Are of different varieties. Probably the flocks of Abraham and Isaac were of the wild species found still in the mountain regions of Persia and Kurdistan. After the Exodus, and as a result of intercourse with surrounding nations, other species were no doubt introduced into the herds of the people of Israel. They are frequently mentioned in Scripture. The care of a shepherd over his flock is referred to as illustrating God's care over his people (Ps. 23:1, 2; 74:1; 77:20; Isa. 40:11; 53:6; John 10:1-5, 7-16). "The sheep of Palestine are longer in the head than ours, and have tails from 5 inches broad at the narrowest part to 15 inches at the widest, the weight being in proportion, and ranging generally from 10 to 14 lbs., but sometimes extending to 30 lbs. The tails are indeed huge masses of fat" (Geikie's Holy Land, etc.). The tail was no doubt the "rump" so frequently referred to in the Levitical sacrifices (Ex. 29:22; Lev. 3:9; 7:3; 9:19). Sheep-shearing was generally an occasion of great festivity (Gen. 31:19; 38:12, 13; 1 Sam. 25:4-8, 36; 2 Sam. 13:23-28). Sheep were an important part of the possessions of the ancient Hebrews and of eastern nations generally. The first mention of sheep occurs in (Genesis 4:2) They were used in the sacrificial offering, as, both the adult animal, (Exodus 20:24) and the lamb. See (Exodus 29:28; Leviticus 9:3; 12:6) Sheep and lambs formed an important article of food. (1 Samuel 25:18) The wool was used as clothing. (Leviticus 13:47) "Rams skins dyed red" were used as a covering for the tabernacle. (Exodus 25:5) Sheep and lambs were sometimes paid as tribute. (2 Kings 3:4) It is very striking to notice the immense numbers of sheep that were reared in Palestine in biblical times. (Chardin says he saw a clan of Turcoman shepherds whose flock consisted of 3,000,000 sheep and goats, besides 400,000 Feasts of carriage, as horses, asses and camels.) Sheep-sheering is alluded to (Genesis 31:19) Sheepdogs were employed in biblical times. (Job 30:1) Shepherds in Palestine and the East generally go before their flocks, which they induce to follow by calling to them, comp. (John 10:4; Psalms 77:20; 80:1) though they also drive them. (Genesis 33:13) The following quotation from Hartley's "Researches in Greece and the Levant," p. 321, is strikingly illustrative of the allusions in (John 10:1-16) "Having had my attention directed last night to the words in (John 10:3) I asked my man if it was usual in Greece to give names to the sheep. He informed me that it was, and that the sheep obeyed the shepherd when he called them by their names. This morning I had an opportunity of verifying the truth of this remark. Passing by a flock of sheep I asked the shepherd the same question which I had put to the servant, and he gave me the same answer. I then had him call one of his sheep. He did so, and it instantly left its pasturage and its companions and ran up to the hands of the shepherd with signs of pleasure and with a prompt obedience which I had never before observed in any other animal. It is also true in this country that a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him. The shepherd told me that many of his sheep were still wild, that they had not yet learned their names, but that by teaching them they would all learn them." The common sheer, of Syria and Palestine are the broad-tailed. As the sheep is an emblem of meekness, patience and submission, it is expressly mentioned as typifying these qualities in the person of our blessed Lord. (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32) etc. The relation that exists between Christ, "the chief Shepherd," and his members is beautifully compared to that which in the East is so strikingly exhibited by the shepherds to their flocks [[1097]Shepherd] Clean and used as food -- De 14:4. Described as Innocent. -- 2Sa 24:17. Sagacious. -- Joh 10:4,5. Agile. -- Ps 114:4,6. Being covered with a fleece. -- Job 31:20. Remarkably prolific. -- Ps 107:41; 144:13; Song 4:2; Eze 36:37. Bleating of, alluded to -- Jdj 5:16; 1Sa 15:14. Under man's care from the earliest age -- Ge 4:4. Constituted a great part of patriarchal wealth -- Ge 13:5; 24:25; 26:14. Males of called rams -- 1Sa 15:22; Jer 51:40. Females of, called ewes -- Ps 78:71. Young of, called lambs -- Ex 12:3; Isa 11:6. Places celebrated for Kedar. -- Eze 27:21. Bashan. -- De 32:14. Nebaioth. -- Isa 60:7. Bozrah. -- Mic 2:12. Flesh of, extensively used as food -- 1Sa 25:18; 1Ki 1:19; 4:23; Ne 5:18; Isa 22:13. Milk of, used as food -- De 32:14; Isa 7:21,22; 1Co 9:7. Skins of, worn as clothing by the poor -- Heb 11:37. Skins of, made into a covering for the tabernacle -- Ex 25:5; 36:10; 39:34. Wool of, made into clothing -- Job 31:20; Pr 31:13; Eze 34:3. Offered in sacrifice from the earliest age -- Ge 4:4; 8:20; 15:9,10. Offered in sacrifice under the law -- Ex 20:24; Le 1:10; 1Ki 8:5,63. Flocks of Attended by members of the family. -- Ge 29:9; Ex 2:16; 1Sa 16:11. Attended by servants. -- 1Sa 17:20; Isa 61:5. Guarded by dogs. -- Job 30:1. Kept in folds or cotes. -- 1Sa 24:3; 2Sa 7:8; Joh 10:1. Conducted to the richest pastures. -- Ps 23:2. Fed on the mountains. -- Ex 3:1; Eze 34:6,13. Fed in the valleys. -- Isa 65:10. Frequently covered the pastures. -- Ps 65:13. Watered every day. -- Ge 29:8-10; Ex 2:16,17. Made to rest at noon. -- Ps 23:2; Song 1:7. Followed the shepherd. -- Joh 10:4,27. Fled from strangers. -- Joh 10:5. Washed and shorn every year -- Song 4:2. Firstlings of, not to be shorn -- De 15:19. Firstlings of, not to be redeemed -- Nu 18:17. Firstlings of, could not be dedicated as a free-will offering -- Le 27:26. Tithe of, given to the Levites -- 2Ch 31:4-6. First wool of, given to the priests -- De 18:4. Time of shearing, a time of rejoicing -- 1Sa 25:2,11,36; 2Sa 13:23. Were frequently Given as presents. -- 2Sa 17:29; 1Ch 12:40. Given as tribute. -- 2Ki 3:4; 2Ch 17:11. Destroyed by wild beasts. -- Jer 50:17; Mic 5:8; Joh 10:12. Taken in great numbers in war. -- Jdj 6:4; 1Sa 14:32; 1Ch 5:21; 2Ch 14:15. Cut off by disease. -- Ex 9:3. False prophets assume the simple appearance -- Mt 7:15. Illustrative Of the Jews. -- Ps 74:1; 78:52; 79:13. Of the people of Christ. -- Joh 10:7-26; 21:16,17; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 5:2. Of the wicked in their death. -- Ps 49:14. Of those under God's judgment. -- Ps 44:1. (In patience and simplicity,) of patience, of Christ. -- Isa 53:7. (In proneness to wander,) of those who depart from God. -- Ps 119:176; Isa 53:6; Eze 34:16. (Lost,) of the unregenerate. -- Mt 10:6. (When found,) of restored sinners. -- Lu 15:5,7. (Separation from the goats,) of the separation of saints from the wicked. -- Mt 25:32,33.
Sheep