The Blood of Non-sacrificial Animals. To these, of course, Leviticus 17:3-7 does not apply. But all blood, even theirs, is regarded as dangerous. Hence, it must be covered with dust, or it will cry from the ground (cf. Genesis 4:10 *). The whole class of non-sacrificial animals includes: (a) wild animals, which may be eaten, if properly drained of blood; (b) animals not killed; and (c) animals killed by other animals; cf. Deuteronomy 14:21, where they are allowable for the alien and the foreigner, and Leviticus 11:39, where bathing is unmentioned. Evidently, such a light penalty would make it still possible for the poor to enjoy such a cheap class of food; cf. Exodus 22:31, where, as in Dt., no provision for purification is mentioned. Thus to the later law, H and P, the general prohibition of blood has partly lost its terrors; but to the modern Jew, tripha (torn) is the opposite of kosher (drained).
Leviticus 17:13-16
13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
15 And every soul that eateth that which dieda of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.