Adventist Theological Society

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The conviction that inspires the Adventist Theological Society arises out of a strong desire to foster biblical, theological, and historical studies that strengthen the Seventh-day Adventist Church's message and mission.

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The abstract of Jiri dissertation. 

THE LAWS OF CLEAN AND UNCLEAN ANIMALS OF
LEVITICUS 11: THEIR NATURE, THEOLOGY, AND
RATIONALE (AN INTERTEXTUAL STUDY)
Name: Jiii Moskala
Adviser: Jacques B. Doukhan, D.H.L., Th.D.
This dissertation fills a gap in Pentateuchal studies on the Mosaic dietary laws
concerning clean and unclean animals by investigating the nature, theology, and
rationale of the food regulations. After an introduction, chapter 1 deals with the
chronological development of the interpretation of the laws of clean and unclean food.
Chapter 2 reviews relevant explanations of these laws topically, analyzes them, and
briefly evaluates the different approaches to the Pentateuchal dietary laws. Chapter 3
examines the context and the literary structure of Lev 11 and demonstrates on exegetical
grounds various links among key Pentateuchal passages (Gen 1-2, Gen 3, Gen 7-9, Lev
11, and Deut 14:2-21). Chapter 4 describes these dietary regulations in the broader
perspective of a theology of eating. The rationale of dietary rules is explored. The fd
conclusion summarizes the main points of the investigation.
This intertextual study within the canonical text of the Pentateuch
demonstrates exegetically that the Mosaic laws of clean and unclean animals are
to be taken as dietary laws (Lev 11:l-23, 41-47; Deut 14:2-21). The study
differentiates between two basic types of uncleanness: rituaVceremonial and
natural/hereditary. Ritual uncleanness is closely associated with elements of time, and/or isolation, and/or cleansing, and/or sacrifices. On the other hand, natural
uncleanness, which is related only to the dietary laws, is permanent, and no rituals
are involved. I argue that such a category of uncleanness belongs to universal law.
The Mosaic dietary laws are built on the Genesis creation cosmology. The
taxonomy of these laws reflects the categories of animals presented in the creation
story. The first creation account stresses concepts of life, habitats, locomotion,
separation, limits, different categories of living creatures, the image of God, and
holiness. Gen 2 adds the important theological dimension of choice among the trees in
the garden of Eden in relationship to eating. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil
teaches humans their limits. Gen 3 presents new dietary regulations with the story of
original sin. The flood story introduces the concept of clean and unclean animals, and
the new creation order as presented in Gen 9 stresses prohibition of blood.
The links between the main Pentateuchal sections related to the dietary laws
are firmly established on terminological, conceptual, stylistic, structural, and
theological grounds, especially Gen 1-2, Gen 3, Gen 9, and Deut 14:2-21 which are
explored in relationship to Lev 11. This study reveals that there is a definite link
between the Mosaic laws and the creation account.
The primary rationale of the Mosaic dietary laws is respect for the Creator.
Under this umbrella other important aspects are included: holiness (imitatio Dez),
natural repulsiveness, a wall against paganism, health, and respect for life.
A model of Creation-Fall-New Creation order is reflected in the formation of the
dietary laws. Laws regarding clean animals maintain and sustain life (originally included
in the creation order of vegetarian Edenic food prescriptions); this principle of life lies
behind the new creation order reflected in the prohibition of blood, and is included in
the Mosaic dietary laws. On the other hand, the laws of unclean animals are connected
to death: several factors must be integrated in order to explain the uncleanness, such as
carnivorous habits of unclean animals, use of some of them in war, and unsuitability for
human health. Thus the overarching criterion for the laws of clean and unclean animals
is Creation itself, which is linked to life, whereas departure from the Creation ideal
(the Fall) is tied to death. Any factor which reflects primary concern for the life-
death principle is taken seriously in this approach. Because the Creation-Fall-New
Creation model lies behind the Pentateuchal dietary regulations, the theological
interpretation presented here is called the "Creation-Fall-New Creation pattern theory."