John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 11:4

"Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that part the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you." — Leviticus 11:4 (ASV)

Nevertheless these shall you not eat of. He more clearly expresses what he had previously alluded to, namely, that an animal, although it may ruminate, shall not be clean unless it also cleaves the hoof; and, on the other hand, that the cloven hoof will not be sufficient unless combined with rumination. In these words Moses taught that partial and imperfect purity must not be imposed upon God. If anyone chooses to think that rumination is the symbol of internal purity, and the cloven hoof of external purity, that opinion will be a probable one. Since this distinction has occurred to my mind, although I have no taste for subtle speculations, I have thought it well to mention it, yet leaving it free for anyone to accept it or not.

Meanwhile, we must hold it as certain, as I have recently said, that God demands perfect cleanliness, undefiled by any mixture. But the prohibition was most burdensome to the Jews with respect to pork, because it is very suitable for food, not only as being a pleasant accompaniment to other meats, but because the working classes are fed on it at a lower cost. In this point, therefore, the religion of the Jewish people was especially tested.

For, when the soldiers of Antiochus desired to force the people to an entire renunciation of the Law, they only urged them to eat pork.⁴² And hence the famous quip of Augustus, “I would rather be Herod’s pig than his son;”⁴³ because, while Herod abstained from pork, he was the murderer of his children. But, so that the Jews would observe this prohibition more strictly, the very touch was also forbidden to them, so that it was not only wicked to taste pork, but even to touch it with their hands after the animal was killed. The same rule did not apply to beef or mutton, for it is necessary to handle the meat that is appointed for our food.

⁴² There is allusion to this in 1 Macc. 1:47, and 62-63. “Howbeit, many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves, not to eat any unclean thing; wherefore they chose rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant, so then they died.". “Howbeit, many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves, not to eat any unclean thing; wherefore they chose rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant, so then they died."

⁴³ Macrob., Saturnalia, 2 4.