Science Talk

Armin Held · Guest

And God said (to mankind!): Behold, I have given you
every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth,
and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed;
to you it shall be for food.

But to every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens,
and to everything that moves upon the earth, in which there is a living
soul,
(I have given) every green herb for food ...

Genesis 1:29-31

These words are often interpreted in a way as if all animals and humans up
to the time of Noah had only consumed plants as food. But this would
prohibit all kinds of predatory animals and would contradict the occurence
of "sea monsters" in the Genesis report (Genesis 1:21).

It is also remarkable that God did not speak these words to the animals
of the fifth day, where it would have been appropriate,
for example in the framework of their blessing, but only to mankind.

Consequently they are not a commandment for the animals, but a proclamation
of God's will for mankind of the sixth day, a declaration, which makes clear
his ideas and provision. Therefore also the perfect tense:
"I HAVE GIVEN you ...", compare Genesis 15:18:

On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said:
To your seed I have given this Land ... Genesis 15:18

_Habitats and food_

Already the blessing for the animals included a separation between the
habitats of land animals and aquatic animals. It is interesting that also
the food declaration comprises a demarcation, which in our translation is
correctly emphasized by a "but". While mankind gets the right to eat all
kinds of seeds and fruits, the animals in contrast are only given green
fodder:

But to every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to
everything that moves upon the earth, in which there is a living soul,
(I have given) every green herb for food ... Genesis 1:29-31

Actually mankind nourishes itself mainly of seeds and fruits, while most
herbivores predominantly eat "green fodder". Thereby the assignment of seed
and fruit to humans logically includes green plants. Only the other way
round this is not the case - all animals that eat seed or fruit easily
become rivals for us (for example rats or mice).

In reality the text of Genesis 1 does not deal with the question "vegetarian
nutrition or meat", but with the division into "green plants (only)" and
"seed and fruit"!

_The food declaration for Noah (Genesis 9)_

Often Genesis 9 is interpreted in such a way that up to then humans were
only allowed to eat plants and from then on they got the permission to also
eat meat. But that can not be correct, because already much earlier Abel
slaughtered animals, and he did not do that against the will of God (Genesis
4:4-5)!

Also the dominion of sixth day's mankind "over the fish" must have meant
their consumption, because a "gentle" use as with cows (milk), sheep (wool)
or chicken (eggs) is hardly possible with fish. And the division of animals
into clean and unclean ones - already before the deluge (Genesis 7:2)! -
proves, that they were regularly used for food.

It is also questionable why just after the flood Noah should have gotten the
permission to kill animals. Indeed already before these words he had
slaughtered animals (Genesis 8:20). No, another explanation is much more
probable:

The increase of wickedness, in particular of violence, had been the reason
for the deluge: The land was full of violence (Genesis 6:11). Therefore
after the flood God did not only repeat his blessing, which he had spoken in
previous times, but he added a restriction, which stood in connection with
the cause of the recent catastrophe: But the flesh with its life, its blood,
you shall not eat! (Genesis 9:4) The purpose of this regulation was, to
restore the missing respect for living beings and their soul.

This interpretation would fit very well into the context, because in the
next sentence the blood, which is the life of all humans is especially
protected: And indeed your blood, your lives, will I require: at the hand
of every animal I will require it, and at the hand of man, even at the hand
of every man's brother, will I require the life of man. If anyman sheds the
blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed ... (Genesis 9:5-6)

_Conclusion_

The blessing of Genesis 9 is thus not an extension of the blessing of
Genesis 1, but a repetition (compare the first verses) with a restriction,
which should underline the simultaneous introduction of death penalty for
murder, which had not been demanded before, for example for the murder of
Kain. The newly introduced prohibition of eating blood should teach respect
for life.

Armin

www.urzeitundendzeit.de/creation_and_evolution.htm