Matthew 8:30-33

[krusty007]

“Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.”

My question is, what were they doing herding pigs? Jewish Kosher laws forbid consumpion of pork, and they were obviously not a stray few pigs, as this passage mentions herders.

 

[Mintaka]

If you look around, you’ll see that part of the lake was near a Gentile settlement. They were Gentile pigs for Gentiles to eat. (The region of the Decapolis was on the east side of the Sea of Galilee – sort of a finger of Phoenician/Syrian settlements.)

 

[krusty007]

Thanks,Mintaka!

 

[patrick457]

“Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.”

My question is, what were they doing herding pigs? Jewish Kosher laws forbid consumpion of pork, and they were obviously not a stray few pigs, as this passage mentions herders.

As Mintaka mentioned, the setting of this pericope was either in “the region of the Gadarenes” (Matthew; modern Umm Qais) or “the region of the Gerasenes” (Mark, Luke; modern Jerash). Both cities were part of the Decapolis region and thus are well within non-Jewish territory.