Today’s reading included several chapters from Leviticus. I noticed a couple of things. First, in the list of dietary laws, there is no exception for necessity. It would seem that under the Hebrew law, at least as transmitted to the Levites, if faced with eating a camel, a lobster, or a pig OR die. You should die.
On the other hand, there are many exceptions for the poor. For example, Leviticus 14:19-22. Also, interesting, the scripture gives great detail about what to do if you have various afflictions: skin rashes, mildew, etc. But the instructions are not to heal the afflicted. Rather, they instructions are to become “clean” again.
By contrast, in Mark, Jesus is all about healing, as in removing the illness. The reason I find this curious, is that surely the Hebrews had ways to treat rashes. But that is not in the Scripture. (At least not yet.)
[February 21 through 23 in the One Year Bible]
3 replies on “Day Eighteen (Hebrew Law)”
By contrast, in Mark, Jesus is all about healing, as in removing the illness. The reason I find this curious, is that surely the Hebrews had ways to treat rashes. But that is not in the Scripture. (At least not yet.)
Surely they did, but that means to me that the authors are imploring us to stay clean, practice good hygiene, and see a doctor when we're sick.
inesse
I think we can all get on board with that.
It's further evidence, as if we needed any more, that the "literal" reading of the bible uses the lesser known 8th definition of "literal" which is, "made up; allegorical"
burcedge