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     Many of the ancient societies had food prohibitions, but they were based upon folk wisdom and superstitions.  For example, the Babylonians considered pork to be sacred, thus it was eaten only on certain special occasions, whereas day to day consumption was forbidden.  The diet laws (Leviticus 11) given among the 600 laws undergirded by the 10 commandments in the Old Testament reflect an entirely different standard of food regulation.
     Among the dietary laws specifying “clean” and “unclean” foods, were those governing food from aquatic animals (Lev. 11:9-12; Deuteronomy 14: 9-10).  Only “clean” fish – with fins and scales – were to be eaten.  Anything else in the water that was living and moved was forbidden (Lev. 11: 10).  Today we know that all poisonous fish have no scales (“unclean”).  Fish with no scales and crustaceans (crab, shrimp, lobster, etc) tend to live in shallow water and are scavengers eating decaying flesh.  Urinary Schistosomiasis, which affects intestines, urinary tract, spleen and liver, is a disease common to the ancient middle east and Egypt (and still a problem in Egypt today) which was contracted by eating infected snails.  Although one can contract disease from any fish, those with fins and scales pose the least potential hazard.
     Birds of prey or those which feed on dead, decaying flesh were also prohibited from Israel’s diet (Lev 11:13-19; Deut. 14:11-18).  Insects were also classed as clean and unclean (Lev11:20-23).  All were prohibited except the “hoppers” – locust, cricket and grasshopper.  Many of the prohibited insects include those that feed on garbage and decaying flesh, and thus have a greater potential to carry disease.  Experiments on the animals, birds and fish in the unclean - clean list in Deuteronomy 14, have revealed that the meat of the “unclean” creatures had higher toxicity levels than those of that were declared to be “clean.”
     The Old Covenant even had some general dietary laws.  In restating the dietary rules for the priests, we note that eating any animal that had died of natural causes or was killed by a wild animal was forbidden (Lev 22:8).  In fact the Israelites were forbidden to touch such dead animals (Lev.11:39).  Dead carcasses can host fleas, ticks and lice which are known to carry bubonic plague, typhus and spotted fever.
     The Mosaic law code also prohibited the eating of animal fat (Lv 7:22-26).  In 1913, Russian pathologist Anitschkov discovered that feeding rabbits cholesterol and animal fat caused hardening of the arteries.  This is a well established fact today – reducing animal fat in the diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
     Among all the ancient writings, only the Bible presents scientifically valid food prohibitions.  How did Moses know what foods to prohibit in 1400 BC?  Was he a visionary or was he inspired by God?

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