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Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earthis mine: …

Leviticus 11:45
For Iam the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for Iam holy.

Leviticus 19:2
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your Godam holy.

neither

Leviticus 17:15,16
And every soul that eateth that which diedof itself, or that which was tornwith beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathehimself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean…

Leviticus 20:25
Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.

Leviticus 22:8
That which dieth of itself, or is tornwith beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: Iam the LORD.

You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field;
This command reflects the dietary laws given to Israel, which are part of the broader holiness code. Eating meat from an animal that died naturally or was killed by other animals was prohibited because it was considered unclean (Leviticus 17:15). This law served both hygienic purposes and symbolized the separation from death and decay, which are contrary to God's nature. The prohibition also underscores the importance of respecting life and the proper handling of food, which is a recurring theme in the Mosaic Law. In a broader sense, it points to the need for discernment and purity in what the people of God consume, both physically and spiritually.

you are to throw it to the dogs.
In ancient Israel, dogs were not typically domesticated pets but were often scavengers. The instruction to throw the meat to the dogs indicates that what is unfit for God's holy people is suitable only for animals considered unclean. This act of discarding the meat to dogs reinforces the separation between the holy and the profane. It also serves as a practical solution for disposing of the carcass, ensuring that the Israelites maintain their ritual purity. The mention of dogs can also be seen as a metaphor for those outside the covenant community, as inMatthew 15:26, where Jesus uses the term to describe Gentiles in a cultural context. This highlights the distinction between those who are part of God's covenant and those who are not, a theme that runs throughout the biblical narrative.

• “You are to be My holy people” sets the tone: God claims Israel as His own, expecting their lifestyle to reflect His character.

• Holiness here is practical separation from the surrounding pagan world, just asExodus 19:5-6 calls Israel “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

• The call is rooted in relationship—“I am the LORD your God; therefore be holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45). Peter applies the same principle to the church in1 Peter 1:15-16, reminding believers that holiness remains God’s unchanging standard.

• Practically, holiness touches every arena of life—worship, family, justice, diet—because God’s ownership covers everything (Deuteronomy 14:2).

• For us, the verse invites self-examination: are our daily choices visibly different because we belong to Him?

• The command, “You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field”, addresses carcasses torn by predators.

– Such meat still contains blood; consuming it violates God’s earlier prohibition of eating blood (Genesis 9:4;Leviticus 17:14).

– It is likely to carry disease or decay, endangering health—a practical expression of God’s protective love.

– Eating it would blur the moral distinction between Israel and the nations that ignored God’s dietary boundaries (Leviticus 20:25-26).

• A similar prohibition is repeated inDeuteronomy 14:21 and referenced for Gentile believers inActs 15:20, showing the enduring concern for purity and respect for life.

• Obedience here is not mere ritual; it is an act of trust that God’s way is both morally and physically good.

• Rather than leave the carcass to tempt someone else, Israel was told “you are to throw it to the dogs”.

– Dogs were unclean scavengers (1 Kings 14:11;Proverbs 26:11). Giving the carcass to them prevented waste yet maintained human sanctity.

– In Scripture, “dogs” often symbolize what is outside covenant blessing (Exodus 11:7 contrasts Israel’s safety;Philippians 3:2 uses “dogs” for false teachers;Matthew 7:6 warns against giving holy things to dogs).

• The instruction reinforces the boundary: what is unsuitable for God’s people can be handed over to what is unclean, but never the reverse.

• By discarding the carcass, Israel demonstrated that obedience mattered more than squeezing value from every resource—a mindset echoed when Paul counts all things loss “for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

Exodus 22:31 ties identity to action. Because God owns His people, He commands visible holiness—even in the mundane matter of food. Refusing carcass meat and tossing it to dogs preserved health, honored life, and signposted Israel’s distinct calling. The principle endures: believers who know they belong to a holy God showcase that holiness in everyday choices, trusting that His boundaries are always for their good and His glory.

Ye shall cast it to the dogs--i.e.,ye shall do this rather than eat it. The flesh might probably be given, or even sold, to an alien. (CompareDeuteronomy 14:21.)

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