This portion, Re\u2019eh, includes what I believe is a pivotal statement with regard to animal sacrifice and the relationship between humans and other animals. It is a significant next step in the biblical Story of the Animals:<\/p>\n
Deut. 12:15-16
\n15
\n\u05e8\u05b7\u05e7\u05a9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b7\u05d5\u05b7\u05bc\u05a8\u05ea \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05da\u05b8\u059c \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d6\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05a3\u05d7 \u05c0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05db\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05a3 \u05d1\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05c2\u0597\u05e8 \u05db\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05a8\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05a7\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u059b\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a5\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b8\u05bd\u05ea\u05b7\u05df\u05be\u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u0591\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d8\u05b8\u05bc\u05de\u05b5\u05a4\u05d0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d8\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8\u0599 \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05b6\u0594\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05e6\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u0596\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05d0\u05b7\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05bd\u05dc
\nBut whenever you desire, you may slaughter and eat meat in any of your settlements, according to the blessing that the LORD your God has granted you. The unclean and the clean alike may partake of it, as of the gazelle and the deer.<\/p>\n
16
\n\u05e8\u05b7\u05a5\u05e7 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b8\u05bc\u0596\u05dd \u05dc\u05b9\u05a3\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b5\u0591\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05a5\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e4\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b6\u0596\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd\u05c3
\nBut you must not partake of the blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.<\/p>\n
This modification of instruction is repeated in the portion:<\/p>\n
Deut. 12:20-24
\n20
\n\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05d9\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d7\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05a9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05a8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05a5\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05bd\u05ea\u05be\u05d2\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05bd\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u05ae \u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a3\u05e8 \u05d3\u05b4\u05bc\u05d1\u05b6\u05bc\u05e8\u05be\u05dc\u05b8\u05da\u05b0\u0592 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u0599 \u05d0\u05b9\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05a3\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05c2\u0594\u05e8 \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05ea\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d5\u05b6\u05bc\u05a5\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05dc\u05b6\u05d0\u05b1\u05db\u05b9\u05a3\u05dc \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05c2\u0591\u05e8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b7\u05d5\u05b7\u05bc\u05a5\u05ea \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05db\u05b7\u05a5\u05dc \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05bd\u05c2\u05e8\u05c3
\nWhen the LORD enlarges your territory, as He has promised you, and you say, \u201cI shall eat some meat,\u201d for you have the urge to eat meat, you may eat meat whenever you wish.<\/p>\n
21
\n\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05d9\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05a8\u05e7 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05bc\u05da\u05b8\u059c \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05e7\u0597\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a8\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u059c\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05a3\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8\u05ae \u05dc\u05b8\u05e9\u05c2\u05a3\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05a3\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05dd\u0592 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d6\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u059e \u05de\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u05a3 \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b9\u05bc\u05bd\u05d0\u05e0\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u0597 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a8\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05a4\u05df \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4\u0599 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u0594 \u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u0596\u05e8 \u05e6\u05b4\u05d5\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u0591\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05bd\u05db\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u0599 \u05d1\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u0594\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b9\u0596\u05dc \u05d0\u05b7\u05d5\u05b7\u05bc\u05a5\u05ea \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b6\u05bd\u05c1\u05da\u05b8\u05c3
\nIf the place where the LORD has chosen to establish His name is too far from you, you may slaughter any of the cattle or sheep that the LORD gives you, as I have instructed you; and you may eat to your heart\u2019s content in your settlements.<\/p>\n
22
\n\u05d0\u05b7\u0597\u05da\u05b0 \u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a8\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05db\u05b5\u05a4\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05bd\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05e6\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u0599 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05a3\u05d0\u05b7\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u0594\u05dc \u05db\u05b5\u05bc\u0596\u05df \u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05b6\u0591\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b7\u05d8\u05b8\u05bc\u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u0599 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d8\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4\u0594\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05d3\u05b8\u05bc\u0596\u05d5 \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05b6\u05bd\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05c3
\nEat it, however, as the gazelle and the deer are eaten: the unclean may eat it together with the clean.<\/p>\n
23
\n\u05e8\u05b7\u05a3\u05e7 \u05d7\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u0597\u05e7 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u0599 \u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b9\u05a3\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b8\u05bc\u0594\u05dd \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05a5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b8\u05bc\u0596\u05dd \u05d4\u05a3\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u0591\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0\u05be\u05ea\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b7\u05a5\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05e0\u05b6\u05bc\u0596\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e2\u05b4\u05dd\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05bd\u05c2\u05e8\u05c3
\nBut make sure that you do not partake of the blood; for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the life with the flesh.<\/p>\n
24
\n\u05dc\u05b9\u0596\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05b6\u0591\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05a5\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e4\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b6\u0596\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd\u05c3
\nYou must not partake of it; you must pour it out on the ground like water:<\/p>\n
25
\n\u05dc\u05b9\u0596\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05b6\u0591\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05a8\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05d9\u05b4\u05d9\u05d8\u05b7\u05a4\u05d1 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8\u0599 \u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b6\u05a3\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e8\u05b6\u0594\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05ea\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c2\u05a5\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u0596\u05e8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b5\u05a5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05bd\u05d4\u05c3
\nyou must not partake of it, in order that it may go well with you and with your descendants to come, for you will be doing what is right in the sight of the LORD.<\/p>\n
In the JPS Torah Commentary to Deuteronomy<\/i>, commentator Jeffrey H. Tigay describes the content of these passages in this way: \u201cThe need to permit secular slaughter eliminated the sacral dimension of meat meals.\u201d This desacralization accords with the general content in Deuteronomy, which in limiting \u201csacrificial worship to a single place would inevitably remove a sacral dimension from the life of most Israelites.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tigay notes that this trend in Deuteronomy has sometimes been termed \u201csecularization,\u201d but he suggests the book is in fact profoundly religious in \u201cseeking unceasingly to teach love and reverence for G-d to every Israelite and to encourage rituals which have that effect. Deuteronomy\u2019s aim is to spiritualize religion by freeing it from excessive dependence on sacrifice and priesthood.\u201d (p. xvii)<\/p>\n
These comments were antithetical to my own first thoughts from my contemporary perspective. Initially I intended to write about how the desacralization of meat-eating is another (and major) step in a journey toward thoughtless consumption of animals as food. \u00a0This commentary, however, suggests how it might represent not a de-evolution but an evolution in consciousness.<\/p>\n
What Is Sacred?<\/b>
\nTigay\u2019s \u201cdesacralization\u201d with reference to these excerpts refers not to holiness but to purity, two different biblical taxa. G-d is both holy and pure. Human beings are capable of holiness, associated with ethical commandments. In their natural state, they are impure, subject as they are to death, birth, menstruation, seminal emissions and organic decay represented in leprosy. Impurity is, however, a temporary state which can be changed through purification rituals for the purpose of approaching G-d.<\/p>\n
Accordingly, these passages allow Israelites to share and eat non-sacrificial meat in the company of those who are in a state of impurity (without specifying whether this might include non-Israelites). Similarly, the meat is not sacred since it did not pass through the required rituals associated with presentation on the altar in Jerusalem. The blood prohibition, incumbent upon both Israelites and non-Israelites, remains in effect.<\/p>\n
Context<\/b>
\nThese verses occur following a summary of the introductory chapters of Deuteronomy, climaxing in a ceremony at Mounts Ebal and Gerizim where participants are instructed to choose the path of life over death. Deut. 12, the chapter that contains these verses, begins the core of Deuteronomy, which continues through chapter 26. Specifically, Deut. 12 focuses on the place of worship and details \u201cthree basic rules: Canaanite places of worship must be destroyed; Israel may perform sacrificial worship at only one place, chosen by G-d; and non-sacrificial slaughter is permitted to those living at a distance from the chosen place.\u201d (JPS Commentary to Deuteronomy<\/i>,p. 117).<\/p>\n
Deut. 12 concludes with an explanation, of sorts, for the harsh destruction the Israelites bring to the inhabitants of the Land and their altars: the Canaanites who preceded them performed \u201cfor their gods every abhorrent act that the Lord detests; they even offer up their sons and daughters in fire<\/i> to their gods.\u201d This juxtaposition, the focus on food, in particular animal flesh, and the explanation that concludes the chapter, highlights the relationship between Moloch worship, which lured the Israelites, and biblical animal sacrifice. (See postscript note in my post, Eternal Life).<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n Paradigm shift<\/strong> For a long time I\u2019ve tried to engage with the text at a deep enough level to understand the human motivation behind animal sacrifice. What could possibly make taking an innocent, terrified and probably bleating or otherwise crying animal, slaughtering it and pouring its blood on the altar a religiously or emotionally significant act for people? And it seems stumbling upon descriptions of Moloch worship among the Israelites might be the key for which I searched.<\/p>\n With Moloch worship in the background, animal sacrifice was a step forward in consciousness. This paradigm shift is the focus of Akedat Yitzhak, the Sacrifice of Isaac story in Genesis. Here in Deuteronomy, it leads to another paradigm shift, allowing desacralized meat eating for the Israelites as a way to reduce dependence on the sacrificial cult.<\/p>\n Moloch worship might put not only animal sacrifice in a somewhat more positive light but might also explain the intense and repeated exaltation of human life. There are clear statements that set human life above all other life. In addition to those, in the course of my posts, I theorized that \u201cpure\u201d animals, animals fit to consume, are animals that don\u2019t kill humans for food. I wondered why animals were also sentenced to death in the Flood story and suspected they participated in the generalized violence on earth by killing humans. Legal restitution for animal lives is monetary \u2014 for human life, blood. The adamant stance on the sanctity of human life is a vehement rejection of a cultural norm, child sacrifice.<\/p>\n The Passages: A Comparison<\/b><\/p>\n The instruction in Deut. 12:15-16 that allows desacralized meat eating is repeated in extended form in Deut. 12:20-24. Both versions of the revised instruction, though, include the same three elements:<\/p>\n In the first (more terse) statement, Deut. 12:15 says, \u201cwhenever you desire…\u201d Deut. 12:20 and 21 amplify the theme with \u201cfor you have the urge…\u201d and \u201c…to your heart\u2019s content.\u201d This license is uncharacteristic in a text that is otherwise absorbed with restraining human impulse and regulating human behavior. Also uncharacteristic in a text that vehemently separates Israelites from surrounding cultures that might undermine their national task are the statements about \u201cclean\u201d and \u201cunclean\u201d eating together without specifying that should be only Israelites. Deut. 20 may attempt a clarification with \u201cin your settlements\u201d but not necessarily. Who\u2019s to say that only Israelites live in a settlement?<\/p>\n The overall effect of the repetition of references to immediate gratification and an environment of impurity is to suggest gluttony \u2014 but only to an extent, since blood is prohibited to the \u201cclean\u201d and the \u201cunclean\u201d alike, encouraging some restraint. As a Noachide law, this prohibition extends to the world at large. This juxtaposition of satisfying desire and refraining from eating the blood accords with an ambivalent attitude to meat consumption I have noted on other occasions:<\/p>\n
\nIt is hard to imagine that I have read and re-read this text as many times as I have and missed the searing implications of the direct and sometimes not-so-direct references to Moloch worship and the extent to which that particular cultural interaction, exacerbated by the guilt of participation (according to the text), shaped Israelite religion.<\/p>\n\n