Deuteronomy Chapter 14

### **1. Israel’s Holiness as God’s People (Verse 1-2)**

The chapter begins with a reminder of the Israelites’ unique status as God’s chosen people. **“You are the children of the Lord your God”** (v. 1), Moses tells them, emphasizing that they must not imitate the customs of pagan nations, particularly when it comes to mourning practices. He specifically commands them not to cut themselves or shave the front of their heads for the dead, as these were pagan mourning rituals.

Moses reaffirms that the Israelites are a **holy people**, set apart for God, who has chosen them to be His special possession out of all the peoples on earth (v. 2). This call to holiness forms the foundation for the dietary laws that follow, demonstrating how their everyday actions, including what they eat, are part of their spiritual devotion and distinct identity.

#### **2. Dietary Laws: Clean and Unclean Animals (Verses 3-21)**

The majority of Deuteronomy 14 focuses on the dietary laws that distinguish between clean and unclean animals. These laws were given to ensure that the Israelites maintained their purity before God in all aspects of life, including their diet.

Moses begins by stating, **“Do not eat any detestable thing”** (v. 3). He then goes on to list specific animals that are considered clean and permissible to eat, as well as those that are unclean and forbidden. The animals are divided into categories:

- **Land animals**: Clean animals are those that both **chew the cud and have split hooves**, such as cattle, sheep, and goats (v. 4-5). Unclean animals include camels, rabbits, and pigs because they do not meet both of these criteria (v. 7-8). Notably, pigs are singled out as especially unclean, and the Israelites are prohibited not only from eating their meat but also from touching their carcasses.

- **Sea creatures**: Clean sea creatures must have **fins and scales** (v. 9). Any aquatic animals that lack fins and scales, such as shellfish, are considered unclean and are forbidden (v. 10).

- **Birds**: Moses provides a list of unclean birds that should not be eaten, such as eagles, vultures, and owls (v. 12-18). The passage implies that other birds, not on this list, are permissible.

- **Insects and other creatures**: The Israelites are also prohibited from eating certain insects or creatures that **crawl on the ground** (v. 19). The broader implication is that animals associated with filth, decay, or scavenging are not to be consumed.

Additionally, Moses gives specific instructions regarding animals that die naturally: the Israelites must not eat any animal that has died on its own (v. 21). They may, however, give it to a foreigner living among them or sell it to an outsider, but it is forbidden for them to eat because they are a **holy people**.

The chapter also reiterates the prohibition of boiling a young goat in its mother’s milk (v. 21), a law likely meant to prevent the Israelites from adopting certain pagan fertility rituals.

#### **3. The Laws of Tithing (Verses 22-29)**

The second half of Deuteronomy 14 focuses on the **law of tithing**, specifically the practice of setting aside a portion of one’s produce and livestock for God. The purpose of tithing is both an act of devotion and a way to support the religious and social structure of the community.

Moses instructs the Israelites to **set aside a tenth of all their produce each year** (v. 22) to be taken to the place where God chooses to establish His name, which would later become the temple in Jerusalem. There, the people are to eat this tithe in the presence of the Lord as a way of celebrating and acknowledging God’s provision (v. 23). This practice was intended to remind the Israelites of their dependence on God and to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and reverence.

However, Moses makes a concession for those who live far from the designated place of worship. If the journey is too long to transport the tithe, the Israelites are allowed to **exchange their tithe for money**, take the money to the place of worship, and then buy whatever food and drink they desire to consume in celebration before the Lord (v. 24-26).

In addition to the annual tithe, every third year the Israelites were to set aside a special tithe for the **Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows** who lived in their towns (v. 28-29). This social provision ensures that the marginalized and those without land inheritance, like the Levites, are cared for. God promises to bless the Israelites for their generosity and obedience in caring for the vulnerable among them.