Animals in the Bible
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The [[Bible]] names over 120 [[species]] of [[animal]]s but, as it is not a book of [[science]], does not offer any kind of [[biological classification]]. The sacred books were composed by a people almost exclusively given to [[husbandry]] and [[pastoral]] life and hence in constant communication with nature. To this people references to the animal world and animal customs were quite natural. As may be expected, the more a particular animal abounded in the [[Holy Land]], the more frequent allusions to it may be found.
A closer examination of the way in which references to animals are introduced, the frequency of allusions to certain species, and the date of the documents in which they are found gives a fair idea of the conditions of the area at different stages of its history. The species, for instance, called in [[Hebrew]] 're'em', was very probably the [[aurochs]], or wild [[ox]] and totally disappeared about the time of the [[Babylonian captivity]]. The wild [[ass]], the [[lion]] and a few others long ago became [[extinct]] in [[Palestine]]. Other species alluded to in the Bible are now extremely scarce.
The Bible mentions animals from varying regions of the [[Middle East]]. The [[ostrich]], for instance, a denizen of the torrid regions, and the [[camel]], of the waterless districts around Palestine, are mentioned side by side with the [[roebuck]] and [[deer]] of the woody summits of [[Lebanon]]. This variety, greater probably in Palestine than in any other country in the same [[latitude]], is attributed to the great extremes of [[elevation]] and [[temperature]] in this small area. Palestinian [[fauna]] is not as rich today as it was during the [[History of ancient Israel and Judah|Biblical times]]. The land is barren today but was well wooded when the Bible was written, especially on the hills east of the [[Jordan River]].
Although no regular classification is to be sought for in the Bible, animal creation is there practically divided into four classes, according to the four different modes of [[Animal locomotion|locomotion]]. Among the animals, some walk, others fly, many are essentially swimmers and several crawl on the ground. This classification, more [[Empirical|empiric]] than [[logical]], would not by any means satisfy a modern [[scientist]]. It must be known, however, if we wish fairly to understand the language of the Scriptures on the matters connected therewith. The first class, the behemĂ´th, or beasts, in the Biblical parlance, includes all [[quadruped]]s living on the earth, with the exception of the [[amphibia]] and such small animals as [[Mole (animal)|mole]]s, [[mouse|mice]], and the like.
Beasts are divided into [[cattle]], or domesticated (behemoth in the strict sense), and beasts of the field, i.e. [[wild animal]]s. The [[fowl]]s, which constitute the second class, include not only the [[bird]]s, but also "all things that fly", even if they "go upon four feet", as the different kinds of [[locust]]s. Of the many "living beings that swim in the water" no particular species is mentioned; the "great [[whale]]s" are set apart in that class, while the rest are divided according to whether they have, or have not, [[fin]]s and [[Scale (zoology)|scale]]s ([[Leviticus]] 11:9, 10).
The [[reptile]]s, or "creeping things", form the fourth class. References to this class are relatively few. However, it should be noticed that the "creeping things" include not only the reptiles properly so called, but also all short-legged animals or [[insect]]s which seem to crawl rather than to walk, such as moles, [[lizard]]s, etc. From a religious viewpoint, all these animals are divided into two classes, [[Clean animals|clean]] and [[Unclean animals|unclean]], according to whether they can, or cannot, [[Kashrut|be eaten]]. <ref>Moses, et al. The Bible. Jerusalem: </ref>
''See also the [[list of the animals in the Bible]]''.
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[[Category:Animals in religion]]
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References
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