Insight Into The "No Meat?" Question posted 3/3/12

“But you may butcher your animals and eat their meat in any town whenever you want.  You may freely eat the animals with which the LORD your God blesses you.  All of you, whether ceremonially clean or unclean, may eat that meat, just as you now eat gazelle and deer.  But you must not consume the blood.  You must pour it out on the ground like water. [Deuteronomy 12.15-16]

Perhaps a clue is found here as to why the Israelites complained of having no food in the wilderness.  It would appear there was some restriction against eating their domestic livestock while in the wilderness.  Whether or not it was a longstanding restriction or just for the wilderness journey is unknown.

I would think I was just "reading into this" except for the mention of the fact that they had indeed been eating wild game all along.

Hmm.

Father, it is unknown to me why the Israelites would not eat their domestic livestock while in the wilderness - if there is a clue in the Bible somewhere help me find it.  Regardless, I am pleased to discover the answer to what had become a big question in my mind: why the people were hungry when they had all that livestock with them.  Apparently, there was indeed some reason that they would/could not eat their livestock.  Thank You.