Sheep (Hastings' Dictionary)

The generic name for 'sheep' is jrfx z6n (properly ' small cattle '). The unit is expressed by .117 seh, which also applies to goats. V:x 'aytl signifies 'a ram'; Vht rdlicl, 'a ewe'; 0^2 keh)ies (feni. kiblisah and ^reWwaA), or by transposition nb-a kcf:cbh (Lv 3', fern, klsbah), ' a (yearling) lamb ' ; n^p faleh (1 S 7"), and 13 kar (Ps 37-'"), ' a young lamlj.' See, further, Lamb.

The sheep, as supplying most of the wants of a pastoral people, was their chief possession, and a measure of their wealth and prosperity. Job had 7000 head of sheep at first, then 14,000 (Job P 42'2). Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Esau had vast flocks of them. Sheep furnished their owners with cloth- ing, mUk, butter, cheese, meat, and a medium of exchange. The king of Moab (see art. Mesha) paid an annual tribute of 100,000 lambs and the same number of rams to the king of Israel (2 K 8*).

Reuben took from the sons of Ishmael 250,000 sheep (1 Ch 5='). Solomon sacrificed 120,000 sheep at the dedication of the temple (1 K 8^). His household consumed 100 sheep a day (1 K 4^). The Israelites entered Egypt as shepherds (Gn 47'-), and left it with much cattle (Ex 12^). The same regions which furnished the vast flocks in ancient times are still noted for their sheep.

All the plateaus east of the Jordan, and the moun- tains of Palestine and Syria, are pasture-grounds for innumerable flocks and herds. In the spring, when the ewes bring forth their young, the succulent grasses furnish suitable nourishment. Later on, when the rain has ceased, the sheep still nibble the dried herbage and stubble, and flourish where to a Western eye all is barren desert.

They require water but once a day, and, where they cannot get it from perennial streams as the Leontes, the Orontes, the Jordan, the Yermuk, the Zerka (Jabbolf), the Zerka-Ma'in, the Mu'jib (Arnon), etc., they find it in the innumerable wells, foun- tains, and cisterns known to the Arabs. The descendants of the same shepherds who tended docks in Bible days, still occupy the great sheep- walks of Palestine.

The male of sheep, as of other animals, was usually chosen for sacrifice, as being the repre- sentative sex, and because the female was reserved for breeding. The leper, however, ottered two he- lambs and one ewe (Lv 14">). Similarly, while the sin-oliering of a ruler was a male kid, that of on« of the common people was f- 'emale kid or lamb (Lv i'^^'-"). The idea of sacrifice has not dis- RIil)eare(l wholly, even trom Islam.

On important occasions, as the opening of a new road, or the erection of an important building, sheep are sacri- 6ccd, and tlieir flesh given to the poor. There is a ' I'east of the Sacrilice ' at Mecca every year, in connexion with the haj, when many thousands of sheep and other animals are killed, and their Uesh distributed among the poor. The milk of sheep is especially mentioned (Dt 32'-', 1 Co 9'). Wool was and is a staple of commerce (2 K 3*, Ezk 27"). It U very frequently mentioned.

The priests had the first of the clip (bt 18*). Good housewives spun it and wove it (Pr 31"). Sheep-shearing was a festival (Gn 31" 38", 1 S 25, 2 S 13==, ''). The ram lias long recurved horns, wliich were used for trumpets (Jos 6') and oil-llasks (1 S 16'). They are now u.sed as powder-liorns. Uams' skins, dyed red, were used in the construction of tlie tabernacle (Ex 2t)'''). Sheep skins were and are fasliioned into a baggy kind of coat (He 11^).

Such a garment is the protection of every Syrian shepherd against the wind and rain. Tlie broad-tailed breed of sheep, now universal in Palestine and Syria, was prob. there from ancient times. The immense tail is a great desideratum. It is the 'runiii' of Ex 29-'-, Lv 3'' (UV 'fat tail'). It furnishes as much as 10 pounds of pure fat. This is tried out, usually mixed with fine morsels of lean, about as large as a white bean, and packed away in earthen jars for winter use.

Tliis mixture is the main reliance of the peasants of Lebanon in the way of animal food for several months of each year. It is called kauramah. To increase the amount of adipose matter in the tail, the sheep is fattened by forced feeding with mulberrj- leaves. A bolus of these leaves is made up by the woman or girl in charge, and crammed between the teeth of the animal, which is then compelled to masticate and swallow it.

Towards the middle of October the sheep become so fat that they are often unable to stand. The care of sheen is a subject of frequent allu- sion in Scripture. Ihey are exposed to tlie vicissi- tudes of weather, winter and summer, frost and drought, in the immense treeless plains where they are most rai.sed (Gn 31) ; to the attacks of beasts and robbers (v.'», 1 S 17", Jn 10'- '"• "). The shep- herd leacli (not drives) them to pasture and water (18 23.

77^7H'''-' 80') ; protects them at the risk of ins life (Jn 10"). To Keep them from the cold and rain and beasts, he collects them in caves (1 S 24') or enclosures built of rough stones (Nu 32'", Jg 5", Zeph 2, Jn 10'). The sheep know the shepherd, and heed his voice (Jn 10). It is one of the most interesting spectacles to see a number of flocks of thirsty sheep brought by their several shepherds to be watered at a fountain.

Each tlock, in obedi- ence to the call of its own shepherd, lies down, awaiting its turn. The shejjlierd of one flock calls his sheep in squads, draws water for them, pours it into the troughs, and, when the squad lias done, orders it away by sounds which the sheep perfectly nnderstiind, and calls up another squad.

\Vhen the whole of one flock is watered, its shepherd signals to it, and the sheep rise, and move leisurely away, while another flock comes in a similar manner to the troughs, and so on, until all the flocks are watered. The sheep never make any mistake lus to who whistles to them or calls them. 'They know not the voice of strangers' (Jn 10°). Sometimes they are called by names (v.') It was such a scene that greeted Jacob's eyes when he fell in love with Kachel at lirst sight (Gn 29'<'-").

Moses met his wife and her sisters at the water- ing troughs (Ex 2"'''"). The shepherd often carries the smaller lambs in liLs bosom, or under his arm, or in the folds of his cloak (Is 40"). Dogs are indis- pensable to shepherds (Job 30'). They protect the Hock from wild animals and robbers. They are the unkempt, savage, shaggy originals of the city dogs of the East. Tliey help to keep the sheep together like the Scotch collies.

Syrian sheep are usually white (Ps 147'", Is 1", Dn 7"), but some are brown (GnStf', " RV 'black'). No animal mentioned in Scripture compares in symbolical interest and importance with the sheep. It is alluded to about SOO times. Tha people of God are His sheep (Ps 95' 100^ Jn 21'»-"), and His ministers pastors,' i.e. shepherds (Jer 23', Eph 4" ; cf. our Lord's charge to St. Peter Jn 21'»i'-; see art. Peter, vol. iii. p. 7U1).

Christ is the Good Shepherd (Jn 10"), and ' the Lamb (6 d/xvis) of God, which taketh away the sins of the world ' (Jn V). The song of the redeemed is ' the song of Moses and the Lamb' (Rev 15'), of the law and the gos- Eel. Satan and his hosts 'made war with the amb,' and the Lamb overcame (H'). The last act of the drama of redemption is ' the marriage of the Lamb' (Rev 19" 21''- '), and thereafter 'God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple' (v.^), and 'the Lamb is the light thereof (v.^).

Those who are written in ' the Lamb's book of life ' (v.") enter into His rest. The last vision of Revelation is 'the throne of God and the Lamb' {rd ipvlov, 22'). G. E. Post.