Summary
The chapter begins by commanding Moses and Aaron to inform the Israelites which land animals are permissible to eat: those that both chew the cud and have cloven hooves. It then lists several examples of unclean creatures—animals that fail either of those conditions, such as the camel, goat, hare, and swine—declaring them unclean and forbidden to eat or touch. The text extends to aquatic life, permitting only fish with fins and scales, while all other water creatures are deemed abominable. Bird regulations follow, identifying certain fowl—e.g., eagles, vultures, and owls—as unclean, while specifying a few insects, like locusts and grasshoppers, as acceptable. Finally, the passage provides detailed purification rules for contact with carcasses, contaminated vessels, and agricultural materials, emphasizing the necessity of washing and the prohibition of making oneself unclean, underscoring God's holiness and the covenant of sanctity for Israel.