And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
The Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron. These laws being addressed to both the civil and ecclesiastical rulers in Israel, may serve to indicate the twofold view that is to be taken of them. Undoubtedly the first and strongest reason for instituting a distinction among meats was to discourage the Israelites from spreading into other countries, and from general contact with the world-to prevent them acquiring familiarity with the inhabitants of the countries bordering on Caanan, so as to fall into their idolatries, or be contaminated with their vices; in short, to keep them a distinct and special people, by raising a broad and impassable wall of opposite customs.
To this purpose no difference of creed, no system of polity, no diversity of language or manners was so subservient as a distinction of meats, founded on religion; and hence, the Jews, who were taught by education to abhor many articles of food freely partaken of by other people, never, even at periods of great degeneracy, could amalgamate with the nations among which they were dispersed.
But although this was the principal foundation of these laws, dietetic reasons also had weight; because there is no doubt that the flesh of many of the animals here ranked as unclean is everywhere, but especially in warm climates, less wholesome and adapted for food than those which are allowed to be eaten-apt to stimulate gross and sensual passions, and to foster coarse tastes as well as degrading habits. These laws, therefore, being subservient to sanatory as well as religious ends, were addressed both to Moses and Aaron.