Deuteronomy 14

Deuteronomy 14 focuses on Israel's call to be a holy people. It covers laws about mourning practices, dietary restrictions, and tithing. The laws set Israel apart from surrounding nations, reflecting God's concern for their spiritual and physical well-being, and ensuring they live according to His commandments in a distinct, consecrated manner.

Deuteronomy 14:1-3 (NKJV)
1 “You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead.
2 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
3 You shall not eat any detestable thing.”

These verses emphasize that the Israelites are God's chosen people, set apart for a holy purpose. As such, they should not engage in pagan mourning rituals like cutting or shaving their heads. Their behavior should reflect their unique relationship with God, living differently from the surrounding nations. Verse 3 transitions into dietary laws, underscoring the importance of purity, even in what they consume, and keeping away from unclean practices.

Deuteronomy 14:4-8 (NKJV)
4 “These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,
5 the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the mountain goat, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.
6 And you may eat every animal with cloven hooves, having the hoof split in two parts, and that chews the cud, among the animals.
7 Nevertheless, of those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat such as these: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax, for they chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean for you.
8 Also the swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses.”

These verses list the clean animals that Israel is allowed to eat and those they should avoid. The clean animals have two key characteristics: they chew the cud and have cloven hooves. Animals that do not meet both criteria, like camels and pigs, are deemed unclean. These dietary restrictions distinguish Israel's eating habits from the surrounding nations, reinforcing their identity as a holy people who obey God's specific guidelines for purity and health.

Deuteronomy 14:9-10 (NKJV)
9 “These you may eat of all that are in the waters: you may eat all that have fins and scales.
10 And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.”

These verses outline the rules for eating creatures from the water. Only fish with both fins and scales are considered clean and permissible for consumption. Those that lack fins and scales, such as shellfish or certain types of fish, are unclean and should not be eaten. These rules serve to protect the Israelites from consuming potentially harmful foods and further reinforce their distinctiveness.

Deuteronomy 14:11-18 (NKJV)
11 “All clean birds you may eat.
12 But these you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard,
13 the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds;
14 every raven after its kind,
15 the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the seagull, and the hawk after their kinds;
16 the little owl, the screech owl, the white owl,
17 the jackdaw, the carrion vulture, the fisher owl,
18 the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe and the bat.”

In these verses, God specifies which birds are considered clean and can be eaten, as well as those that are unclean and forbidden. The unclean birds listed are primarily scavengers and predators, known for eating carrion or prey, making them unsuitable for consumption. By following these dietary restrictions, the Israelites remain set apart, avoiding defilement and living in obedience to God's commands.

Deuteronomy 14:19-20 (NKJV)
19 “Also every creeping thing that flies is unclean for you; they shall not be eaten.
20 You may eat all clean birds.”

These verses reiterate that flying insects, which creep or swarm, are considered unclean and should not be eaten, except for clean birds, which are permissible. The distinction between clean and unclean maintains Israel's ceremonial purity and health while reflecting their obedience to God's detailed instructions.

Deuteronomy 14:21 (NKJV)
21 “You shall not eat anything that dies of itself; you may give it to the alien who is within your gates, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people to the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

This verse forbids the consumption of animals that die naturally, as they might be unclean or unsafe to eat. However, they may be given or sold to non-Israelites, showing that the law applies specifically to God's chosen people. The final command, not to boil a young goat in its mother's milk, is a prohibition likely aimed at avoiding pagan fertility rituals, further emphasizing Israel's holiness and separation from pagan practices.

Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (NKJV)
22 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.
23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.”

These verses introduce the practice of tithing, where the Israelites are instructed to set aside a portion of their harvest and livestock as an offering to God. The tithe is to be consumed in the place God chooses, likely at the tabernacle or temple, as a way of maintaining reverence for Him. This practice reinforces dependence on God and gratitude for His provisions, while also supporting worship and the priesthood.

Deuteronomy 14:24-27 (NKJV)
24 “But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you,
25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses.
26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.
27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.”

These verses provide practical instructions for those living far from the designated place of worship. Instead of carrying the tithe of grain and livestock, they could convert it into money and use that to buy offerings upon reaching the sanctuary. This allows everyone to participate in worship and celebration, ensuring that no one is excluded due to logistical difficulties. Additionally, they are reminded to care for the Levites, who rely on the people’s tithes since they do not have land to inherit.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (NKJV)
28 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates.
29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”

These final verses outline the special tithe collected every third year, which is stored in local towns and distributed to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows—those most vulnerable in society. This ensures that all members of the community, including the marginalized, are cared for. By obeying this command, the Israelites not only fulfill God's law but also secure His continued blessings on their work and livelihood.