“Every crawling creature that lives shall be yours to eat; like green vegetation, I have given you everything” (Genesis 9:3). “But flesh with its life, its blood, you shall not eat” (Genesis 9:4). “Every crawling creature that lives…but flesh with its life, its blood [you shall not eat]”60This is a prohibition against eating a limb or piece of meat taken from a living animal. – Rabbi Yosei bar Aivu in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: Adam the first man, for whom the consumption of meat for pleasure was not permitted, was not warned regarding a limb taken from a living animal,61As it was not relevant for him. but the descendants of Noah, for whom the consumption of meat for pleasure was permitted,62Genesis 9:3. were warned regarding a limb taken from a living animal.
“But I will demand your blood of your lives; from every beast I will demand it, and from man; from every man for his brother, I will demand the life of man” (Genesis 9:5). “But [akh] [I will demand your blood of your lives]”63This is a prohibition against suicide. – to include one who strangles himself.64Even though there is no shed “blood” to be “demanded.” One might think that this applies [even] to cases like Saul?65Who took his own life to avoid torture and desecration by the Philistines (I Samuel 31:4).
The verse states akh.66Akh is an exclusionary term, which teaches that there are circumstances when it is permitted for one to take his life. One might think that this applies [even] to cases like Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya?67Who consented to surrender their own lives in order to avoid committing idolatry (Daniel 3:17). The verse states akh. “From every beast” – this refers to one who makes his fellow man available to a wild beast to kill him.68Although murder was not technically committed, one who does this is still culpable.
“From every man for his brother” – this refers to one who hires others to kill his fellow man. Another interpretation, “from every beast I will demand it”69God will exact justice against any man or beast that kills a human. – these are the four kingdoms.70The four kingdoms that would subjugate Israel until the advent of the Messiah (Daniel chapter 2). “From man [adam], from every man for his brother” – this is Esau,71Also known as Edom, the forebears of the Romans. as it is written: “Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau” (Genesis 32:12).
“I will demand the life of man” – these are Israel,72Who are constantly being killed by the Romans. as it is stated: “You are My flock” (Ezekiel 34:17); “Flock of My pasture, you are man” (Ezekiel 34:31).