Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il>]

Ray Clendenen wrote:

> This is an example of begging the question. The point being made is only
> valid if the critical model of Israel's history is presupposed. According
> to the biblical text as it stands, not only was the cult already
> centralized when Lev. 17 was written, but Israel was living at the time
> surrounding the sanctuary. If this was actually the case, this would
> explain why profane slaughter could be forbidden, since it could all be
> done at the sanctuary.

Do you mean to say that any time some family in Beersheba or Arad or whatever 
wanted
to have a barbecue thay had to make the arduous journey all the way to 
Jerusalem? I
guess that explains why the ancient Israelites ate so little meat! So the 
standard of
living must have shot up by the time of the Deuteronomistic reform.
--
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
44905 Beit Berl Post Office
Israel