FOOD PERMITTED AND FORBIDDEN In His fatherhood and care for mankind, God presented to men of the old covenant the statutes of food – permitted and forbidden. That statute came to bear spiritual concepts that touch our inner life. Hence He ended it by saying: “For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I am holy” (44); repeating the word saying: “For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (45). ... Namely, that this law is not just for food and drinks, but for the enjoyment of the holy life in the holy Lord. 1- The animals, permitted and forbidden 1 – 8 2- The aquatic animals 9 – 12 3- The birds 13 – 19 4- The flying insects 20 – 40 5- The reptiles 41 – 43 6- A conclusion 44 – 47 1- THE ANIMALS, PERMITTED AND FORBIDDEN: “These are the animals which you may eat among all the beasts that are on earth: Among the beasts, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud – that you may eat” (2,3) God commanded man not to eat of beasts except whatever divides the hoof, and chew cud at the same time. That was the statute of animals – permitted and forbidden in the old covenant; which, according to many fathers, bears symbols that touch the life of the believer, and his relationship to God: (1) Concerning “chewing the cud”, according to many fathers, like father Barnabas, St. Clement of Alexandria, St. Erinaos, St. Jerome, and others, chewing the cud refers to the perpetual meditation in the word of God, day and night. About chewing the cud, according to father Barnabas, It is as though Moses says to us: ‘Attach yourselves to those who fear the Lord, who meditate in His teachings with humble hearts, talk about, and keep His will; and in their joyful meditation they always quote the words of God’. And according to the scholar Origen, chewing the food, already eaten, refers to setting forth from the literal to the spiritual meaning of the divine word, and to soar up in understanding it, from the lowly seen things to the higher unseen things. (2) According to St. Jerome, the cloven-hoofed animals refer to the believer who meditates in the word of God in both the Old and the New Testaments, and (chew their cuds) together. The Jews, having rejected the New Testament, are counted as having non-cloven hoofs, namely unclean. Similarly, some Gnostics who reject the Old Testament, are so counted. But the man of the church who he believes in the two testaments together, and deeply meditates in them, is counted as clovenhoofed and a curd-chewer. What is buried in the letter (as though in his stomach), he retains to re-chew through the Spirit]. (3) St. Clement of Alexandria, confirming what is said by St. Erinaos, that the cloven-hoofed animal refers to him who knows how to walk by the truth in this world, and the world to come; says: [The spiritual man has the word of God in his mouth, chews the spiritual cud, and by the righteousness, his hoof is truly cloven, as he sanctifies us in this life, and motivates us toward the eternal life]. (4) St. Erinaos also says: [The cloven-hoofed animals refer, as well, to the believers with abiding faith in the Father and the Son together; who do not deny the divinity of the Father, nor that of the Son. Whereas the whole hoofed animals refer to the heretics who deny the divinity of the Son. (5) If the hooves, as well as the nails, represent dead parts of the body, the cloven hoof refers to cleaving what is dead in us, namely to the crucifixion of the body lusts. If chewing the cud refers to the enjoyment by the soul of the Word of God, as the secret of her inner life, the cloven hoof refers to the crucifixion of the body lusts; as though the two tasks are integral: the life of the Spirit together with bringing the evil covetousness of the body to death. (6) According to the scholar Origen: [An animal is not considered clean, unless the two conditions are realized together; namely, we should not eat those animals that seem clean on one aspect and unclean on another. Those who chew the cud, but do not have the cloven hoof, are as unclean as those who have the cloven hoof, and do not chew the cud; And according to the scholar Origen, the same could be said concerning some of those philosophers and heretics who show fear from the judgment, and walk with reverence and caution, yet they do not meditate in the Word of God, nor have the true faith. The statute presents to us examples of the unclean animals we are forbidden to eat, like the camel, the rock hyrax, and the hare (4, 5, 6), as cud-chewing, but are not cloven-hoofed; and the swine, which though divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud. We are familiar with all these animals, except for the ‘coney’ or the ‘rock badger’, a little animal like a rabbit, yellowish-black in color; although its fur may takes on the color of the land on which it lives, as a kind of camouflage; It lives among the rocks (Psalm 104: 18; Proverbs 30: 26), but does not dig holes to live in … Owing to its outer appearance, and because it moves its lower jaw as though chewing cud, it was wrongly mistaken for a cud-chewer; has no cloven hoof, but front feet, each with four sharp-clawed toes, and hind feet, each with three sharp claws. It lives in small groups, led by one that resides over a high place, to act as a watching guard to give an alarm in case of danger; rarely seen except in the early morning or late in the night, when they come out to hunt for their food. They live in the Arab peninsula, in North Palestine, and in the region of the Dead Sea. Their scientific name is ‘Procaira syriaca’. The ‘rock badger’ is counted as an unclean animal on account of its lack of a cloven hoof; and known for its hateful and violent nature. The swine symbolizes uncleanness and greed. According to St. Clement of Alexandria: [As an unclean animal, the swine symbolizes much talk (owing to its continuous noise); and because of its greed, its lustful fornication; as well as being fond of living in the mire, it is only bred to be slaughtered for its flesh]. And according to St. Erinaos: [It is as though Moses says: Do not attach yourselves to those who forget the Lord when they are prosperous, and remember Him only in the time of need; like the swines that disregard their master while eating, and unceasingly scream until they are given food]. The Phoenicians, the Ethiopians, and the Egyptians, consider the swine is an unclean animal. Although the ancient Egyptians used to eat it as a sacrifice during the feast of the god of the moon and Osiris; yet if anyone touches a swine, he was committed to get washed; a shepherd of swines was not allowed in the temple, and it was difficult for him to find a girl to marry, except one of his own profession. Shepherding swines was considered by the Jews to be the lowest and most despised profession, only taken by the needy (Luke 15: 15); Using swine as sacrifices, and eating their flesh referred to heathen sexual abomination (Isaiah 65: 4; 66: 17). In the era of Antichus the fourth, the Jews were ordered to eat the flesh of swine, as a way of forcing them to deny their faith, and to follow that of their occupiers. That is why the Maccabians refrained from eat it as a sign of their faithfulness to their faith. In the days of the Lord Christ, some people took up the profession of breeding swine, not to eat its flesh themselves, but to sell to the Greeks and the Romans; and were therefore commonly despised for loving profit at the expense of their own purity. The Lord Christ gave the shepherds of swine at the country of the Gergesenes a lesson, when He allowed the demons to go out of the two demon-possessed men and enter into the herds of swine, that the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water (Matthew 8: 32). And speaking of the fruit of going astray, He gave a parable of a prodigal son who, having lost everything, he had to work as a shepherd of swine, and to share the pods that the swine ate (Luke 15: 15, 16); And intending to portray the horror of him who disregards what is holy, He said: “Do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces” (Matthew 7: 6). And portraying the swine as a worthless being, the Holy Book says: “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion” (Proverbs 11: 22). 2- THE AQUATIC ANIMALS: The clean land animals are featured as cloven-hoofed, and cud-chewers, a reference to the holy life in the Lord, set on the unceasing meditation in the Word of God, in both the Old and the New Testaments, to live a holy life on earth, as well as in eternity; Or in other words, to be sanctified here, to have our hearts in heavens, anticipating the perfect eternal reward. … The clean aquatic animals proclaim man’s need for the different means of grace, of prayers, metanoias, and the enjoyment of the holy sacraments, in order to practice the practical life of faith in the Lord. To be considered as clean, the aquatic animals have to have fins that helps them to swim, and scales that protect them in the habitat in which they exist. What are these fins, but the means of grace that support the believer to swim in the waters of this world, by the work of the Spirit of God dwelling in him, without being swept away by the torrential currents; and what are these scales but these means that protect him in the Lord against any evil opposition. 3- THE BIRDS: If the clean land animals refer to our bond with the Word of God, and to the living faith in us; and reveal the need for the means of grace the birds proclaim the need for the practical behavior, particularly toward our brethren. Our study of the divine Word would therefore, meld with our worship, and our behavior, in a tight unity. How could the clean birds reveal the practical behavior in dealings with our brethren? … The statutes proclaimed a list of the hated unclean birds, most of which are featured by snatching, falling down upon, and feeding on dead carcasses; … In other words the statutes warn us against viciousness, robbery, oppression, and greed, … etc. in our relationship with our brethren. According to St. Clement of Alexandria: [The eagle refers to robbery, the hawk to oppression, and the raven to greed]. Speaking about the unclean birds, the scholar Origen says: [Like the birds that feed on dead carcasses, are those who anticipate the death of their brethren, and exchange covenants with deception and craftiness. And like the snatcher birds, are those who, apparently teach, read, and search in the heavenly issues, and the divine care; yet, at the same time, they walk their life, contrary to the divine law, with oppression and robbery of their neighbors. By their knowledge and words, they seem like being in heaven; while, by their wicked behavior, they consummate the works of the body; to be worthy of being likened to eagles and vultures, that fall down from up high upon the dead carcasses … Some others, even though they do not snatch, but are fond of the darkness, like owls and fisher owl (17), “For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed” (John 3: 20)]. And according to father Barnabas: [By (the unclean birds) he means to warn us to have no fellowship with those who do not know how to earn their living by labor and perspiration, but by robbery and devouring others; those who may seem innocent, when they are truly not; those who lie in wait for their victims to fall down upon them to tear up their flesh; to be like those birds that do the same with their preys]. Beside this general account on the unclean birds, I should like to give a concise comment about some of them individually: The eagle: It is one of the most fierce birds of prey; allegorically called the king of birds, on account of its power, large size, sharp sight, and swift flying (Deuteronomy 28: 49; Job 9: 26; 39: 30; Proverbs 23: 5; 30: 17-19; Isaiah 40: 31; Ezekiel 17: 3; Habakkuk 1: 8). Because eagles are well known for their exalted care of its young, hovering over them until the little one can fly on their own (Exodus 19: 4; Deuteronomy 32: 11; Psalm 103: 5); intending to proclaim His love and care for His people, God says: “As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings; So the Lord alone led them, and there was no foreign god with Him” (Deuteronomy 32: 11, 12). And the believer was likened to an eagle with its renewed youth (Psalm 103: 5); and its relatively long life. Intending to chastise His people, God warned them that “He will bring a nation against them from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand; a nation of fierce countenance which does not respect the elderly, nor show favor to the young” (Deuteronomy 28: 49, 50). … About the Chaldeans it was said, “They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat” (Habakkuk 1: 8); And to the arrogant Edom:: “Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there;, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 49: 16); And, “Though you exalt yourself as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down’, says the Lord” (Obadiah 4). Thus the eagle, therefore symbolizes the care of God, who carries His people as though on the eagle’s wings. Yet, it symbolizes, as well, the violence and swiftness to snatch; hence the nations by whom God chastised His people, were likened to eagles. The Cherubim carries a face like an eagle (Ezekiel 10: 14; Revelation 4: 7). And in the Christian art, the eagle symbolizes the Evangelist St. John; and refers to the Divinity soaring up high; as well as to the resurrection. …. Referring at the same time to the devastating power, the Persians used the eagle as the symbol of their old empire; hence the prophet Isaiah described them as “A bird of prey from the East” (Isaiah 46: 11); and It became a symbol of the ancient Roman army; and recently of the American army, and several of other nations. The secret of considering it as an unclean bird in the Mosaic law, is its violence in snatching prey. The vulture: ossifrage, and in Latin ossifraga; meaning (the bone breaker); and in Hebrew perez, for it finds pleasure in breaking bones. It used to carry the huge tortoises up high, then cast it down on the rocks to be broken to pieces, to be able to feed on its scattered flesh and marrow. It is also called (the bearded bird) ‘gypaetus barbatus’, on account of having black feathers underneath its chin. It can reach about three feet and a half in length, with its wings stretching to about nine feet. It is a rare kind of bird, found on the rocky mountains around the Dead Sea and in Sinai. The buzzard: ospray; a bird of prey, looks like the eagle, called the (fish-eating eagle) on account of living on the beaches and feeding on fish, although also on carcasses. Because it is known for its swift flying, sharp sight, and strength, an Arabic proverb says: “as mighty as the buzzard of the air”. In Hebrew it is called ‘ozniyyah’, and in the Septuagint version it is called “haliaetus’ or ‘pandion haliaetus”. The kite: an unclean bird of prey like the eagle, although much smaller in size; darker in color; it can stand still in the air to watch its prey from high above. There are many kinds of kites, abundant in Palestine. The falcon: Known for its high pitched cries. And because of its sharp sight; it is said: “That path no bird knows, nor has the falcon’s eye seen it” (Job 28: 7) There are several kinds of falcons (Deuteronomy 14: 13) of which are: a- The black falcon “milvus migrans (ater)’; a well known bird as a summer visitor, which appear in Marsh in Palestine; feed on carcasses; and makes its nest out of multicolored bits and pieces. b- The yellow-billed falcon or ‘milvus aegypticus c- The red falcon or “milvus milvus”; gregarious in winter; feed on locusts. The raven: known for snatching and robbery (Proverb 30: 17); greedy, feeds on anything it finds, even carcasses and trash; That is probably why when it was sent out of the Ark to explore the land, it did not return to find comfort in Noah’s bosom like what the dove did (Genesis 8: 7). Fond of picking out the eyes of its prey (Proverb 30: 17). And when God intended to proclaim the extent of His care of His prophet Elijah, He sent him a raven with bread and meat twice a day (1 Kings 17: 2-7); turning the tool of snatching, robbery, and greed, into a tool by which to sustain His prophet. The ostrich: of the largest of birds, with a height up to the top of its head of two and a half meters; and a weight up to 75 kilograms; known for its foolishness and cruelty (Lamentation 4: 3), probably on account of that it does not make a nest to lay its eggs like the other birds, but lays them in the open air, to trample on them itself, or to be eaten by other animals. Some people claim that, when it sees the hunters, it buries its head in the sand, assuming that by so doing, it would not be seen. It usually lives in the barren wilderness, in Africa, West Asia, and the Syrian desert. It is known for its great running speed; and its high-pitch wailing and mourning screams (Micah 1: 8: Job 30: 29). The short-eared owl (the night hawk): According to some, it is a kind of owl, a snatcher, or the bird known as sissy, but, more probably it is the male ostrich, of larger size, and more beauty than the female. The uckoos, ‘shahaph’ in Hebrew, ‘laros’ in the Septuagint version, and ‘larus’ in the Volgata; of which there are many kinds, sometimes called the (sea raven), (Norris) or (sea-gull); an aquatic bird that feed upon fish and insects. Abundant on the beaches and lakes of Palestine. The hawk: A bird of prey of the ‘Shaheen’ kind, of which (accipiter nisus); is abundant in Lebanon, and the Galilee hill in summer, and in Judea and Arabia in winter; And (falco tinnunculus), abundant in Palestine all the year round. With wide breast and long neck, known for swift flying, not enduring thirst, and for its greed; claimed to feed upon birds of its own kind, even its spouse or parents. used to be considered as holy by the ancient Egyptians; who counted killing it a major crime, even if unintentionally done. The little awl: (athene saharae ‘persica’); a bird of prey, with broad head and wide eyes. Considered by many Eastern as a bad omen, on account of its ugly face, its sad noise, and because it lives among the ruins; to call someone who is ugly or halfwit as ‘owlish’. Although many others in Australia, and among the Arabs, on the contrary, see it as a good omen. It hides in its nest by day, and comes out by night to hunt rats, insects, and birds in their nests, and feed on their eggs. The fisher awl: (Cormorant – phalacrocorax carbo); an aquatic bird that swim, dive in water, and feed on fish; very abundant on the Mediterranean coasts of Palestine and the Sea of Galilee. The great awl or screech awl; claimed to be as large as a goose, gray in color with black spots on its cheeks. with long legs, and short tail; Like the awl it cries out often at night, hence is considered as bad omen by some; although is said to be favored by kings, on account of its very orderly way of flying in a raw headed by a leader or a guide, which could be replaced in case it gets tired. And they sleep in groups in a circle with a guard on watch in its center; to be replaced as well by another at the end of its watch. It mostly lives in dirty places (Isaiah 34: 11), in caves and ruins; abundant in the region of Patra and Beersheba.. In the Septuagint version its name came as (ibis), and in the Terjom as (awl); and some claim it to be a kind of hawk or of the Egyptian awl known as (bubu ascalaphus) The swan (tinshemeth in Hebrew), and (porphyrion) in the Septuagint version. According to some it is (the water chicken), an aquatic bird that feed on fish, frogs, little birds, insects, and snakes. White in color and has wings with black tips; and one of its kind is black. It is also called (the crop) because of its large crop. The pelican: (koath in Hebrew); sometimes called a diver, or a hawk; looks like a swan, though smaller in size, loves water as well; lives in the wilderness (Psalm 102: 6), and among the ruins (Isaiah 34: 11; Zephaniah 2: 14). There are two kinds of pelican: the white pelican (Pelecanus onocratalos), and the Dalmatian (pelecanus crispus); the former more social than the later, which are mostly seen alone. Its toes are connected with a web that helps it in its aquatic habitat. Its neck and beak are long, the lower beak split, and out of it comes down a large crop in which it stores the fish it catches, to throw to its young to eat; hence called by some (the vomiter). In winter it is abundant on lake (Hola), and on the Sea of Tiberias. The carrion vulture: (gier eagle); According to some, it is no doubt the Egyptian vulture or ‘Pharaoh’s chicken’ neophron pernopterus). Generally white with black-tipped wings; although it young are brown in color. It is close in shape to the eagle; two feet long, a swift flier; lives among the ruins, and feeds on insects and carcasses. It is a migratory bird, flies in summer from South France, trough Southern Europe and North Africa as far as West India. The stork: It loves its chicks; has its home in the fir trees (Psalm 104: 17); a migratory bird (Jeremiah 8: 7); of which there are two kinds: the white ((ciconia alba), and the black (ciconia nigra). The former spend the winter in middle and south Africa; then depart in the spring, in great numbers, to Europe, Palestine, and north Syria; four feet high; with long neck, red legs, and black-tipped wings. It feeds on frogs, snails, and insects, and on trash if it finds nothing of the former. Considered in several countries as a holy bird, it is forbidden by law to hunt it; and having no fear of man, it dares to enter houses. The black kind is abundant in Palestine, particularly in the valley of the Dead Sea. In Arabic it is called (Loklok) on account of that it makes such a sound by its beaks. The heron (or parrot): a kind of birds called (ardeidae), (Gralltores), usually large in size, with long beak, and naked long legs; slow in its flight, feed on fish and reptiles; abundant in the region of ‘Hola’ lake; in the company of the cattle on the pastures around the lake. The general kind pf heron (ardea cinera) is abundant in the region of the River Jordan and its lakes, and on the coast of Palestine; together with the scarlet heron (ardea purea), and other kinds of aquatic birds like the pelicans. The hoopoe (hodhod in Arabic; dukiphath in Hebrew), and “vanellus cristatus” in Latin); a “charadriidae”; a little beautiful bird , black-striped; with long strong beak; known for its crown or fan of feathers above its head. A friendly bird of the farmer, on account of that it feeds upon the harmful insects and worms. A migratory bird, found in middle and south Europe. in Asia, north and middle Africa; and appear in Palestine in March; and at the onset of winter it migrates to Egypt. The bat: a Mammal, although counted among the birds on account of that it flies by wings, although different from those of birds. Its body is covered with hair; walks on its feet like a rat; with no beak but has teeth in its mouth; Because its poor eye sight in the bright light, it hides during the day; and because it sees well in the dim light, it flies at the onset of the night to hunt for flying insects and mosquitoes, to eat them while flying. Although it does not see in the pitch darkness, it manages to avoid objects o\in its way; for the fact that it emits sound pulses that are reflected back from the objects; a principle on which Radar was invented. Bats dwell among the deserted dirty ruins and caves (Isaiah 2: 20); claimed to be long living; mentioned the last of the list by the Holy Book on account of that it is not a bird but a mammal. 4- THE FLYING INSECTS: Generally speaking, insects are inedible, except for four kinds: the locusts, the destroying locusts, the cricket, and the grasshopper (22), all of which are allowed to be eaten. “But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to man” (23). … However it is allowed to eat “the flying insects that creeps on all fours, those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth” (21); referring to that the hind legs are longer than the forelegs; and have three joints: one corresponds to the thigh, one corresponds to the leg, and the third corresponds to the foot, in land animals. After warning against eating the unclean flying insects, He warns against particular cases of uncleanness: (1) Whoever touches the carcass of any dead unclean animal, shall be unclean until the evening; namely until the end of the day and the beginning of a new one. He is not allowed to enter into the house of the Lord, to mix with clean people, to eat from the sacrifices, nor to touch any holy thing until evening, when he has to wash his clothes (24, 25). Under the same law will be he, who touches the carcass of any beast which divides the foot, but is not cloven-footed, or does not chew the cud” (26) (2) Whoever touches he carcass of ” whatever goes on its paws” like the dog, the cat, the rat, the monkey, etc. (27, 28). (3) Whoever touches any of the following 8 kinds that creep on the earth (29, 30), like: a- The weasel, counted by some as a kind of rats, which dwell in holes in the fields, and sometimes in the houses. A strong enemy against the rats which he devours, beside other small animals and carcasses; may harm little kids while sleeping; and snatch glittering things like coins and hide them in its holes. b- The mouse: dwell in the houses and fields, feed upon the crop, and carry plagues(1 Samuel 6: 4, 5); was eaten by the Israelites in a heathen rite, regardless of the law (Isaiah 66: 17); and used by Arabs as an example of robbery, saying: ‘more robber than a mouse’. c- The tortoise: a land reptile close to the crocodile in shape; dwells in the wilderness, about two feet long, with a multi-joined tail, that it is said; ‘more complex than the tail of a tortoise’; capable of changing color according to the habitat where it is found; fond of eating the eggs of the crocodile. d- The lizard: a name given to several kinds of reptiles; the most beautiful of which are the green ones found in the forests and agricultural lands. One of its kinds are common in Egypt called ‘Bors’, on account of that its skin is covered with spots like a leper; climb walls and rocks. e- The ferret, gecks: a kind of wall lizard, similar in shape to the ‘Bors’, with white spots on its back, and with suckers on its palms by which it can climb walls and ceilings by a sucking action. The kind abundant in the houses of Palestine is called “hemidactylus turcicus”, as well as “prydactylus syriacus”. f- The chameleon: a kind of lizard very similar in shape to the lizard; with very spacious lungs, that turn semi-transparent when fully extended; can change color according to the habitat in which it lives; eyes protruding out of the head; independent from one another, each of which can be directed toward a different direction; a long tail that helps it to climb trees; feeds on insects it catches by its long tongue, covered by a sticky material to which the insects are stuck. g- The snail: a kind of lizard, called ‘Chalcides sepsoides’, found in the desert and sand dunes, close in shape to the chameleon, harmless. h- The mole: see what is mentioned in the chameleon. (4) Concerning the eight kinds previously mentioned, beside the fact that their dead carcasses are unclean to touch, there is fear that they may carry a contagious disease, the law, therefore, came firm concerning: a- “Anything on which any of them falls, whether it is any item of wood or clothing or skin or sack (fabric made of the hide of goat as sackcloth); … it is put in water, and it shall be unclean until evening” (32). b- “Any earthen vessel in which any of them falls, you shall break, and whatever is in it shall be unclean” (33). (For fear that the microbes could infiltrate through its meshes). c- If it falls upon liquid food like water or oil, it shall not be eaten. d- If it falls in an oven or furnace, it shall be broken down and rebuilt. e- If it falls into a spring or a cistern; no permanent uncleanness will happen; It would be enough to throw some of its water away (36). f- If it falls on any dry planting seed which is to be sown, it remains clean; but if the seeds are wet, it shall not be used (37, 38). (5) “If any clean beast which you eat dies of itself, without being slain, its carcass shall be unclean, he who unintentionally eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening” (40). But if it is intentionally done, he who eats of it shall be cut off the people (Deuteronomy 14: 21); and he who carries the carcass shall be unclean until evening. 5- THE REPTILES: The reptiles that creep on their bellies on the earth like the snakes, or that crawl on four, which were not included among those allowed to eat (29, 30); beside all that have more than four feet, are considered unclean. 6- A CONCLUSION: At the end, to present the goal of giving this statute, He says: “For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I am holy. Neither you shall defile yourselves with any creeping things that creeps on the earth. For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (44, 45). It is as though He intends to confirm that He did not provide them with such a detailed statute to deprive them of enjoying anything or of any kind of food; but being holy, He wants them to be holy as well, spirit and body. Having brought them up from the bondage of Pharaoh, they should not defile themselves with the things that creep on the earth, but should sanctify themselves to soar high toward the heavenly issues. Now, if the Mosaic law, have provided the Jewish people with statutes concerning the allowed and the forbidden kinds of food, whether of beasts, birds, fish, flying insects, or reptiles; In the New Covenant, as St. Peter the apostle went up on the housetop to pray, “he saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, ‘Rise Peter, kill and eat’”. The voice was repeated three times, to hear the divine voice adding: “What God has cleansed, you must not call profane” (Acts 10: 11-13). … According to the scholar Origen, the repetition of the divine voice three times, refers to the enjoyment of the resurrected life that we came to have in Christ Jesus, risen from the dead on the third day. That resurrected life we enjoy through the water of baptism in which we are buried and baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, to carry the new nature, without blemish nor defilement; according to the words of the apostle, saying: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5: 17).
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