The book of Leviticus in the Bible is probably one of the most debated and contentious in all of scripture. The restrictions placed on the Jewish people are seen by some as oppressive and others as a blessing and wise set of rules to follow. Many of the principles outlined in Leviticus are incredibly practical and beneficial to anyone who is preparing for a SHTF or survival scenario. Remember, you can separate the principles from the religious aspect of any scriptural text to benefit from their wisdom. Consequently, this article is not at all intended to promote or start a debate over any religious practice.
Food Security
Many of the foods that are prohibited in Leviticus are items that we consume on a daily basis. Interestingly, these banned foods also represent those that can make us sick. Considering these rules were instituted at a time when medical services as well as scientific knowledge about food safety were non-existent, they were timely and very important to follow.
Pork, shellfish and other scavenging animals were off-limits. These food sources are notorious for containing microorganisms, bacteria and parasites that can kill us if untreated. The importance of properly preparing foods by cooking them thoroughly, eating them in a timely manner and ensuring they come from safe sources is imperative during survival situations. Make sure that you always follow established guidelines in order to avoid getting sick in the field. Remember, even a severe bout with diarrhea can be fatal if access to water is limited and you are far from a doctor.
Sanitation
Leviticus is full of rules that relate to sanitation. This includes keeping water supplies safe, keeping waste far away from where people dwell and making sure that cross-contamination is kept to a minimum. Hand washing, proper cleaning of items ranging from weapons to tools or cookware are essential in a survival situation. Proper waste disposal is also imperative. This will protect us from germs, bacteria and microorganisms that can make us sick while also keeping vermin and scavenging animals away from our sites.
Contagious Diseases
Leviticus is specific when it comes to how to deal with people who have contagious diseases. Unfortunately, the main way to prevent the spread of disease was through quarantining infected people. This is something that will apply in a SHTF scenario as medical services may not be available or able to cope with a mass outbreak or pandemic. Remember that back then, rubber gloves, face masks and bio-hazard suits were not available. Consequently, people could catch diseases from a sneeze, cough or touching anything that an infected person may have come into contact with.
Sexual purity was also a very big deal, and the rules that were outlined in Leviticus regarding sexual relations were explicit. This is also probably the most fiercely-debated aspect of the book in modern times. The restrictions placed on people and their sexual proclivities may seem excessive, repressive and completely unfair when compared to modern life. However, they had a purpose, from a completely practical point of view.
Consider the fact that condoms were not available, nor was basic medicine that cure many common sexually transmitted diseases today. Consider the reality that many people in that part of the world engaged in sexual activity with animals as well. While this is repulsive, it was a part of the early life of humanity until we knew better. Imagine the amount of diseases that could be spread from an animal to a person and then to an entire community through sexual transmission. We’re not only talking about modern and common STDs, we’re talking about all kinds of bacteria, parasites and viruses that we have no defense against.
The modern world has come up with solutions to make many of these rules seem less important. However, it only takes one crisis to make them relevant again if we don’t have access to basic supplies or medical services to keep disease in check. It may be worth your while to look at some of the restrictions that are listed in Leviticus as a guideline as to how to live if we are ever faced with a crisis that sends us back into the stone age.
Remember, you don’t need to believe in the Bible or God or religion to benefit from the practical knowledge that Leviticus provides. However, you shouldn’t throw out the baby with the bath water either. We will need all the help we can get during a SHTF scenario, and this is a great resource to fall back on if and when that time comes in order to protect you, your family and community.
