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Deuteronomy 12:22 - Clean and unclean share feast.

Deuteronomy 12:22 - דברים 12:22

Hebrew Text

אַךְ כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל אֶת־הַצְּבִי וְאֶת־הָאַיָּל כֵּן תֹּאכְלֶנּוּ הַטָּמֵא וְהַטָּהוֹר יַחְדָּו יֹאכְלֶנּוּ׃

English Translation

Even as the gazelle and the deer is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.

Transliteration

Akh ka'asher ye'akhel et-hatzvi ve'et-ha'ayal ken tokhlenu hatame vehatahor yachdav yokhlenu.

Hebrew Leining Text

אַ֗ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵאָכֵ֤ל אֶֽת־הַצְּבִי֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣אַיָּ֔ל כֵּ֖ן תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ הַטָּמֵא֙ וְהַטָּה֔וֹר יַחְדָּ֖ו יֹאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃
אַ֗ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵאָכֵ֤ל אֶֽת־הַצְּבִי֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣אַיָּ֔ל כֵּ֖ן תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ הַטָּמֵא֙ וְהַטָּה֔וֹר יַחְדָּ֖ו יֹאכְלֶֽנּוּ׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

The verse (Devarim 12:22) appears in the context of the laws of slaughtering and eating meat outside the Mishkan or Beit HaMikdash. It discusses the permissibility of eating non-sacrificial meat (חולין) in a manner similar to how one would consume game animals like the gazelle and deer.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Devarim 12:22) explains that the comparison to the gazelle and deer teaches that just as these animals do not require ritual slaughter (שחיטה) but may be hunted and eaten after proper draining of blood (הכשר), so too non-sacrificial meat may be eaten after proper slaughter and removal of blood. This verse establishes the permissibility of eating meat outside the context of sacrifices.

Halachic Implications

The Rambam (Hilchot Shechita 1:1) derives from this verse that while slaughter of domesticated animals requires shechita (ritual slaughter), wild animals like deer and gazelle may be consumed through other means of killing, provided the blood is properly removed. However, the verse also implies that even for domesticated animals, when eaten as non-sacrificial meat, the same basic requirements apply regarding blood prohibition.

Clean and Unclean Eating Together

The phrase "the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike" is interpreted by the Sifrei (Devarim 12:22) to mean that both ritually pure and impure individuals may partake of non-sacrificial meat, unlike sacrificial meat which has purity requirements. This highlights the distinction between sacred and mundane meat consumption.

Midrashic Insight

The Midrash Tanchuma (Re'eh 10) connects this verse to the broader theme of accessibility to Torah laws, suggesting that just as eating meat was made accessible to all Jews regardless of ritual status, so too the Torah's teachings are accessible to all who seek them.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Chullin 70a
The verse is discussed in the context of the laws regarding the consumption of clean and unclean animals, particularly focusing on the permissibility of eating certain types of game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 12:22 mean when it compares eating certain animals to eating gazelle and deer?
A: This verse teaches that certain permitted animals (like gazelle and deer) can be eaten outside the context of sacrifices, just like regular meat. Rashi explains that this verse permits eating non-sacrificial meat ('chullin') in a non-sacred manner, as long as it's slaughtered properly (Shechita).
Q: Why does Deuteronomy 12:22 mention 'the unclean and the clean' eating together?
A: The Talmud (Chullin 16b) explains that this verse emphasizes that non-sacrificial meat (unlike Temple sacrifices) can be eaten by anyone, whether ritually pure (tahor) or impure (tamei). This shows that regular permitted meat doesn't have the same restrictions as holy offerings.
Q: What practical lesson can we learn from Deuteronomy 12:22 today?
A: The Rambam (Hilchot Shechita 1:1) derives from this verse that all permitted animals must be slaughtered according to Jewish law (Shechita) before eating. Just as gazelle and deer require proper slaughter, so do all kosher animals - this remains a fundamental kosher law today.
Q: How is Deuteronomy 12:22 connected to the laws of kosher slaughter?
A: The Sifrei (Devarim 75) connects this verse to the Torah's requirement of Shechita (ritual slaughter). Just as gazelle and deer must be properly slaughtered to be eaten, this verse teaches that all permitted animals require proper Shechita - a core kosher law still observed today.
Q: Why does the Torah use gazelle and deer as examples in Deuteronomy 12:22?
A: Rashi explains that gazelle and deer were common wild game that couldn't be brought as sacrifices (unlike domestic animals). By using them as examples, the Torah emphasizes that non-sacrificial meat has different rules than Temple offerings - an important distinction in Jewish dietary laws.