Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 22:31

"And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs." — Exodus 22:31 (ASV)

You shall be holy men to me. .

The holiness really desired was holiness of heart and spirit. Outward ordinances could not effect this; but, to keep the thought perpetually before men's minds, a network of external obligations was devised, a specimen of which is given in the law that follows.

The flesh of an animal torn by a carnivorous beast would be doubly unclean:

1. By contact with the unclean carnivorous beast;
2. And through not having all the blood properly drained from it.

It was therefore not to be eaten by a Hebrew.

You shall cast it to the dogs — that is, you shall do this rather than eat it.

The flesh might probably be given, or even sold, to an alien .