Bible Animals

THE SHEEP.

Importance of Sheep in the Bible—The Sheep the chief wealth of the pastoral

tribes—Tenure of land—Value of good pasture-land-Arab shepherds of the

present day-Difference between the shepherds of Palestine and England-

Wanderings of the flocks in search of food—Value of the wells—How the

THE

Sheep are watered—Duties of the shepherd—The shepherd a kind of irregular

soldier–His use of the sling—Sheep following their shepherd—Calling the

Sheep by name- --The shepherd usually a part owner of the flocks—Structure

of the sheepfolds—The rock caverns of Palestine-David's adventure with

Saul—Penning of the Sheep by night-Use of the dogs—Sheep sometimes

brought up by hand-How Sheep are fattened in the Lebanon district,

The two breeds of Sheep in Palestine—The broad-tailed Sheep, and its

peculiarities-Reference to this peculiarity in the Bible—The Talmudical

writers, and their directions to sheep-owners

146

THE CHAMOIS.

The Zemer or Chamois only once mentioned in the Bible—Signification of the

word Zemer-Probability that the Zemer is the Aoudad-Appearance of the

Aoudad-Its strength and activity–Fierce temper of the adult male-Horns

of the Aoudad—Their probable use as musical instruments—Habits of the

Aoudad—The Mouflon probably classed with the Aoudad under the name of

Zemer-Appearance and habits of the Mouflon .

185

THE GOAT.

Value of the Goat-Its use in furnishing food—The male kid the usual animal of

slaughter-Excellence of the flesh, and deception of Isaac–Milk of the Goat

-An Oriental milking scene—The hair of the Goat, and the uses to which it

is put—The Goat's skin used for leather— The “ bottle” of Scripture-Mode

of making and repairing the bottles-Ruse of the Gibeonites—The “bottle in

the smoke”—The sacks and the kneading-troughs—The Goat as used for

sacrifice—General habits of the Goat–Separation of the Goats from the sheep

- Performing Goats—Different breeds of Goats in Palestine

189

THE WILD GOAT.

The Azelim or Wild Goats of Scripture identical with the Beden or Arabian Ibex---

Different names of the Beden---Its appearance and general habits-En-gedi,

or Goats' Fountain—The Beden formerly very plentiful in Palestine, and now

tolerably common-Its agility-Difficulty of catching or killing it-How the

young are captured—Flesh of the Beden- Use of the horns at the present day

- The Ako of Deuteronomy .

203
THE CAMEL.

THE DEER.

The Hart and Hind of Scripture-Species of Deer existing in Palestine-Earliest

mention of the Hind- The Hart classed among the clean animals—Passages

alluding to its speed-Care of the mother for her young, and her custom of

secreting it-Tameable character of the Deer—The Rabbinical writers and

their theories--Shedding of the Deer's horns-- Its fabled mode of sleeping-

The gall in the tail-Curious traditions of the enmity between Deer and

serpents--Virtues of a Deer-skin coat.

. 208
THE HORSE.

CHAPTER I.

The two species Camel, and the mode of distinguishing them-Value of the

Camel in the East-Camels mentioned as elements of wealth-Uses of the

Camel—The Jews forbidden to eat its flesh- The milk of the Camel—Thirst.

enduring capability—The internal reservoir—The hump, and its uses to the

animal—The Camel as a beast of draught and burden-How the Camel is laden

-Knowledge of its own powers-Camels for riding-Difficulty of sitting a

Camel-A rough-paced steed-Method of guiding the Camel-The mesh’ab,

or Camel-stick of office—The women's saddle--- Rachel's stratagen-Ornaments

of the Camel—The swift dromedary, Heirie, or Deloul-Its ungainly aspect-

Speed and endurance of the Deloul—The Camel-pos of Bornu-Camel-

drivers and their conduct — The driver's song--Young Camels anıl their

appearance— The deserte, Camel

. 216

CHAPTER II.

The Camel and its master-Occasional fury of the animal --A boy killed by a

Camel --Another instance of an infuriated Camel-Theory respecting the

Arab and his Camel-Apparent stupidity of the Camel--Its hatred of a load,

and mode of expressing its disapprobation--Riding a Camel through the

streets – A narrow escape-Cereinony of weaning a young Camel—The Camel's

favourite food-Structure of the foot and adaptation to locality-Difficulty

in provisioning–Camel's hair and skin—Sal-ammoniac and desert fuel-

The Camel and the needle's eye--Straining at a gnat and swallowing a

Camel

233

THE BACTRIAN CAMEL.

General description of the animal-Its use in mountain roads--Peculiar formation

of the foot-- Uses of a mixed breed-Its power of end cold--Used

as a beast of draught--Unfitness for the plough—The cart and mode of

harnessing-The load which it can draw-Camel-skin ropes--A Rabbinical

legend

244

The Hebrew words which signify the Horse— The Horse introduced into Palestine

from Egypt-Similarity of the war-horse of Scripture and the Arab horse of

the present day-Characteristics of the Horse-Courage and endurance of the

Horse-Hardness of its unshod hoofs- Love of the Arab for his Horse/Diffi-

culty of purchasing the animal— The Horse prohibited to the Israelites--

Solomon's disregard of the edict-The war-chariot, its form and use- -Probable

construction of the iron chariot--The cavalry Horse-Lack of personal interest

in the animal.

2.18

THE ASS.

Importance of the Ass in the East-Its general use for the saddle-Riding

the Ass not a mark of humility-The triumphal entry— White Asses,

Character of the Scriptural Ass—Saddling the Ass—The Ass used in agricul-

ture—The Ass's millstone—The water-wheel and the plough-Reminiscences

of the Ass in the Scriptural narrative-Its value as property—The flesh of

the Ass—The siege of Samaria and its horrors-Various legends respecting the

Ass - The impostor and his fate--Samson and Balaam .

264

THE WILD ASS.

The Arod and Pere of Scripture—Various allusions to the Wild Ass Its swiftness

and wildness— The Wild Ass of Asia and Africa – Knowledge of the animal

displayed by the sacred writers-How the Wild Ass is hunted-Excellence of

its flesh-Sir R. K. Porter's meeting with a Wild Ass-Origin of the domestic

Ass-The Wild Asses of Quito

279

THE MULE.

Ancient use of the Mule—Various breeds of Mule-Supposed date of its introduc-

tion into Palestine-Mule-breeding forbidden to the Jews- The Mule as a

saddle-animal-Its use on occasions of state—The king's Mule—Mules brought

from Babylon after the captivity-Obstinacy of the Mule—The Mule as a

beast of burden—The “Mule's burden” of earth-Mules imported by the

Phænicians—Legends respecting the Mule

285

SWINE.

The Mosaic prohibition of the rig-Hatred of Swine hy Jews and Mahometans

-A strange use of bacon—The prodigal son-Resistance to the prosecution of

Antiochus-Swine hated by the early Egyptians-Supposed connexion between

Swine and diseases of the skin-Destruction of the herd of Swine--The

locality of the event discovered-Pigs bred for the monasteries—The jewel of

gold in a Swine's snout—The wild boar of the woods, and the beast of the

reeds--The damage which it does to the vines--General account of the wild

boar of Palestine-Excellence of its flesh .

292

THE ELEPHANT.

The Elephant indirectly mentioned in the Authorized Version-Solomon's ivory

throne-Ivory used in Egypt—Horns of ivory—The ivory palaces-- Beds of

ivory- The Tyrian ships-Ivory mentioned by Homer-Vessels of ivory-

The Elephant as an engine of war-Antiochus and his Elephants-Oriental

exaggeration—Self-levotion of Eleazar-Attacking the Elephants, and their

grailual abandonment in war-- - The Talmudical writers on the Elephant-A

funeral and an omen

302

THE CONEY, OR HYRAX.

The Shaphan of Seripture, and the correct meaning of the worl-Identification

of the Shaphan with the Syrian Hyrax-Description of the animal-Its feet,

teeth, and apparent rumination-Passages in which the Coney is mentionell-

Habits of the animal-Its activity and wariness—The South African Hyrax,

and its mode of life-Difficulty of procuring it-Similarity in appearance and

habits of the Syrian species-Three species of Hyrax known to naturalists-

The Talmudical writers on the Shaphan- The jerboa and the rabbit-A

curious speculation and a juclicious compromise .

312

BEHEMOTH.

Literal translation of the word Behemoth - Various theories respecting the

identity of the animal—The Hippopotamus known to the ancient Hebrews-

Geographical range of the animal—“He eateth grass like the ox”–Ravages

of the Hippopotamus among the crops-Structure of the month and teeth-

The “sword or scythe" of the Hippopotamus—Some strange theories-Haunts

of the Hippopotamus-The Egyptian hunter-A valuable painting--Strength

of the Hippopotamus-Rising of the Nile-Modern hunters-Wariness of the

Hippopotamus—The pitfall anıl the drop-trap

318

BIRDS.

THE LÄMMERGEIER, OR OSSIFRAGE OF SCRIPTURE.

Difficulty of identifying the various birds mentioned in Scripture- The Vultures

of Palestine—The Lämmergeier, or Ossifrage of Scripture- The Hebrew word

Peres, and its signification—The Ossifrage, or Bone-breaker-Appearance of

the Lämmergeier-Its flight and mode of feeding - How the Lämmergeier kills

snakes and tortoises, and breaks marrow-bones-Mode of destroying the

chamois and mountain sheep- Nest of the Lämmergeier

333

THE EGYPTIAN VULTURE, OR GIER-EAGLE.

The Râchâm or Gier-Eagle identified with the Egyptian Vulture-Its appearance

on the Egyptian monuments—Signification of the word Rûchâm-Various

translations of the word—The shape, size, and colour of the biril-Its value as

a scavenger, and its general habits—The Egyptian Vultures and the griffons-

Its fondness for the society of man-Nest of the Egyptian Vulture

339

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Bible Animals: Being a Description of Every Living Creature Mentioned in the ...