Day 6 (Part 3): Leviticus 11:24-32 (Study Notes)
Parsha Shmini Day 6 (Part 3): Leviticus 11:24-32 (Study Notes)
(Leviticus 11:24-28)
In Leviticus chapter 11, verse 24 through 28 Moshe tells of the actions and activities that make a person unclean if done with an unclean animal, insect, bird or otherwise.
Moshe says that touching the carcass of an unclean animal makes the person unclean until evening. Moshe also says that carrying the carcass of an unclean animal makes a person unclean.
When Jews become unclean, we are to wash our clothes and remain unclean until evening. When evening comes and a new day begins, the Jew is considered clean by Hashem.
These statements about being unclean until evening and clean at the dawn (or should I say nightfall) of a new day, seems meaningless or mundane until we consider what Hashem has promised regarding His return.
After us Jewish people have suffered double for our sins Isaiah chapter 40 verses one through three says that Hashem promises that all of our sins will be forgiven. In those days, it will be the days of moshiach wherein, the light of Hashem will dawn upon the whole entire world.
In those days, there will be no need for sun, nor will the moon set ever again. It will be all day all the time, like the first three days of creation when the glory-light of Hashem was the only light in the universe. The continuous day means no nightfall. No nightfall means no need to start anew. There will be no unclean Jew ever again. Meaning there will be no sin—all light will be the sign that all sins are truly forgiven.
When this occurs, we Jews are promised that a stream will go out from the temple, and the Jewish people will wash in the ophal where the hundreds of Mikva’s are found. We will literally wash, be cleansed and remain clean for all of eternity. The new day that will arise will be the last nightfall. Then, we are promised there will be light at eventide. It will be all glory all the time.
Thus these rituals of cleansing after becoming unclean through touching an unclean animal carcass are not meaningless they are practice for eternal glory.
(Leviticus 11:28)
In Leviticus chapter 11, verse 28 Moshe again lists three characteristics of unclean animals. Again he states an animal is unclean if
they do not have a cleft in their hoof,
if they do not chew the cud, or
if they are an animal that walks on paws.
These animals are not unclean so long as they are alive. It is the carcasses of these animals that are unclean. Hence eating their (dead) flesh is forbidden.
(Leviticus 11:29-32)
In Leviticus chapter 11 verses 29 through 32 Moshe lists more unclean animals that swarm on the Earth. These unclean animals also should not be eaten by Jewish Israelites. These include:
the mole,
the mouse,
the great lizard of all kinds,
the gecko
the land crocodile,
the lizard,
the sand lizard, and
the chameleon.
When we read this list, we can understand that most birds of prey eat these unclean animals that swarm on the Earth. Since they eat these unclean animals, such birds of prey become unclean themselves, and therefore they are unclean for Jewish people to eat. We know this because Moshe says if a person touches the carcass of one of these unclean swarming animals, you become unclean. If touching a carcass makes you unclean so too would eating the carcass that ate an unclean carcass.
Further, Moshe continues by telling us that if one of these unclean swarming, animals dies, and their carcass falls on an object, the object becomes unclean. The objects specified by Moshe, are
items of wood
cloth,
a skin, or
a sack.
When we consider the stomach of an animal, we can understand the stomach as a skin or a sack, therefore, if an animal or a bird of prey eats an unclean animal or swarming creature, that skin or sack becomes unclean. However, unlike a vessel that can be washed in water, the stomach of an animal cannot, therefore the bird of prey cannot become clean through washing.
Moshe tells us that if an item of wood, cloth, skin, or a sack is to be used after the carcass of an unclean swarming animal falls upon it, then the item must be dipped in water and it too will remain unclean until evening. After evening, the item will be clean.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Kimberly Davis