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What is the significance of not boiling a goat in the mother's milk?



      

Exodus 23:19

ESV - 19 The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. "You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked December 13 2013 • Mini David Killick Supporter

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Mini Shanna Duck Supporter "Let a search be made in the royal archives..." Ezra 5:17 NIV
I've always understood that boiling a goat-kid in its mother's milk was a pagan cultic practice which the Israelite people were to avoid. Perhaps forbidding this one action was intended to forbid all the pagan practices during a particular festival. I wish I had a definitive reference for you that I had researched and thought trustworthy, but I believe I've read this from multiple sources.

December 14 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report


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My picture Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College & Dallas Seminary graduate, Pentair
Great question, David! I wondered about this for decades. But now here's what I think.

In my opinion, of the 8 reasons that NG & TH suggest, I think that there are only 2 reasons for not boiling a goat in the mother's milk. 

One: because it was cruel to destroy a baby goat in the very milk which sustained it.

and 

Two: because it shows contempt for the parent-child relationship.

November 21 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report


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