Deuteronomy 14 Commentary

The Israelites are commanded not to cut themselves nor shave their forehead when mourning because they are a holy people to the LORD who chooses them to be His treasured possession.

Continuing the theme of holiness, Moses then moves to what food the Israelites were permitted to eat and what they were prohibited from eating. He specifies which land animals were acceptable as food and which ones were to be avoided.

Moses gives regulations regarding aquatic animals that were acceptable and unacceptable for food. Any fish that has fins and scales is permitted. Any fish that does not have fins and scales is forbidden.

Moses lists the unclean birds which the Israelites are prohibited from eating. He commands the people to eat any clean bird.

Moses continues with the dietary laws and briefly describes the flying insects that are clean and those that are unclean to Israel.

The Israelites are to refrain from eating anything which dies naturally because they are a holy people to the Suzerain (Ruler) God.

The Israelites were commanded to tithe all their agricultural products in order to learn to fear the Suzerain (Ruler) God. They were also commanded to take care of the Levites.