There have been several theories on that, but the one I like the best is Marvin Harris's ecological-nuisance theory. In a semidesert area, pigs will tend to muck up whatever water is available, and Palestine is semidesert. The same is true of Arabia, which would explain why pork is a no-no in Islam also.

The parasite theory is unconvincing, because other domestic animals can carry parasites, and throrough cooking can kill parasites -- and the Bible nowhere recommends thorough cooking of meat.

However, present-day farming techniques can keep pigs from being an ecological nuisance, and there are reportedly lots of pig farmers in present-day Israel. Through they sometimes call pigs "penguins" and pork "white steak".

I was taught that it was more of a seperation law--- to prevent the Jews from becoming mingled with their neighbors. Pork was one of the most valuable sources for protein in the ancient world, and families would chip in to one one if they were too poor to own one by themselves.

The facts that more pigs are born than can be taken care of and that pigs share a human diet contributed to their use as well. The only drawback is that they are the only livestock that is only useful when dead. (no milk, eggs, wool). Pigs were also the family sacrifice, while bulls and goats and lambs et al were community sacrifies.
(An aside: the words for parts of the pig were also the words for female body parts. ???)

Yikes. I actually went to a two hour lecture on pigs in ancient Greece recently....
<walking away, pounding her head against things...>

Eat raw beef and (usually) live. Eat raw pork and (usually) get sick. Eat raw fish and (usually) live. Eat raw lobster and (usually) get sick.

If you tell ancient people that if they eat pork or lobster they will get sick, some may not listen. Wrap it up in “God forbids the eating of pork and lobster” and all “True Beleivers” will listen. Many parts of ancient religions encompass good sense concepts regarding food, human relations, etc.

Any *direct* evidence of that, ecco? I mean, *direct* evidence that undercooked pork is much worse than similarly undercooked beef?

Except that eating the pigs would get rid of them so they couldn't muck up your water.

Boro Nut

However, if they are all eaten, they are all gone; to be a successful pig farmer, one must maintain a population of pigs.

That's exactly right Jess. You have to realize that the Jews of Antiquity no longer exist. Eating "swine" had nothing to do with digestion and more to do with propagation.

thanks, offa

Ipetrich,

I do not have any direct evidence for the beef vs. pork question. However, I have eaten raw beef on many occasions. In restaurants it’s called Steak Tatare. It’s also available in some Sushi restaurants. I have also made it myself from good cuts of beef. Either ground with salt and pepper and sliced onions or thinly sliced and lightly dipped in Soy sauce. I have never gotten ill.

I suggest, as a test, that YOU eat some raw pork, cut of your choice, and let us know the outcome. Perhaps it’s a myth that raw pork is harmful. We’ll let you be the judge.

Seriously - DO NOT eat raw pork! DO NOT eat a raw lobster. Even with clams and oysters one has to be careful.

-Actually, if you eat raw pork you will get a parasite/worm called trichanonsis. (I am probably way off on the spelling.) And if I remember my high school biology class, you will get very sick from this. I can get my encyclopedia's for the exact name of this bug/sickness. But I do know that it exists.

Trichanosis is almost unheard in the United States, has been almost eridacated over the past 30 years.