Did we only start eating meat after the Flood?

[OakWood]

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

 

Genesis 9:3

 

If we look at the above verse then this does appear to be the first time that God allows us to be meat-eaters, however if we go back to earlier verses in Genesis:

 

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

 

Genesis 1:29-30

 

It does appear that God had made Adam to be vegetarian, but if we look at Genesis 2:20

 

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

 

Here we find the word cattle and we also come across the term 'beast of the field' (in fact the NIV translates 'cattle' as 'livestock'). Why would cattle be distinct from all the other types of animals if Adam was not using them or breeding them in some way? Also 'beasts of the field' suggests an agricultural use.

Were these animals being used simply for ploughinng the land, or were they slaughtered for their hides? If they were slaughtered then would Adam not eat the flesh? It would seem to be a waste otherwise.

If we jump to Genesis 4 (which is still pre-flood) we come across this verse,

 

 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

 

Genesis 4:4

 

Why would Abel have a flock?

[WIP]

As I understand it , meat was only eaten after the flood, and thats when The Lord told them not eat meat with its  life blood still in it.

[OakWood]

As I understand it , meat was only eaten after the flood, and thats when The Lord told them not eat meat with its  life blood still in it.

 

But what be the purpose of keeping flocks and livestock?

[other one]

 

As I understand it , meat was only eaten after the flood, and thats when The Lord told them not eat meat with its  life blood still in it.

 

But what be the purpose of keeping flocks and livestock?

 

 

 

Got Milk???

 

maybe an angora sweater for eve.

 

bear overcoats are pretty good for those cold days and nights.

 

but it does look like they didn't eat till after the flood, at least not in the Bible...  But we really aren't told a lot about what the evil people did before the flood other than they were really bad.

 

the book of Enoch tells us that the Nephilim ate meat. but those things were never meant to be anyway.  many question the the Book of Enoch...

[OakWood]

 

 

As I understand it , meat was only eaten after the flood, and thats when The Lord told them not eat meat with its  life blood still in it.

 

But what be the purpose of keeping flocks and livestock?

 

 

 

Got Milk???

 

 

I guess that means Antediluvian folk  were vegetarians but not vegans.

[appy]

I'm not so sure Abel was a keeper of cattle, but I do think he was a keeper of sheep which scripture said he sacrificed. Tools and clothing could easily be made from the wool. I suppose primary purpose was for sacrifice

[MissPlaced_56]

Perhaps this will be of value here.....

Just my 2 cents..LOL

 

http://biblehub.com/acts/10-14.htm

[WIP]

 

 

As I understand it , meat was only eaten after the flood, and thats when The Lord told them not eat meat with its  life blood still in it.

 

But what be the purpose of keeping flocks and livestock?

 

 

 

Got Milk???

 

maybe an angora sweater for eve.

 

bear overcoats are pretty good for those cold days and nights.

 

but it does look like they didn't eat till after the flood, at least not in the Bible...  But we really aren't told a lot about what the evil people did before the flood other than they were really bad.

 

the book of Enoch tells us that the Nephilim ate meat. but those things were never meant to be anyway.  many question the the Book of Enoch...

 

 

I'm with other one. Sweater for Eve

[WillfromTexas]

The first mention of an animal dying is Genesis 3 when God clothed Adam and Eve.

 

Genesis 3:

²⁰ The man named his wife Eve (meaning “The life-giving one”),^[b] for he said, “She shall become the mother of all mankind”; ²¹ and the Lord God clothed Adam and his wife with garments made from skins of animals.

 

I remember a sermon on this from long ago about how it was the first mention of blood shed.  There was something symbolic that I can't exactly remember.  Something how bloodshed is needed to cover our nakedness.  I forget- maybe it'll trigger somebody's memory.

 

Most likely Adam was a vegetarian because there was no death prior to the fall.  Cattle and birds could easily have been for eggs and milk.  It also is no surprise that eating meat isn't exactly the healthiest thing in the world.  I'm a burger eater so don't think I'm preaching- but know I'd be very healthy if I was a vegetarian.

 

In the new Earth there also will be no more death and the lion will lay with the lamb.  All death even animals death seem to all be a result from sin.  We obviously discovered it tasted good at some point and saw other animals killing animals.

 

Even though I am a meat eater it always bugged me about animal sacrifice in the Bible.  I know it had to be done and was pointing to Jesus sacrifice.  Yet it bugged me.  I know the reason because I have studied the subject and God's reasoning.  It's just one of those things I accept that God knows better.  Plus I eat meat - and it's just modern society has taken us all far from having to do the dirty deed ourselves.  My grandparents it was no big deal and part of life.

 

Isaiah 65:24-25 Living Bible (TLB)

²⁴ I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! ²⁵ The wolf and lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw as the ox does, and poisonous snakes shall strike no more!^[a] In those days nothing and no one shall be hurt or destroyed in all my holy mountain, says the Lord.