John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 11:13

"And these ye shall have in abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray," — Leviticus 11:13 (ASV)

And these are they which you shall have in abomination. The species of birds and reptiles that are forbidden are such as common feeling almost naturally repudiates. And certainly, God dealt with great indulgence towards His people, so as not to weigh them down with too heavy burdens.

But because human greed sometimes delights in monstrous food, He desired even in minor matters to restrain them, lest they should rush with Gentile nations into intemperance, by which they would be polluted. For there was a danger that, by eating unclean animals, they would harden themselves to join in various other corrupt practices.

Another law is added: they should not only abstain from eating these unclean animals, but if any such were killed, they should not defile themselves by touching its carcass. Indeed, if any containers had come into contact with them, those made of earth were to be broken, and others were to be washed.

It seems to be a trivial matter to command that if a mouse had drowned in a container of water, the container itself would be unclean. The strictness also appears excessive in commanding the Jews,⁴⁵ if any such animal had fallen into a container of wine and died there, not only to pour out the wine but also to destroy the container. Furthermore, if it had been smothered in an oven or had lain in the hearth, they were to break down both of them. It is as if spiritual contamination reached even inanimate objects.

But we must always consider God’s intention. From this, we will learn that He was not so severe and demanding in unimportant things as to bind His people to the observance of (superfluous)⁴⁶ matters. Instead, these were acts of discipline by which He might accustom them to pursue purity, which is so generally neglected and overlooked by people.

Nowadays, we are also commanded by Paul, whether we eat, or drink, or whatsoever we do, to do all to the glory of God, (1 Corinthians 10:31). But in this respect we differ from the ancient people: being delivered from elementary principles, we are directed only to what is spiritual—namely, that food and drink are supplied to us by God so that we may serve the Author of our life in purity.

However, it was necessary to motivate the Jews in various ways so that they might be more attentive to this goal. God commanded them to keep their houses free from all uncleanness and to be diligent in safeguarding the purity of their water and all their containers, so that He might constantly set before their eyes how diligently He would have them strive for true cleanliness, as follows at the end of the chapter.

⁴⁵ “De contraindre les poures gens;;” to constrain the poor people. — to constrain the poor people. — Fr..

⁴⁶ This word is added from the Fr.