OUR FATHER WHO IS OUR FORTRESS

Leviticus chapter 11 verse 5 says this;

The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.

In prescribing allowable land animals usable for food, chapter 11 of Leviticus gives a general rule that segments the clean animals as the ones that ruminate ( or  chew the cud ) and that also have hooves split in two.

If these traits are not both present in an animal such as the animals that chew the cud but do not have split hooves, they are defined as being unclean and not suitable to be eaten.

Leviticus chapter 11 verse 5 ( and Deutronomy chapter 14 verse 7 ) specifies the hyrax as an animal that chews the cud but does not have split hooves and therefore not suitable for human food.

The hyrax, is disqualified from human consumption under the law of Moses because even though it appears to chew the cud (though it doesn't actually ruminate), it does not have divided hooves and is therefore unclean.

In Proverbs chapter 30 verse 26, the hyrax is in included on a list of four animals are classified as small yet extremely wise.

hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;

The hyrax is also mentioned in Psalm 104 where the mountain crags are a refuge for them.

The wisdom of hyraxes is that they instinctively dwells among the mountain crags that are a refuge from predators.

They serve as a lesson for believers in Christ who, though they may be weak in the face of enemies, should wisely dwell in the cleft of the Rock who is their refuge and their fortress.

Amen.

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