laws were meant to separate Israel from Canaanite society and worship practices. ▣ "you are a holy people" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY ▣ "You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk" The Ras Shamra (see Cyrus H. Gordon, Ugaritic Handbook, p. 174) texts show that this was done in other cultures as a way to promote fertility. Judaism developed strict dietary rules (separate cooking vessels and plates for meat and dairy products) based on this verse. However, the thrust seems to relate to Canaanites' sacrificial worship (cf. Exod. 23:19; 34:26). It has little or nothing to do with disease or hygiene. This is a glaring rabbinical misunderstanding and manmade regulation (i.e. Isa. 29:13)! SPECIAL TOPIC: RABBINICAL HERMENEUTICS
Deuteronômio 14:22-27
14:22 "tithe" Numbers 18 discusses the tithes for the local Levites as well as the priests at the central shrine. However, this passage parallels chapter 12 and deals mostly with local agricultural tithing issues. See notes at chapter 12. SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHING 14:23 "at the place where He chooses to establish His name" See note at Deut. 12:5. ▣ "fear the Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR (OT) 14:26 "You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires" This refers to items to be tithed at the central sanctuary. This is parallel to Deut. 12:20. This phrase must drive "legalists" crazy! YHWH desires our happiness! He just wants to share it with us (cf. Deut. 12:7,18; 16:14; 27:7; 1 Chr. 29:22; Ps. 104:15; Eccl. 2:24; 3:12,13,22; 5:18; 8:15; 9:7-9; Isa. 22:13). The NT even widens this concept by clearly stating that nothing in the physical creation is unclean in and of itself (e.g. Mark 7:19; Acts 10:15; Rom. 14:2,14,20; 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23-33; 1 Tim. 4:4). This is not meant to give humans a license to sin, but to encourage Christian freedom from legalism and judgmentalism (cf. Col. 2:16-23). However, the mature believer will be careful while in this fallen world to do nothing that might offend a weaker brother for whom Christ died (cf. Rom. 14:1-15:13)! SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN FREEDOM VS. CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY ▣ "strong drink" This (BDB 1016) was wine to which other natural fermented juices were added to make the percentage of alcohol higher (i.e. more intoxicating). SPECIAL TOPIC: ALCOHOL (fermentation) AND ALCOHOLISM (addiction) ▣ "there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord" This refers to the peace offering whereby God and the offerer and his family symbolically ate together (i.e. Leviticus 3). In the ancient East, eating together was the sign of covenant. SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING
Deuteronômio 14:28-29
14:29 "the alien, the orphan and the widow" Deuteronomy is emphatic in its care of all who lived in the Promised Land (cf. Deut. 10:18; 26:12-15)! This third-year tithe was for the Levite and the local poor.