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Topic:
Thoughts And Things Of The Bible -- Cattle
In regard to the word "cattle…"
Cattle abounded in the Holy Land. To the rearing and management of
cattle the inhabitants chiefly devoted themselves (Deut. 8:13; 12:21; 1
Sam. 11:5; 12:3; Ps. 144:14; Jer. 3:24). They may be classified as,
(1.) Neat cattle. Many hundreds of these were yearly consumed in
sacrifices or used for food. The finest herds were found in Bashan,
beyond Jordan (Num. 32:4). Large herds also pastured on the wide fertile
plains of Sharon. They were yoked to the plough (1 Kings 19:19), and
were employed for carrying burdens (1 Chr. 12:40). They were driven with
a pointed rod (Judg. 3:31) or goad (q.v.). According to the Mosaic law,
the mouths of cattle employed for the threshing-floor were not to be
muzzled, so as to prevent them from eating of the provender over which
they trampled (Deut. 25:4). Whosoever stole and sold or slaughtered an
ox must give five in satisfaction (Ex. 22:1); but if it was found alive
in the possession of him who stole it, he was required to make double
restitution only (22:4). If an ox went astray, whoever found it was
required to bring it back to its owner (23:4; Deut. 22:1, 4). An ox and
an ass could not be yoked together in the plough (Deut. 22:10).
(2.) Small cattle. Next to herds of neat cattle, sheep formed the most
important of the possessions of the inhabitants of Palestine (Gen.
12:16; 13:5; 26:14; 21:27; 29:2, 3). They are frequently mentioned among
the booty taken in war (Num. 31:32; Josh. 6:21; 1 Sam. 14:32; 15:3).
There were many who were owners of large flocks (1 Sam. 25:2; 2 Sam.
12:2, comp. Job 1:3). Kings also had shepherds "over their
flocks" (1 Chr. 27:31), from which they derived a large portion of
their revenue (2 Sam. 17:29; 1 Chr. 12:40). The districts most famous
for their flocks of sheep were the plain of Sharon (Isa. 65: 10), Mount
Carmel (Micah 7:14), Bashan and Gilead (Micah 7:14). In patriarchal
times the flocks of sheep were sometimes tended by the daughters of the
owners. Thus Rachel, the daughter of Laban, kept her father's sheep
(Gen. 29:9); as also Zipporah and her six sisters had charge of their
father Jethro's flocks (Ex. 2:16). Sometimes they were kept by hired
shepherds (John 10:12), and sometimes by the sons of the family (1 Sam.
16:11; 17:15). The keepers so familiarized their sheep with their voices
that they knew them, and followed them at their call. Sheep, but more
especially rams and lambs, were frequently offered in sacrifice. The
shearing of sheep was a great festive occasion (1 Sam. 25:4; 2 Sam.
13:23). They were folded at night, and guarded by their keepers against
the attacks of the lion (Micah 5:8), the bear (1 Sam. 17:34), and the
wolf (Matt. 10:16; John 10:12). They were liable to wander over the wide
pastures and go astray (Ps. 119:176; Isa. 53:6; Hos. 4:16; Matt. 18:12).
Goats also formed a part of the pastoral wealth of Palestine (Gen. 15:9;
32:14; 37:31). They were used both for sacrifice and for food (Deut.
14:4), especially the young males (Gen. 27:9, 14, 17; Judg. 6:19; 13:15;
1 Sam. 16:20). Goat's hair was used for making tent cloth (Ex. 26:7;
36:14), and for mattresses and bedding (1 Sam. 19:13, 16).
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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