Blood: 1. As food, prohibited in
(Genesis 9:4) where the use of animal food
is first allowed. Comp.
(Deuteronomy 12:23; Leviticus 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14) The
injunction to abstain from blood is renewed in the decree of
the council of Jerusalem
(Acts 15:29) It has been held by
some, and we think correctly, that this law of prohibition was
only ceremonial and temporary; while others regard it as still
binding on all. Blood was eaten by the Israelites after the
battle of Gilboa
(1 Samuel 14:32-34)2. The blood of sacrifices was caught by the priest in a basin, and
then sprinkled seven times on the altar; that of the passover on
the doorposts and lintels of the houses
(Exodus 12:1)ff
(Leviticus 4:5-7; 16:14-19) At the giving of the law
(Exodus 24:8) the blood
of the sacrifices was sprinkled on the people as well as on the
altar, and thus the people were consecrated to God, or entered
into covenant with him, hence the blood of the covenant
(Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:19,20; 10:29; 13:20)
3. Human blood. The murderer was to be punished
(Genesis 9:5) The blood
of the murdered "crieth for vengeance"
(Genesis 4:10) The "avenger of
blood" was the nearest relative of the murdered, and he was
required to avenge his death
(Numbers 35:24,27) No satisfaction could
be made for the guilt of murder
(Numbers 35:31)
4. Blood used metaphorically to denote race
(Acts 17:26) and as a
symbol of slaughter
(Isaiah 34:3) To "wash the feet in blood" means
to gain a great victory
(Psalms 58:10) Wine, from its red colour, is
called "the blood of the grape"
(Genesis 49:11) Blood and water issued
from our Saviour's side when it was pierced by the Roman soldier
(John 19:34) This has led pathologists to the conclusion that the
proper cause of Christ's death was rupture of the heart. (Comp.)
(Psalms 69:20)
