"Eat Whatever is Set Before You"
It is recorded that Yahowsha, as He was dispatching His specially prepared envoys to spread the beneficial and healing message, instructed them, "Into whatever town you enter, and they accept you, eat whatever is set before you." (See Luke 10:8) Now, while everything Luke is reported to have written is, in my opinion, highly suspect, if Yahowsha truly said this, then it seems He was contradicting what we think we know of Yahowah's Towrah, that is, His Teachings, Instructions, and Guidance. Such a thing would seem grossly inconsistent for the Son of God to say!
It is commonly taught and popularly believed that there are certain animals that we are absolutely not allowed to eat. But is that the truth? Below are some verses from the 12th chapter of Words / Dabarim / Deuteronomy in which Yahowah clearly grants an exception to His instructions regarding what we choose to consume.
To listen to a couple of discussions regarding these passages, click [here] and then [here].
This topic so enflamed the emotions of listeners to Yada's on-line radio broadcasts that one particular area of Facebook became something of a war zone. One participant finally emailed Yada for clarification. Below is his response. The emailer had suggested that the words "clean" and "unclean" were referring to people.
Craig's Response
The order of the words in the Masoretic Text and their meaning is as follows with all prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, moods, stems, and conjugations considered...
“Except (raq – however, noting this exclusive, singular, and unique instance as an exception) with (ba – in) every (kol – all) sign that points something out, denoting a desire (‘aowh – measure and depiction which denotes a preference for being called out and marked, description which sets apart based upon a fondness for a desirable and pleasing yearning) of your soul (nepesh – your unique, individual consciousness), you may actually and continually butcher (zabah – you may on an ongoing basis kill and then prepare and dress for literal consumption (qal imperfect)) and also (wa – in addition) you may choose to completely consume (‘akal – you may elect to eat as actual food and be totally nourished under the auspices of freewill (qal perfect consecutive)) creatures (basar – the flesh of living things and the meat of animals) in connection with and consistent with (ka – in harmony with and in association with) the blessing and superlative gift (barakah – excellent nature of the vow which results in reconciliation and the eternal benefits of the covenant relationship by the willingness to kneel down in love) of Yahowah (YHWH), your God (‘elohym – your Almighty), which as a benefit of the relationship (‘asher – which in association and fortuitously) He has provided (nathan – He has produced and given on occasion (qal perfect)) to you (la) in any reasoned out and thoughtful conclusion in any city or town (ba kol sha’ar – in any gated area or public place where people assemble for living and by all means of thinking), the unclean (ha tame’ – the impure) and also the clean (wa ha tahowr – in addition to the pure). He may genuinely and consistently be nourished by it or Him (‘akal – he may literally and always consume what He provides that is valuable) consistent with (ka) the beautiful (tsaby – the desirable and valuable, the glorious, or the buck) and in harmony with (wa ka) the Lamb (ha ‘ayl – the Leader, the Mighty Pillar, the Doorway, the Protective Covering, the Source of Power, Strength, and Vigorous Live, or the stag).” (Dabarym / Words / Deuteronomy 12:15)
In this case I moved the final verb back to the place it falls within the Hebrew text even though I prefer it at the end of the statement because there it is more powerful symbolically. But since absolute literal accuracy is more vital in this case than metaphoric interpretations, it is safter to take it one word at a time, especially since your argument is predicated upon the final verb.
Based upon the deployment of the dual pronouns associated with 'akal, the only possibility for a different interpretation revolves around whether the third person singular masculine pronoun suffix "it/he" associated with the second application of "'akal - eat" is nothing more than a literal reference to the clean or unclean "basar - meat," telling us that we can eat "it," or also to Yahowah, the "glorious Lamb." I prefer both insights but the literal meaning is absolute: "he may eat 'it'" with "it" denoting the unclean and the clean "basar - meat" and with "the unclean and the clean" also describing the "basar - meat" which we are allowed to "butcher and consume." Since the pronoun suffix is masculine singular it has to address "basar - meat" which is also masculine singular, and thus "it."
"The unclean and the clean" are two things and would require a plural pronoun prefix. But the prefix is also singular. So since 'akal - consume was also written to include the third person singular masculine prefix, "'he' may eat it," the renderings you are proposing ("the unclean and the clean may eat it") are not possible grammatically for the same reason.
These are the words and this is how they were written. The grammar does not allow us to change it to our liking. Moreover, this is an exemption. We have to come to realize what an exemption means and why this one was issued for a period of time. It perplexes me that so many of you are having such a difficult time differentiating between an exemption and a contradiction. I am also curious as to why an exemption on hygiene and purity is somehow less contradictory than an exemption on the instructions regarding food. But nonetheless, an exemption isn't a contradiction and this exemption makes sense. It also, and this is important, is consistent with Yahowsha's testimony when He told His disciples to eat whatever was set before them.
So, nouns in Hebrew have gender in addition to conveying a singular, plural, or dual nature. We have to consider these things when applying the pronouns. The grammar matters.
Here is the Logos presentation of the second 'akal followed by a literal word for word interlinear.
Craig
אבל: eat; be eaten ... | DBL Hebrew
verb, qal, imperfect, third person, masculine, singular, with third person, masculine, singular suffix
Resources: Brown-Driver-Briggs; HAL; DBL Hebrew; Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament; A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament; Enhanced Strong's Lexicon; NASB Dictionaries; Beginning Biblical Hebrew; BHRG; Introduction to Aramaic; TWOT; Building Your Biblical Hebrew Vocabulary
Here, then, is the passage, first without the Hebrew and then with the Hebrew.
Words / Dabarim / Deuteronomy 12:1-4, 7, 14-16
1 "These are the inscribed prescriptions on what one should do to be cut into the relationship and the means to resolve disputes which relationally and beneficially you should choose to continually and literally closely examine and carefully consider, to approach by engaging in the Land by association and constructively, Yahowah, your God, has given to your fathers to inherit all of the days which relationally and beneficially you are alive and live in close proximity to the Almighty's realm of man.
2 "You should choose of your own volition to absolutely and consistently destroy, transforming your surroundings by totally eliminating from existence in opposition, therefore, all of the places where the Gentiles worshipped and served, and where they were reduced to servitude as slaves, which you will inherit in opposition to them and their associated gods on the high mountains and upon the hilltops in addition to under every spreading and evil tree.
3 "Therefore, you should of your own volition completely tear down and demolish altars. You should opt to break associated sacred stone pillars. Additionally, you should want to burn 'Asherah in the flaming fire, and the idols and images of their gods you should want to cast down and disassociate from. Then you should choose to completely wipe out their names from such places.
4 "You should choose not to act or engage likewise to approach Yahowah, your God."
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7 "But you can genuinely choose to eat there before the presence of Yahowah, your God. And you should of your own volition rejoice joyfully in everything, stretching out your open hand so your families benefit through being blessed by Yahowah, your God."
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14 "Indeed, whenever in the place Yahowah chooses for one of your related family groups, there you should meet, grow up, become acceptable, and ascend. So there you should act upon everything which I have instructed for your benefit.
15 "Except with every sign that points something out, denoting a desire of your soul, in any city or town, by a reasoned out and thoughtful conclusion, you may actually and continually butcher and completely consume clean and unclean creatures in connection with and consistent with the blessing and superlative gift of Yahowah, your God, which as a benefit of the relationship He has provided to you, consistent with the beautiful and in harmony with the Leader, and he may genuinely and consistently be nourished by Him.
16 "Only you should not consume the blood. You should pour it out on the ground like water."
1 "These are ('elleh - providing perspective regarding a close and godly relationship these exist as) the inscribed prescriptions on what one should do to be cut into the relationship (ha choq - the clearly communicated thoughts which are engraved in stone and shared regarding an allocation of that which is nourishing and acceptable, marking out and portraying the proper way), and the means to resolve disputes (wa ha mishpat - in addition to the means to exercise good judgment regarding making decisions in a just, judicious, and acceptable manner consistent with the evidence and authorized standard and proper plan) which relationally and beneficially ('asher - by association and constructively) you should choose to continually and literally closely examine and carefully consider (shamar - you should of your own volition decide to always and actually focus upon, observing (qal imperfect paragogic)), to approach by engaging (la 'asah - to act upon and benefit from) in the Land (ba ha 'erets - in the realm) by association and constructively ('asher- which relationally and beneficially), Yahowah (Yahowah), your God ('elohym), has given to (natan - has produced, bestowed, offered, and appointed for) your fathers ('aby - forefathers, family, and household) to inherit (la yarash - to possess and occupy her as an heir) all of the days (kol ha yowm - every single day) which relationally and beneficially ('asher - by association and constructively) you ('atem) are alive and live (chay - exist and grow) in close proximity to the Almighty's ('al - upon, near, and close to the Most High's) realm of man (ha 'adamah - earth for mankind).
2 "You should choose of your own volition to absolutely and consistently destroy, transforming your surroundings by totally eliminating from existence ('abad 'abad - you should decide to do away with, cause to perish by annihilating, wiping out and then moving away from (piel (object suffers the effect of the action) imperfect (ongoing) paragogic (expression of volition))), therefore in opposition ('eth), all of the places (kol ha maqowm - everyone of the sites and sources which provide direction for human lives) where ('asher) the Gentiles (gowym - foreigners and nations, pagans and heathens, animalistic peoples (non-Yisra'elites)) worshipped and served, and where they were reduced to servitude as slaves ('abad - were enslaved and burdened with unfavorable circumstances, laboring for others), which ('asher) you ('atem) will inherit (yaras) in opposition to them and their associated gods ('eth 'eth 'elohym) on the high mountains ('al ha har ha ruwm - addressing that which is arrogantly lifted up and exalted in defiance and rebellion) and upon the hilltops (wa 'al ha gib'ah - addressing the lord and his rulers (from gabyr - lord, master, and ruler)) in addition to (wa) under (tachath - beneath) every spreading and evil tree (kol 'ets ra'nan - all bad and injurious flourishing wooden idols).
3 "And you should of your own volition completely tear down and demolish (wa nathats - you should choose to pull down and destroy (piel perfect consecutive)), therefore ('eth - associated), altars (mizbeach - places where animals are slaughtered and sacrificed to deities) and you should opt to break (wa shabar - you should choose to destroy, crushing (piel perfect consecutive)) associated ('eth) sacred stone pillars (matsebah- stones erected to commemorate and memorialize deities) and in addition (wa) you should want to burn (saraph - you should choose to consume (qal imperfect paragogic)) 'Asherah ('asherah - to bless religious idols and poles erected to worship the Canaanite pagan mother-goddess Asherah, the wife of El and thus, the Queen of Heaven - (the Canaanite variation of the Babylonian goddess Astarte (goddess of fortune and happiness and thus akin to the Roman Gratia / Graces and consort of the Lord (ha Ba'al), making her the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God in the Babylonian religion and thus the inspiration for the idols to the Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God in the Roman Catholic religion)) in the flaming fire (ba ha 'esh - within radiant light) and the idols and images (wa pacyl - man-made religious icons eliciting worship) of their gods ('elohym) you should want to cast down and disassociate from (gada' - you should of your own volition choose to fell, cutting down and chopping to pieces, silencing and severing relations as if they no longer exist (piel imperfect paragogic)). Then (wa) you should choose to completely wipe out ('abad - you should want to annihilate and exterminate, blotting out, voiding so as to cause to vanish (piel perfect consecutive)) their names ('eth shem) from (min) such places (ha maqowm ha huw').
4 "You should choose not to act or engage likewise (lo' 'asah ka - you should not want to make or do similar things) to approach (la) Yahowah (Yahowah), your God ('elohym)."
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7 "But (wa) you can genuinely choose to eat ('akal - you should want to consume food and be completely nourished (qal perfect consecutive)) there (shem) before the presence of (la paneh) Yahowah (Yahowah), your God ('elohym). And (wa) you should of your own volition rejoice joyfully (samah - you should be glad, having a happy attitude and outlook, choosing to delight (qal perfect consecutive)) in everything (ba kol), stretching out your open hand (mishlowach yad 'atem - reaching out and outstretching your hand) so (wa) your families (bayth - households) beneficially are blessed ('asher barak) by Yahowah (Yahowah), your God ('elohym)."
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14 "Indeed (ky - rather and instead, surely and truly), whenever ('im - as a condition and as often as) in the place (ba ha maqowm - with regard to the source of direction) which beneficially ('asher - relationally) Yahowah (Yahowah) chooses (bachar - selects and prefers (qal imperfect)) for one of your related family groups (ba 'echad shebet - for a certain one of your tribes, branches, or offshoots), there (shem) you should meet, grow up, become acceptable, and ascend ('alah 'alah - you should follow, visit, withdraw, and rise, ready to be taken away (hiphil (subject causes the object to participate in the action as a secondary subject) imperfect (ongoing))). So there (wa shem), you should act upon ('asah - you should engage in, do, and gain from) everything which beneficially (kol 'asher) I ('anky) have instructed (tsawah - have provided as direction and guidance).
15 "Except (raq - however, noting this exclusive, singular, and unique instance as an exception) with (ba - in) every (kol - all) sign that points something out, denoting a desire ('aowh - measure and depiction which denotes a preference for being called out and marked, description which sets apart based upon a fondness for a desirable and pleasing yearning) of your soul (nepesh - your unique, individual consciousness), you may actually and continually butcher (zabah - you may on an ongoing basis kill and then prepare and dress for literal consumption (qal imperfect)) and also (wa - in addition) you may choose to completely consume ('akal- you may elect to eat as actual food and be totally nourished under the auspices of freewill (qal perfect consecutive)) creatures (basar - the flesh of living things and the meat of animals) in connection with and consistent with (ka - in harmony with and in association with) the blessing and superlative gift (barakah - excellent nature of the vow which results in reconciliation and the eternal benefits of the covenant relationship by the willingness to kneel down in love) of Yahowah (Yahowah), your God ('elohym - your Almighty), which as a benefit of the relationship ('asher - which in association and fortuitously) He has provided (nathan - He has produced and given on occasion (qal perfect)) to you (la) in any reasoned out and thoughtful conclusion in any city or town (ba kol sha'ar - in any gated area or public place where people assemble for living and by all means of thinking), the unclean (ha tame' - the impure) and also the clean (wa ha tahowr - in addition to the pure), consistent with (ka) the beautiful (tsaby - the desirable and valuable, the glorious, or the buck) and in harmony with (wa ka) the Leader (ha 'ayl - the Lamb, the Mighty Pillar, the Doorway, the Protective Covering, the Source of Power, Strength, and Vigorous Live, or the stag), and he may genuinely and consistently be nourished by Him ('akal - may literally and always consume what He provides that is valuable).
16 "Only (raq - exclusively) the blood (ha dam) you should not consume (lo' 'akal - you should not habitually eat or drink (qal imperfect). Upon the ground ('al ha 'erets) you should pour it out (shapak - you should spill it) as (ka) water (maym - liquid)."
= יהוה = ee-ah-oh-ah = Yahowah
Song / Mizmor / Psalm 19:7
Yahowah's Towrah is complete and entirely perfect, returning and restoring the soul. Yahowah's testimony is trustworthy and reliable, making understanding and obtaining wisdom simple for the open-minded and receptive.
Yahowah's (
) Towrah (torah – teaching, guidance, direction, and instruction) is complete and entirely perfect (tamym – without defect, lacking nothing, correct, genuine, right, helpful, beneficial, and true), returning and restoring (suwb – transforming) the soul (nepesh – consciousness). Yahowah's testimony ('eduwth – restoring and eternal witness) is trustworthy and reliable ('aman – verifiable, confirming, supportive, and establishing), making understanding and obtaining wisdom (hakam – educating and enlightening oneself to the point of comprehension) simple for the open-minded and receptive (pethy – easy for those who are receptive).