G.J. Wenham
Why Were
Some Animals Unclean In Leviticus?
"The
animal world is divided into three spheres: those that fly
in the air, those that walk on the land, and those that swim
in the seas (cf. Gen 1:20-30). Each sphere has a particular
mode of motion associated with it. Birds have two wings with
which to fly, and two feet for walking; fish have fins and
scales with which to swim; land animals have hoofs to run
with. The clean animals are those that conform to these
standard pure types.
Those creatures which in some way transgress the boundaries
are unclean. Thus fish without fins and scales are unclean
(Lev. 11:10; Deut 14:10). Insects which fly but which have
many legs are unclean, whereas locusts which have wings and
only two hopping legs are clean (Lev. 11:20-23). Animals
with an indeterminate form of motion, i.e., which "swarm,"
are unclean (Lev. 11:41-44). "Holiness requires that
individuals shall conform to the class to which they
belong." (see M. Douglas, Purity and Danger, p. 53). Insofar
as some animals do not conform (to what is normal and
appropriate to their class), they are unclean." (The object
was to teach order within Gods camp. His people were divided
into an orderly nation of various "classes," priests,
levites, elders, leaders, common people, tribes, and so
on)."
Gordon J.
Wenham, "The Book of Leviticus" Reprinted (Grand Rapids:
Michigan, Eerdmans 1983) p. 169
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