From the Disproofs of the Oral Law series.
5. Furthermore, when the Torah [Lev. 3:17] says "It is a law for all time throughout the ages, in all your settlements: you must not eat any fat or any blood", what exactly is fat? Are there different types of animal fat, some which are permitted and some which are forbidden? How are these fats differentiated? [Kuzari, ibid; Rashbatz, ibid.]
Leviticus 3:17 is the last phrase in a passage. Reading the whole passage, rather than focusing on one phrase from it, answers these questions. Here the entire Leviticus 3, with my emphases:
If his offering is a sacrifice of well-being --If he offers of the herd, whether a male or a female, he shall bring before YHWH one without blemish. He shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall dash the blood against all sides of the altar. He shall then present from the sacrifice of well-being, as an offering by fire to YHWH, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is about the entrails; the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, that is at the loins; and the protuberance on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. Aaron's sons shall turn these into smoke on the altar, with the burnt offering which is upon the wood that is on the fire, as an offering by fire, of pleasing odor to YHWH.
And if his offering for a sacrifice of well-being to YHWH is from the flock, whether a male or a female, he shall offer one without blemish. If he presents a sheep as his offering, he shall bring it before YHWH and lay his hand upon the head of his offering. It shall be slaughtered before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. He shall then present, as an offering by fire to YHWH, the fat from the sacrifice of well-being: the whole broad tail, which shall be removed close to the backbone; the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is about the entrails; the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, that is at the loins; and the protuberance on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. The priest shall turn these into smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire to YHWH.
And if his offering is a goat, he shall bring it before YHWH and lay his hand upon its head. It shall be slaughtered before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. He shall then present as his offering from it, as an offering by fire to YHWH, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is about the entrails; the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, that is at the loins; and the protuberance on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. The priest shall turn these into smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire, of pleasing odor.
All fat is YHWH's. It is a law for all time throughout the ages, in all your settlements: you must not eat any fat or any blood.
The word "fat" / cheilev from Lev 3:17 refers to the fat that has been described in the preceding verses. Namely, this is a prohibition against eating any of the following:
This is how the forbidden fat is described in several other places as well. For example, in Exodus 29:13 or Leviticus 4:8.
All other animal fats are permitted, since they are not forbidden.
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Posted by: Yoshiyahu at January 27, 2004 02:35 AM