The Watchtower society has used the old and tired "trichinosis" argument regarding eating pork (they have no such argument for lobster, by the way), but it doesn?t hold: Paul didn?t know any more about what caused trichinosis or how to prevent it than Moses did.
No, "God" couldn't have stated in plain English Hebrew "make sure you cook it thoroughly first". That would have been much too complicated. I think the Jews (being the excellent business people they are) were just trying to destroy the pork producers and the seafood unions. Since they couldn't corner they market, they made it unclean thus ensuring a robust demand for their products (livestock). Gee kinda like Catholics and eating fish on friday was...
I honestly wonder if any "dis-illusioned" Israelites didn't just leave... Just start walking till you found a better place and set up shop?
I enjoyed your "commentary immensely....
u/d (of the abundant emissions class)