Milk and Meat, Together?

Dear Mr. Hawke:

Q. I read where it is against the Torah to eat milk and meat together! Is this true?

A. That is a good question! Let's take a look at the scriptures for the answer.

Before we answer this question we want to see the origin of the prohibition against eating milk and meat together.

Definition:

Jew

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Rabbinical Jews vs. Karaite Jews
Almost all Jews today are derived from "Rabbinical Jews" following from the Pharisees, who follow Judaism through the lens of the oral law, contained in the Mishnah and Talmud. Some Karaites claim to be descendants of the Sadducees and other non-Talmudic sects.

Karaism was historically rejected as a heretical sect by Rabbinic Judaism, but a re-evaluation of the Karaite Jews' status vis-a-vis Judaism has recently been undertaken. While Karaites had a wide following in the times of the 9th century (some claim, that at one time 40% of Jews may have been Karaites) over the centuries their numbers have dwindled drastically. Presently a very small group, many living in Israel, they have gained a more favorable hearing from religious authorities.

There is a divergence of views about the historical origins and present beliefs of the Karaites:

Some scholars maintain that Karaism was founded by Anan ben David in the 8th Century in the area of present Iraq, whereas some claim that he founded only a sect called the "Ananites" who rejected the Talmud. Anan ben David was imprisoned as a result of his desire to be the "exilarch". In the presence of the calif Almansur (754-775) Anan defended himself. Anan won for himself the favor of the calif by his declaration that in his religion they used actual sighting of the New Moon as the basis of their calendar. Later leading rabbis such as Saadia Gaon considered him a heretic and devoted their time and writings to battling the Karaites and their ideas which continued throughout the centuries.
Karaites claim that they are not the historical disciples of Anan ben David at all. In fact, many of their sages such as Ya'acov Al-Kirkisani spoke critically about him. They accept the whole of the Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible, but reject the teachings in the later Mishnah and Talmud. As a result, for example, the Karaites do not accept the Talmud's prohibition against eating milk and meat together.
While many Jews have not heard of the Karaites at all, and are unfamiliar with them and their doctrines, and some do not consider Karaites to be Jewish, the state of Israel recognizes Karaites as Jews. The Israeli Chief Rabbinate has ruled that Karaites are Jewish.

While critical differences between Orthodox Judaism and the Karaites still exist, some Orthodox rabbis believe that Karaite Judaism is much closer to Orthodoxy than the Conservative and Reform movements. This may make it easier regarding issues of formal conversion. However, some Karaites are known to refer to themselves as not Jewish, some referring to themselves as a "Turkic People". These may be descendants of Karaites, or an altogether different group of Karaites believing in a completely different Karaism which is a Turkish tribal religion. These same "Karaites" also denied they were Jews in the Holocaust.

Here we see the prohibition attributed to the Talmud!

Milk and Meat.

The Rabbis did not hesitate to admit their inability to assign a reason for the prohibition against eating meat with milk ("basar be-ḥalab"), and they accordingly labeled it as "ḥiddush," an exception, a unique law (Pes. 44b; Ḥul. 108a; comp. Rashi and Tos. ad loc.). Maimonides says in this connection: "Meat boiled with milk is undoubtedly gross food, and makes overfull. But I think that it was probably prohibited because it was somehow connected with idolatry, forming perhaps part of the services at a heathen festival." This latter theory he supports by the fact that in Exodus the prohibition against seething a kid in its mother's milk is mentioned twice in connection with the festivals ("Moreh," iii. 48).

Basing their opinions on an ancient tradition, the Rabbis explained the thrice-repeated prohibition against seething the kid in its mother's milk (Ex. xxiii. 19, xxxiv. 26; Deut. xiv. 21) as referring to three distinct prohibitions—(1) against cooking meat and milk together; (2) against eating such a mixture; and (3) against (deriving any benefit from such a mixture (Ḥul. 115b; comp. there the various attempts made to find Biblical support for the prohibition against eating meat with milk). It is curious to note in this connection that Onḳelos, a most literal translator, renders the passages in all the three places by "ye shall not eat meat with milk" ( ; comp. LXX. to Ex. xxxiv. 26). The expression "kid" was accepted to be a generic term including all mammals and, according to some, even birds (Ḥul. 113a). The prevalent opinion, however, is that the prohibition against eating poultry with milk is of rabbinic origin merely (Maimonides, "Yad," Ma'akalot Asurot, ix. 4; Shulḥan 'Aruk, Yoreh De'ah, 87, 3). Fish and locusts as well as eggs are excluded from the prohibition (Ḥul. 103b, 104a; Beẓah 6b).

The prohibition against eating meat with milk was extensively elaborated by the Rabbis, who provided for every possible occurrence. Not only was the eating of meat with milk forbidden, but also the eating of meat that had a taste of milk, or vice versa; for "the taste of forbidden food is forbidden as the food itself" ; Ḥul. 98b, 108a; Pes. 44b; 'Ab. Zarah 67b; et al.). If a piece of meat that had become forbidden as food becauseit had absorbed milk to an extent which made the taste of the latter appreciable in it was cooked with other meat in a pot, all that the pot contained was forbidden, unless the contents were sixty times as great as the prohibited piece. It was not sufficient that there should be in the pot sixty times as much meat as the quantity of milk absorbed in the piece of meat; for with regard to meat and milk the principle was that the forbidden piece became in itself a "carcass," i.e., a forbidden object; and when it could not be recognized, it was necessary that the taste of it should be annihilated (; Yoreh De'ah, 92, 4; comp. Isserles' gloss, where the principle is extended to all kinds of forbidden food).

Here we see that even the Rabbis could not assign a reason for the prohibition against eating meat with milk!

The Jewish Encyclopedia, says this in its article on "Dietary laws":

Prohibition of Eating Milk and Meat Together. The prohibition of eating meat and milk, or foods derived from them, is first mentioned in the Talmud (Hul. 8:1), but is traced back by the rabbis to the Biblical commandment: "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in its mother's milk" (Ex. 23:19). It applies, however, to the flesh of poultry as well as to that of mammals. Foods derived from the meat of mammals or poultry are known as fleishig; those derived from milk, such as cheese, rennet and pastry made with milk, are known as milchig. All other foods are neutral (minnig or parve), including fish, eggs, and all vegetables and fruits; accordingly, they may be eaten together with both milk and meat dishes. The latter, however, can be eaten only six hours apart. Scrupulous individuals are careful to have two sets of dishes, cooking vessels and table utensils, in order to remove any possibility of the contact of the tiniest part of one of the two kinds of food with the other.

Note that this doctrine was "first mentioned in the Talmud." The rabbis say this is traced back to the Biblical commandment of Exodus 23:19. Is this what this commandment really means?

First, we will start with a passage of scripture that shows the eating of milk and meat together.

And Yahweh appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,
and said, My master, if now I have found favor in your sight, pass not away, I pray you, from your servant:
let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and strengthen your heart; after that you shall pass on: forasmuch as you are come to your servant. And they said, So do, as you have said.
Abraham hurried into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.
And Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hurried to dress it.
And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Genesis 18:1-8

Gen 18:8

(ASV) And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

(HNV) He took butter, milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they ate.

HOT Hebrew Old Testament

ויקח And he took

חמאה Butter

וחלב And Milk

ובן־הבקר And young calf

אשׁרWhich

עשׂהHe had dressed

ויתן And set, (gave)

לפניהם It to them

והוא־עמד And he stood

עליהם By them

תחת Under

העץ The tree

ויאכלו׃ And they ate:

(KJV+) And he took^{3947
butter,2529
and milk,2461
and the calf1121,
1241 which834
he had dressed,6213
and set5414
it before6440
them; and he1931
stood5975 by5921
them under8478 the
tree,6086
and they did eat.398}

(SSE) Tomó también manteca y leche, (butter and milk) y el becerro (and the calf) que había aderezado, y lo puso delante de ellos; y él estaba junto a ellos debajo del árbol; y comieron. (and they ate)

(SRV) Tomó también manteca y leche, (butter and milk) y el becerro (and the calf) que había aderezado, y púsolo delante de ellos; y él estaba junto á ellos debajo del árbol; y comieron. (and they ate)

^{(LBLA) Tomó también cuajada
(jelled, curdled) y
leche (and milk) y el becerro (the calf)
que había preparado, y lo puso delante de ellos; y él se quedó de pie
junto a ellos bajo el árbol mientras comían.
Y él tomó
mantequilla,(butter) y
la leche,( and the milk) y el becerro (and
the calf) que él había vestido, y lo puso antes ellos; y él se paró
por ellos bajo el árbol, y ellos comieron. (ASV Translated into Spanish)}

Here I have listed seven (three English, three Spanish, one Hebrew) different translations of Genesis 18:8. Also I have included a free translation of the ASV into the Spanish language! Now! We want to look at the Hebrew translation for our instruction on the key words used.

First word; butter #2529

H2529

חמה / חמאה

chem'âh / chêmâh

BDB Definition: (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions)

1) curd, butter

Part of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from the same root as H2346

Same Word by TWOT Number: 672a

Second word; milk #2461

H2461

חלב

châlâb

BDB Definition: (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions)

1) milk, sour milk, cheese

1a) milk

1b) abundance of the land (metaphorically)

1c) white (as milk)

Part of Speech: noun masculine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from the same as H2459

Same Word by TWOT Number: 650a

Third word; calf #1241

H1241

בּקר

bâqâr

BDB Definition: (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions)

1) cattle, herd, oxen, ox

1a) cattle (generic plural but singular in form - collective)

1b) herd (particular one)

1c) head of cattle (individually)

Part of Speech: noun masculine

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H1239

Same Word by TWOT Number: 274a

Fourth word; ate #398

H398

אכל

'âkal

BDB Definition: (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions)

1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to eat (human subject)

1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)

1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)

1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)

1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects i.e., pestilence, drought)

1a6) to devour (of oppression)

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be eaten (by men)

1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)

1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to cause to eat, feed with

1c2) to cause to devour

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to feed

1d2) to cause to eat

1e) (Piel)

1e1) consume

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

Same Word by TWOT Number: 85

Word for word and line for line translates the passage plainly! Abraham entertained Angels with good hospitality! He set before his Heavenly guests Butter (cheese) Milk and meat, these were served all together and they did eat!

What about the law of Torah? The Torah commands us three times (Exodus 23:19, Exodus 34:26 and
Deuteronomy 14:21) not to cook a kid in its mother's milk. What does this mean exactly?

Exo 23:19

(ASV) The first of the first-fruits of thy ground thou shall bring into the house of Yahweh your Elohim. You shall not boil a kid in it mother's milk.

Exo 34:26

(HNV) You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of the Yahweh your Elohim. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk."

Deut. 14:21

(KJV+) Ye shall not^{3808
eat398
of any3605
thing that dieth of itself:5038
thou shalt give5414
it unto the stranger1616
that834
is in thy gates,8179
that he may eat398
it; or176 thou
mayest sell4376 it
unto an alien:5237
for3588 thou859
art a holy6918
people5971 unto the
Yahweh3068 thy
Elohim.430 Thou
shalt not3808 seethe1310
a kid1423 in his
mother's517 milk.2461}

Boil:

H1310

בּשׁל

bâshal

BDB Definition:

1) to boil, cook, bake, roast, ripen, grow ripe

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to boil, cook

1a2) to grow ripe, ripen

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to boil

1b2) to cook

1c) (Pual)

1c1) to be boiled

1c2) to be sodden

1d) (Hiphil)

1d1) to ripen

1d2) ripen, brought to ripeness

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

Same Word by TWOT Number: 292

ANSWER:

Lev 22:27

(ASV) When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the oblation of an offering made by fire unto Yahweh.

Here we see the answer! When a bullock, a sheep, or a goat is still nursing, it is still in its' mother's milk. From the eighth day onward it can be offered to Yahweh as a sacrifice! You cannot boil, cook, bake, or roast it until the time legislated by Yahweh's word!

Years and years ago I came across some information stating that boiling a kid in its' mother's milk was a Canaanite practice and this was the reason for the legislation against this practice! I didn't believe it then, and I don't believe it now!

I really believe there is not too much more I can add. The word of Yahweh is very plain where this is concerned. If Almighty Yahweh's Messengers can visit Abraham and be served cheese, milk, and meat together, and they did eat! (They consumed these items together at the same time!) Who are we to put words into Yahweh's mouth and then to translate the Torah with human error (i.e. someone's own personal interpretation) attached? The Rabbis were major offenders where this was concerned, especially Rashi!

The Talmud is not a Yahweh inspired book! Its' origins are from traditions, and with pagan attachments included.

Go ahead, have that Kosher hamburger served along with a good old fashioned milkshake! Happy eating!

Yours in Messiah, Hawke