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Hebrew Word of the Day

חָלָב

Meaning: milk

Translit: cha•lav

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Half of the references to milk are coupled with ‘d’vash,’ honey. A few weeks ago, when we discussed the Seven Species (look for this important, related email) that were God’s blessing to both Israel (the people) and to the Land, we clarified that the word ‘honey’ in most biblical references is not to bee’s honey but to date mesh that was also called ‘d’vash,’ honey. Half of the mentioning of ‘cha•lav,’ milk, in the Bible are coupled with ‘d’vash,’ dates, in the phrase that glorifies the Land of Israel as being blessed by God with these foods:

And they told him, and said, ‘We came to the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is its fruit’

Numbers 13:27

This description is repeated, with slight variations, 20 more times in the scriptures! The more flowery (and correct) biblical expression uses the words ‘dripping milk and honey.’

Cha•lav, milk, was used to tempt the general Sisra and make him feel respected and honored:

And he said to her, ‘Give me, I beg you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.’ And she opened a skin of milk, and gave him a drink, and covered him

Judges 4:19

Cha•lav, milk also plays a role in the prophet Joel’s End-Time prophecy:

And it shall come to pass on that day, that the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk

Joel 3:18

The kosher paradox − eating meat with milk. Biblical Kosher vs. Rabbinical Kosher
It is a strict dietary prohibition among Jews to avoid eating milk and meat. These two foods together are considered a violation of the Kosher laws. In fact, there isn’t even one place where such a demand is made. The Rabbis based this kosher law solely on the phrase that appears 3 times in the Bible:

You shall not boil a kid [young goat] in its mother’s milk

Exodus 23:19, bracket content added

It is quite bewildering why God could not be less vague and more specific about milk and meat than this strange request which remain a defiled Canaanite custom of this practice. The subject is more confusing when we learn that God himself, along with two angels consumed this ‘non-kosher combo’:

And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate

Genesis 18:8

No wonder why some contest and see the milk with meat prohibition as a wrong, rabbinical law. When reading the verse above one may reflect: “if good enough for them − good enough for me.”

Half of the references to milk are coupled with ‘d’vash,’ honey. A few weeks ago, when we discussed the Seven Species (look for this important, related email) that were God’s blessing to both Israel (the people) and to the Land, we clarified that the word ‘honey’ in most biblical references is not to bee’s honey but to date mesh that was also called ‘d’vash,’ honey. Half of the mentioning of ‘cha•lav,’ milk, in the Bible are coupled with ‘d’vash,’ dates, in the phrase that glorifies the Land of Israel as being blessed by God with these foods:

And they told him, and said, ‘We came to the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is its fruit’

Numbers 13:27

This description is repeated, with slight variations, 20 more times in the scriptures! The more flowery (and correct) biblical expression uses the words ‘dripping milk and honey.’

Cha•lav, milk, was used to tempt the general Sisra and make him feel respected and honored:

And he said to her, ‘Give me, I beg you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.’ And she opened a skin of milk, and gave him a drink, and covered him

Judges 4:19

Cha•lav, milk also plays a role in the prophet Joel’s End-Time prophecy:

And it shall come to pass on that day, that the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk

Joel 3:18

The kosher paradox − eating meat with milk. Biblical Kosher vs. Rabbinical Kosher
It is a strict dietary prohibition among Jews to avoid eating milk and meat. These two foods together are considered a violation of the Kosher laws. In fact, there isn’t even one place where such a demand is made. The Rabbis based this kosher law solely on the phrase that appears 3 times in the Bible:

You shall not boil a kid [young goat] in its mother’s milk

Exodus 23:19, bracket content added

It is quite bewildering why God could not be less vague and more specific about milk and meat than this strange request which remain a defiled Canaanite custom of this practice. The subject is more confusing when we learn that God himself, along with two angels consumed this ‘non-kosher combo’:

And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate

Genesis 18:8

No wonder why some contest and see the milk with meat prohibition as a wrong, rabbinical law. When reading the verse above one may reflect: “if good enough for them − good enough for me.”