FOOD.

Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen. 9:2-5). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6-8; 25:34; 27:3, 4; 43:11. Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Ex. 16:11-13; Num. 11:31). In the law of Moses there are special regulations as to the animals to be used for food (Lev. 11; Deut. 14:3-21). The Jews were also forbidden to use as food anything that had been consecrated to idols (Ex. 34:15), or animals that had died of disease or had been torn by wild beasts (Ex. 22:31; Lev. 22:8). (See also for other restrictions Ex. 23:19; 29:13-22; Lev. 3:4-9; 9:18, 19; 22:8; Deut. 14:21.) But beyond these restrictions they had a large grant from God (Deut. 14:26; 32:13, 14). Food was prepared for use in various ways. The cereals were sometimes eaten without any preparation (Lev. 23:14; Deut. 23:25; 2 Kings 4:42). Vegetables were cooked by boiling (Gen. 25:30, 34; 2 Kings 4:38, 39), and thus also other articles of food were prepared for use (Gen. 27:4; Prov. 23:3; Ezek. 24:10; Luke 24:42; John 21:9). Food was also prepared by roasting (Ex. 12:8; Lev. 2:14). (See COOK.)

The diet of eastern nations has been in all ages light and simple. Vegetable food was more used than animal. The Hebrews used a great variety of articles, (John 21:5) to give a relish to bread. Milk and its preparations hold a conspicuous place in eastern diet, as affording substantial nourishment; generally int he form of the modern leben, i.e. sour milk. Authorized Version “butter;” (Genesis 18:8; Judges 5:25; 2 Samuel 17:29) Fruit was another source of subsistence: figs stood first in point of importance; they were generally dried and pressed into cakes. Grapes were generally eaten in a dried state as raisins. Of vegetables we have most frequent notice of lentils, beans, leeks, onions and garlic, which were and still are of a superior quality in Egypt. (Numbers 11:5) Honey is extensively used, as is also olive oil. The Orientals have been at all times sparing in the use of animal food; not only does the extensive head of the climate render it both unwholesome to eat much meat and expensive from the necessity of immediately consuming a whole animal, but beyond this the ritual regulations of the Mosaic law in ancient, as of the Koran in modern, times have tended to the same result. The prohibition expressed against consuming the blood of any animal, (Genesis 9:4) was more fully developed in the Levitical law, and enforced by the penalty of death. (Leviticus 3:17; 7:26; 19:26; 12:16) Certain portions of the fat of sacrifices were also forbidden, (Leviticus 3:9,10) as being set apart for the altar, (Leviticus 3:16; 7:25) In addition to the above, Christians were forbidden to eat the flesh of animals portions of which had been offered to idols. All beasts and birds classed as unclean, (Leviticus 11:1) ff.; Deuteronomy 14:4 ff., were also prohibited. Under these restrictions the Hebrews were permitted the free use of animal food: generally speaking they only availed themselves of it in the exercise of hospitality or at festivals of a religious, public or private character. It was only in royal households that there was a daily consumption of meat. The animals killed for meat were—calves, lambs, oxen not above three years of age, harts, roebucks and fallow deer; birds of various kinds; fish, with the exception of such as were without scales and fins. Locusts, of which certain species only were esteemed clean, were occasionally eaten, (Matthew 3:4) but were regarded as poor fare.

FOOD. Gen 3:6. We may form some judgment of the ancient diet from what we know of that of the modern Orientals. Vegetable food is much more common than animal. Instead of butter, lard, and suet, they use olive oil. A soup, or rather pottage, of beans and lentiles, seasoned with garlic and oil, is still, as it was of old, a favorite dish. The "red pottage of lentiles" for which Esau sold his birthright was something of this kind. Eggs, honey, milk (especially sour milk), and garden productions of every kind afford the principal materials of Eastern diet. The most common dish at this day in the East is the pilan, which consists of rice cooked with meat so as to make a sort of broth, seasoned variously and colored blue, red, or yellow. We do not find the use of animal food often occurring, except upon the occasion of entertainments, or the exhibition of hospitality to a friend, Gen 18:7; Luke 15:23, or upon the tables of the rich. The animals used for this purpose, especially neat cattle, were often "stalled" and "fattened." 1 Sam 16:20; 1 Sam 28:24; 1 Kgs 4:23; Neh 5:18; Isa 1:11; Isa 11:6; Jer 46:21; Eze 39:18; Am 6:4; Mal 4:2. Wild game, lambs, and kids constituted the favorite viands in the East. At this day beef is not much used, though from some texts above and other similar authorities we learn that the flesh of young bullocks and stall-fed oxen was highly prized. Prov 15:17; Matt 22:4. In very ancient times it was always the master of the house, whether he were rich or poor, who slew the animal. Jud 6:19. Grecian and Roman writers mention a like custom of later times. The preparation of the food by cooking was the business of the mistress. The shoulder was probably the choicest part. 1 Sam 9:24. It is customary for the Arabs to serve up at one meal the whole of any animal which they have killed. This is occasioned in some measure by the difficulty of preserving fresh meat in the Eastern climate. Gen 18:7:Luke 15:23. The people of the East are particularly fond of fish, and in Egypt this constitutes a very important part of their subsistence. Num 11:5. See Fish.

FOOD. Gen 3:6. We may form some judgment of the ancient diet from what we know of that of the modern Orientals. Vegetable food is much more common than animal. Instead of butter, lard, and suet, they use olive oil. A soup, or rather pottage, of beans and lentiles, seasoned with garlic and oil, is still, as it was of old, a favorite dish. The "red pottage of lentiles" for which Esau sold his birthright was something of this kind. Eggs, honey, milk (especially sour milk), and garden productions of every kind afford the principal materials of Eastern diet. The most common dish at this day in the East is the pilan, which consists of rice cooked with meat so as to make a sort of broth, seasoned variously and colored blue, red, or yellow. We do not find the use of animal food often occurring, except upon the occasion of entertainments, or the exhibition of hospitality to a friend, Gen 18:7; Luke 15:23, or upon the tables of the rich. The animals used for this purpose, especially neat cattle, were often "stalled" and "fattened." 1 Sam 16:20; 1 Sam 28:24; 1 Kgs 4:23; Neh 5:18; Isa 1:11; Isa 11:6; Jer 46:21; Eze 39:18; Am 6:4; Mal 4:2. Wild game, lambs, and kids constituted the favorite viands in the East. At this day beef is not much used, though from some texts above and other similar authorities we learn that the flesh of young bullocks and stall-fed oxen was highly prized. Prov 15:17; Matt 22:4. In very ancient times it was always the master of the house, whether he were rich or poor, who slew the animal. Jud 6:19. Grecian and Roman writers mention a like custom of later times. The preparation of the food by cooking was the business of the mistress. The shoulder was probably the choicest part. 1 Sam 9:24. It is customary for the Arabs to serve up at one meal the whole of any animal which they have killed. This is occasioned in some measure by the difficulty of preserving fresh meat in the Eastern climate. Gen 18:7:Luke 15:23. The people of the East are particularly fond of fish, and in Egypt this constitutes a very important part of their subsistence. Num 11:5. See Fish.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. What is fed upon; that which goes to support life by being received within, and assimilated by, the organism of an animal or a plant; nutriment; aliment; especially, what is eaten by animals for nourishment.

2. Anything that instructs the intellect, excites the feelings, or molds habits of character; that which nourishes. This may prove food to my displeasure. Shak. In this moment there is life and food For future years. Wordsworth.

Synonyms: Aliment; sustenance; nutriment; feed; fare; victuals; provisions; meat.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To supply with food. [Obs.] Baret.