The 'Blood' Forbidden by the Old Testament Originated from the 'Blood God' Sensitivity of the Ancient Near East

The previous lecture focused on the 'river god' in Old Testament stories, and this time, an in-depth discussion on the 'blood god' was announced. Researcher Joo Won-jun stated that he would take time to understand the content of the Old Testament through ancient Near Eastern culture.

In ancient Near Eastern civilizations, rivers themselves were considered gods, and rivers had various names, among which the river 'Id' was a god that played the role of judging. This perception of deifying natural phenomena or the source of vitality was widespread among ancient peoples.

Ancient peoples wondered who was the strongest god among the many gods. In Mesopotamia, the sky god 'Anu' was worshipped as the most powerful chief god, showing a pattern where the chief god varied depending on the region and era.

In the ancient Near Eastern world, the chief god changed in various ways depending on the region and era. In certain regions, other gods were worshipped more powerfully. This phenomenon provides important clues for understanding the religious and cultural characteristics of humans. Researcher Joo Won-jun explained that by understanding human religious and cultural phenomena, human characteristics can be identified.

In Mesopotamia, especially among the Semitic peoples, the 'blood god' was called 'Dam' or 'Dumu'. Researcher Joo Won-jun mentioned that it can be easily remembered by associating it with 'Dam' as in 'Dam got caught'.

In the ancient world, due to a lack of evidence, there is a tendency to make broad claims based on only a few linguistic similarities. However, researcher Joo Won-jun emphasized that since the human oral structure is limited and many similar sounds can occur, claims of simple linguistic similarity should be approached cautiously. Indiscriminate claims of similarity can lead to errors in the interpretation of ancient languages.

The Hebrew word 'Adam' is derived from 'Dam', which means 'red'. This is also related to the word referring to the Edomite people, and shares the meaning of 'red'.

The meaning of 'red' is also connected to the story of birthright in the Bible. In Genesis, Jacob sells his birthright to his brother Esau for a bowl of red stew. The red color here does not mean the vivid red of a fire truck, but the reddish-black color of blood soaked into the ground.

Jacob's brother Esau became the ancestor of Edom because he sold his birthright as 'Edom'. Esau is described as the one whose birthright was taken by Jacob, and later, in the Greek era, he became Idumea (the region where Herod came from), which is also derived from the same root.

In the ancient Near East, before the Old Testament era, the divinity of blood was utilized in two main ways. First, as 'exorcism,' the act of sprinkling blood to drive away evil spirits. Second, as 'healing,' using blood directly, such as by eating it or incorporating it into medicines, in a way similar to blood transfusions, to restore vitality. This role of blood had a dual meaning: the power to ward off evil spirits and the symbol of vitality.

The Old Testament strictly forbids eating blood. Israelites had to drain the blood from meat and pour it on the ground when eating it, and it was not allowed to collect blood to make dishes like blood soup. This was because blood was considered the source of vitality and a divine being. Researcher Joo Won-jun analyzed that the background of this custom lies in the ancient Near Eastern sensitivity to the 'blood god'.

Deuteronomy 12 clearly states why blood should not be eaten. The Bible says, 'Blood is life, and life must not be eaten with meat.' Therefore, blood must be poured out on the ground like water. This verse, 'Blood is life,' almost perfectly matches the ancient Near Eastern idea of the 'blood god,' showing that Israel's blood prohibition originated from the cultural background of the ancient Near East.

While Jewish Kosher certification has developed into an industry, researcher Joo Won-jun expressed a critical view of it. He pointed out that the reliability of Kosher certification can vary depending on which rabbi stamped it. This is because regulations differ among denominations, and while some rabbis may simply stamp it casually, saying that only blood needs to be drained, others meticulously check every process. For this reason, people tend to prefer Kosher products certified by the rabbi of their own denomination, even if it costs more, and in this way, the Kosher industry has formed globally.

In Western cultures, it is common to check various dietary restriction options such as Kosher, Halal, Hindu, or vegetarian on airplanes and in hotels. However, in East Asian cultures, such dietary restrictions are almost non-existent, and most people eat whatever food is provided. Researcher Joo Won-jun emphasized the cultural difference with a joke that in East Asia, if you don't check for dietary restrictions, 'you might end up eating their garbage.'

The sensitivity to blood as the source of vitality was not unique to Israel but was a universal culture shared by the entire ancient Near Eastern world. Researcher Joo Won-jun explained that Israel was not directly influenced by other countries but rather shared the basic cultural foundation of that time.

In the Bible, blood carries the meaning of divine protection and the preservation of life. A prime example is when Moses made a covenant with God on Mount Sinai, sacrificing a bull and sprinkling half of its blood on the altar and the other half on the people. This was a symbolic act to purify the altar and for the people to become pure beings entering into a covenant with God. The scenes of sprinkling blood, which appear several times in the Old Testament, demonstrate Israel's shared religious sensibility about blood with the ancient Near East. Blood embodies sacredness, purity, and the protection of life.

The red robes worn by Catholic cardinals symbolize the blood of martyrs. This implies honoring the sacrifices of martyrs and remembering their dedication. The symbolic meaning of blood has played an important role in religious contexts.

Blood, on the one hand, has the meaning of purification and was believed to have the power to ward off evil. It was also perceived as a source that gives us vitality and brings us back to life. This dual meaning of blood—its properties of cleansing, warding off evil, and giving life—is curiously connected to the blood of Christ.

The linguistic and literary codes used by those who confess their faith while looking at Jesus' crucifixion and His blood actually have their roots in an ancient Near Eastern background. Researcher Joo Won-jun emphasized that the form and content of faith confessions did not simply originate from something new but were influenced by ancient cultures throughout long history.

The Bible incorporates various religious and cultural elements from the ancient Near East. Researcher Joo Won-jun presented the view that the Bible did not emerge suddenly in a completely new vacuum, but rather was formed through interaction with the religious background of the ancient Near East. This suggests that studying ancient Near Eastern culture is important for understanding the Bible. Acknowledging that the content and customs of the Bible developed under the influence of surrounding cultures can deepen biblical interpretation.