Leviticus 19:26-28 - " 'Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.
" 'Do not practice divination or sorcery.
" 'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
" 'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.' "
Some of these laws, like not eating blood, God had told them earlier.
Some of these laws were given in response to practices of other peoples which God didn't want Israel to follow. Cutting their bodies for the dead is likely in that category. Why would God even mention such a thing -- why put the idea into their heads -- if they hadn't already heard about it elsewhere?
But I wonder about a law for cutting hair and trimming beards. Was this also to keep them away from a practice that other peoples had? Did it signify a certain type of person or profession or occupation even that was not God-pleasing? Or was it simply there for Israel to show love and respect through obedience? Did it have some practical purpose that is lost in our culture today?
I'm curious. Could you please tell me what brought you to this page by mentioning it in a comment? I won't publish the comment, if you ask me not to.
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