Deuteronomy 14

14:1-21 See “Clean, Unclean, and Holy” Theme Note.14:1 cut yourselves: This pagan custom was usually associated with mourning rites, perhaps to induce the dead to come back to life (see 1 Kgs 18:28; Zech 13:4-6). • shave the hair: This practice also pertained to lament for the dead (see Lev 19:27-28; 21:5-6), but the exact meaning of this rite is unknown.

14:2 The fundamental Hebrew meaning of holy focuses on separation of a person or thing for a particular function or use. A derivative meaning is “pure” or “morally and spiritually upright.”

14:6 split hooves and chews the cud: These criteria distinguished edible animals listed in 14:4-5 from those listed in 14:7-8. Although the people experienced health benefits from observing these restrictions, a thing was actually clean or unclean only because God declared it to be such.

14:7 The hyrax is a rabbit-sized, hoofed mammal.

14:8 The instruction not to touch their carcasses was primarily to maintain ritual purity.

14:11-18 These animals are grouped as flying animals that eat rotting flesh.

14:19-20 winged insects: Cp. Lev 11:20-23.

14:21 Animals that had died a natural death were considered unclean (even if considered clean while living) because they had not been slaughtered according to ritual protocol and their blood had not been properly drained and disposed of (see 12:23-25). • You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk: A common explanation for why this pagan practice was improper is that it displayed insensitivity to the natural feelings of affection and trust between mothers and their offspring (see 28:56-57).

14:22-27 set aside a tithe: The ancient practice of giving a tenth preceded the law of Moses (Gen 14:20; 28:22) and existed in other ancient cultures. Here it is viewed as a tax or tribute collected by the sovereign Lord from his vassals (see study notes on Deut 1:31 and 12:6).

14:23 The place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored (literally the place he will cause his name to dwell) was the central sanctuary, the Lord’s dwelling on the earth among his people (see 12:5, 18).

14:26 Both wine and other alcoholic drink were used in worship ceremonies (Gen 14:18; 35:14; Exod 29:40-41; Matt 26:27) and in celebrations; they signified God’s blessing (Gen 27:25, 28; 49:11; 1 Chr 12:40; Ps 104:15; Song 4:10; 5:1; Isa 25:6; Matt 26:29).

14:27 Because the Levites had no geographic inheritance of their own and were forbidden to engage in secular work, they depended on the support of other tribes (see 12:12).

14:28 An annual tithe was required of all adult Israelite males as part of their festival observances (15:20; 16:16-17). The tithe every third year met the needs of the Levites and other dependent classes in Israelite society (14:29). See study note on Lev 27:30.