Food
Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen 1:29), with the exception mentioned (Gen 2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen 9:2–5). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen 18:6–8; Gen 25:34; Gen 27:3, Gen 27:4; Gen 43:11. Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Ex 16:3; Num 11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Ex 16:11–13; Num 11:31).
In the law of Moses there are special regulations as to the animals to be used for food (Lev 11:1–47; Deut 14:3–21). The Jews were also forbidden to use as food anything that had been consecrated to idols (Ex 34:15), or animals that had died of disease or had been torn by wild beasts (Ex 22:31; Lev 22:8). (See also for other restrictions Ex 23:19; Ex 29:13–22; Lev 3:4–9; Lev 9:18, Lev 9:19; Lev 22:8; Deut 14:21.) But beyond these restrictions they had a large grant from God (Deut 14:26; Deut 32:13, Deut 32:14).
Food was prepared for use in various ways. The cereals were sometimes eaten without any preparation (Lev 23:14; Deut 23:25; 2 Kgs 4:42). Vegetables were cooked by boiling (Gen 25:30, Gen 25:34; 2 Kgs 4:38, 2 Kgs 4:39), and thus also other articles of food were prepared for use (Gen 27:4; Prov 23:3; Ezek 24:10; Luke 24:42; John 21:9). Food was also prepared by roasting (Ex 12:8; Lev 2:14). (See Cook.)
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
