Cover the blood (of a slaughtered beast or fowl) with earth

The Literal Commandment

"So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth." (Leviticus 17:13)

 

The blood of animals caught while hunting shall be poured out and covered with earth.

 

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

 

Pictures of Messiah

After the Fall of mankind, G-d tells Adam this:

"By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:19)

 

Scripture informs us "the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11) so when an animal is hunted and slain for food, its blood/life must return to the earth and be covered.

Consider also that the Word of G-d, the Living G-d, came to earth and was covered with earth (clothed in flesh).

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

 

That same innocent life was taken, returned to the earth, and covered:

And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:59-60)

 

Once again, the commandments of G-d picture

  

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah did not sin (Hebrews 4:15), so we know Messiah fulfilled this commandment by covering the blood of a slaughtered beast or fowl with earth.

 

Traditional Observance

Although this verse explicitly addresses the blood of animals caught while hunting, traditional observance of this commandment involves the blood of any animal slaughtered for food (note the "which may be eaten" portion of the sentence).

 

Other Notes

We are able to fulfill this commandment today and should take the blood of any animal hunted for food and cover it with earth.

 

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Commandment Details

  • Mishneh Torah # 206
  • Mishneh Torah Book # 5
  • Mishneh Torah Book Holiness
  • Mishneh Torah Category 27- Slaughter
  • Reference Leviticus 17:13
  • Scripture Book Leviticus
  • Chapter 17
  • Verse 13
  • English So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.
  • Hebrew יג וְאִישׁ אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּמִן-הַגֵּר הַגָּר בְּתוֹכָם, אֲשֶׁר יָצוּד צֵיד חַיָּה אוֹ-עוֹף, אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל--וְשָׁפַךְ, אֶת-דָּמוֹ, וְכִסָּהוּ, בֶּעָפָר.
  • Greek 13 καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ τῶν προσηλύτων τῶν προσκειμένων ἐν ὑμῖν, ὃς ἂν θηρεύσῃ θήρευμα θηρίον ἢ πετεινόν, ὃ ἔσθεται, καὶ ἐκχεεῖ τὸ αἷμα καὶ καλύψει αὐτὸ τῇ γῇ·
  • Parashah 29- Acharei Mot
  • Positive/Negative Positive
  • Sefer Hachinuch # 187
  • Sef. Hach. Command The precept of covering the blood in the ritual slaying of an animal
  • Category Food
  • We can fulfill today Yes

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