Leviticus 17:15

15 And every soul that eateth that which died [of itself], or that which was torn [with beasts], ([whether it is] one of your own country, or a stranger) he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the evening; then shall he be clean.

Leviticus 17:15 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 17:15

And every soul that eateth that which died [of itself]
Through any disease upon it, or by means of any other creature seizing upon it and worrying it, or was not lawfully killed; if a man ate ever so little of it, even but the quantity of an olive, it was a breach of this law; which is connected with the preceding, there being a similarity between them, because such creatures must have their blood in them, not being regularly let out, and so eating of them would offend against the above law. It is very probable, as Grotius thinks, that Pythagoras took his notion from hence, and strictly enjoined his followers to abstain from all animals that died of themselves, as Laertius F14 and Aelianus F15 relate, and which Porphyry F16 suggests, was what universally obtained among men: or that which was torn [with beasts];
though not dead, yet ready to die, and so unfit for food; (See Gill on Exodus 22:31); [whether it be] one of your own country, or a stranger;
a native of Israel, or a proselyte of righteousness; for as for any other stranger he might eat of it, ( Deuteronomy 14:22 ) ; he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water;
in forty seahs of water, as the Targum of Jonathan, dip himself all over: and be unclean until the even;
and so have no conversation with men in civil or religious things: then shall he be clean;
when he has washed his garments, and bathed himself, and the evening is come, and then shall be admitted to society as before: this is to be understood of one who ignorantly eats of the above things, not knowing them to be such; otherwise, if he did it presumptuously, he was to be punished.


FOOTNOTES:

F14 In Vit. Pythagor. l. 8. p. 588.
F15 Var. Hist. l. 4. c. 17.
F16 De Abstiuentia, l. 3. sect. 18.

Leviticus 17:15 In-Context

13 And whatever man [there may be] of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, who hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out its blood, and cover it with dust.
14 For [it is] the life of all flesh, the blood of it [is] for the life of it; therefore I said to the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh [is] its blood: whoever eateth it shall be cut off.
15 And every soul that eateth that which died [of itself], or that which was torn [with beasts], ([whether it is] one of your own country, or a stranger) he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the evening; then shall he be clean.
16 But if he doth not wash [them], nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.
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