FOOD

Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen. 9:2). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6;25:34;27:3, 27: 4;43:11. Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Exo 16:3; Num. 11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Exo 16:11; Num. 11:31).

In the law of Moses there are special regulations as to the animals to be used for food (Lev. 11; Deut. 14:3). The Jews were also forbidden to use as food anything that had been consecrated to idols (Exo 34:15), or animals that had died of disease or had been torn by wild beasts (Exo 22:31; Lev. 22:8). (See also for other restrictions Exo 23:19;29:13; Lev. 3:4;9:18, 9: 19;22:8; Deut. 14:21.) But beyond these restrictions they had a large grant from God (Deut. 14:26;32:13, 32: 14).

Food was prepared for use in various ways. The cereals were sometimes eaten without any preparation (Lev. 23:14; Deut. 23:25; 2-Kings 4:42). Vegetables were cooked by boiling (Gen. 25:30, Gen. 25: 34; 2-Kings 4:38, 2-Kings 4: 39), and thus also other articles of food were prepared for use (Gen. 27:4; Prov. 23:3; Ezek. 24:10; Luke 24:42; John 21:9). Food was also prepared by roasting (Exo 12:8; Lev. 2:14). (See COOK.)