Deuteronomy 14:1-29
A Holy People
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1You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,
2for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth.
3You must not eat any detestable thing.
4These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat,
5the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.
6You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.
7But of those that chew the cud or have a completely divided hoof, you are not to eat the following: the camel, the rabbit, or the rock badger. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof. They are unclean for you,
8as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.
9Of all the creatures that live in the water, you may eat anything with fins and scales,
10but you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales; it is unclean for you.
11You may eat any clean bird,
12but these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,
13the red kite, the falcon, any kind of kite,
14any kind of raven,
15the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,
16the little owl, the great owl, the white owl,
17the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant,
18the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, or the bat.
19All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.
20But you may eat any clean bird.
21You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
22You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields.
23And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
24But if the distance is too great for you to carry that with which the LORD your God has blessed you, because the place where the LORD your God will choose to put His Name is too far away,
25then exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place the LORD your God will choose.
26Then you may spend the money on anything you desire: cattle, sheep, wine, strong drink, or anything you wish. You are to feast there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice with your household.
27And do not neglect the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.
28At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and lay it up within your gates.
29Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Moses begins by telling Israel that they are children of the LORD and His treasured people. They must not cut themselves or shave their foreheads in mourning for the dead. Belonging to God reaches into grief as well as celebration.
The food laws also distinguish Israel's daily life. Land animals must both chew the cud and have divided hooves; creatures from the water must have fins and scales. The chapter names forbidden birds and other creatures, prohibits eating a carcass, and forbids cooking a young goat in its mother's milk. These are the boundaries given to this holy people.
Each year Israel is to set aside a tenth of the field's produce and eat before the LORD at His chosen place. If the journey is too far to carry the produce, it may be exchanged for money and used to buy food and drink there. The household is to rejoice in God's presence and learn to fear Him. The Levite must not be neglected.
At the end of every third year, the tithe of that year's produce is stored in the towns for the Levite, foreigner, fatherless, and widow. Those without the same land or family support can come and eat until they are satisfied. The God who claims Israel also directs its abundance toward people who need it.
Questions
1 Why was Israel called holy?
AnswerIsrael was holy because the LORD had chosen them as His treasured possession among all the peoples on earth.
2 What did the food laws teach Israel to practice?
AnswerThey taught Israel to distinguish between clean and unclean animals in the ordinary act of eating.
3 What happened to the third-year tithe?
AnswerIt was stored in the towns so the Levite, foreigner, fatherless, and widow could eat and be satisfied.
4 What could a household do if the journey was too far to carry its produce?
AnswerIt could exchange the produce for money, travel to the LORD's chosen place, and buy food and drink there to enjoy before Him.
What This Means for Us
The food boundaries belong to Israel's covenant life and are not a simple modern menu. The chapter still resists a spirituality that stays inside private belief. Belonging to God touches habits and the way resources are shared.
Let holiness make your household more generous and attentive. Notice who lacks the security you take for granted, then turn gratitude into a concrete act of care.
Prayer
God who calls a people Your own, make our daily habits faithful and our generosity visible. Help us remember those who lack security and share what You have entrusted to us. Amen.
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