Meat or Murder? Leviticus Versus Deuteronomy

The narrative in 1 Samuel 14:32 – 35 seems to address this very issue, whereby Saul creates an ad hoc altar to enable meat consumption.

Many scholars detect a tension within Deuteronomy 12 between these verses and v. 15 which seems to give a blanket permission for non-sacral slaughter. For the purposes of our discussion, we will focus on this chapter in its canonical form as it was received by its Second Temple Period interpreters.

The Samaritan Pentateuch is often longer/expansionistic.

Other texts from Qumran would seem to share R. Ishmael’s understanding, specifically the Temple Scroll 52:13–21 and Miqṣat Ma‛aśe ha-Torah (4QMMT) B 27 –28, 35. However, unlike the rabbinic view, these scrolls seek to determine the distance from Jerusalem at which secular meat can be consumed, following a strict reading of Deut 12:20. In contrast, the rabbis understood Deut 12:20 as nullifying the requirements of Leviticus 17 almost completely once the land’s territory has expanded, permitting secular meat even in Jerusalem (see Ramban on Deut 12:20).

The Akkadian and Ugaritic cognates to Hebrew חל”ל refer to being free of obligations (legal claims, guilt) as well as to being ritually pure.