Based on the provided reference, camels are considered unclean to eat because, although they chew the cud, they do not have a split hoof that is completely divided.
This determination is rooted in specific dietary laws that define which animals are permissible to eat.
Criteria for Clean Animals
According to the reference, an animal is considered clean and fit for consumption if it meets two distinct physical characteristics:
- It chews the cud: This refers to the process where an animal regurgitates partially digested food from its stomach and chews it again.
- It has a split hoof that is completely divided: The animal's foot must have a hoof that is cleft or split into two distinct parts.
Animals must possess both of these traits to be considered clean.
| Characteristic | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Chews the Cud | Yes |
| Split Hoof Divided | Yes |
Animals lacking either one or both characteristics are deemed unclean.
Why Camels are Unclean
The reference explicitly states the reason for the camel's unclean status:
"The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you."
Therefore, despite fulfilling one requirement (chewing the cud), the camel fails the second crucial test: having a completely divided split hoof. This single factor is the basis, as defined in the reference, for considering camels ceremonially unclean and therefore not permissible to eat.
