What was Noah permitted to eat
Question
I have a question about Genesis 9:3-4. The scripture is: Every crawling thing that is alive will be food for you, as are the green plants—I have now given you everything. Only flesh with its life—that is, its blood—you must not eat! From I have been able to determine the Hebrew word for crawling things is רֶמֶשׂ (Remes). This seems to include all creatures. I know G-D would not give Noah permission to eat unclean animals but cannot find a satisfactory explanation to the contrary. Your insight on this passage is greatly appreciated. Blessings and Shalom
Answer
Thank you for your question,
Until the giving of the Torah, as long as we were not yet commanded from eating nonclean animals it didn’t make a difference, since it was all allowed, especially to Noach, since it was in his merit all the animal kingdom survived the great flood since he was the only righteous man of all his generation. He also spent all his time and energy during his time in the ark feeding all the animals, each one had to be fed according to his specific diet and time, so therefore Hashem allowed Noach to eat from all the animals.
Source
Sifsey Ca’cha’mim perek 9 pasuk 3 ot 30
Al’shich ibid.