Reference: Cattle
Easton
abounded in the Holy Land. To the rearing and management of them the inhabitants chiefly devoted themselves (De 8:13; 12:21; 1Sa 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 (Nu 32:4). Large herds also pastured on the wide fertile plains of Sharon. They were yoked to the plough (1Ki 19:19), and were employed for carrying burdens (1Ch 12:40). They were driven with a pointed rod (Jg 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 (De 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 (Ex 22:4). If an ox went astray, whoever found it was required to bring it back to its owner (Ex 23:4; De 22:1,4).
(2.) Small cattle. Next to herds of neat cattle, sheep formed the most important of the possessions of the inhabitants of Palestine (Ge 12:16; 13:5; 26:14; 21:27; 29:2-3). They are frequently mentioned among the booty taken in war (Nu 31:32; Jos 6:21; 1Sa 14:32; 15:3). There were many who were owners of large flocks (1Sa 25:2; 2Sa 12:2, comp. Job 1:3). Kings also had shepherds "over their flocks" (1Ch 27:31), from which they derived a large portion of their revenue (2Sa 17:29; 1Ch 12:40). The districts most famous for their flocks of sheep were the plain of Sharon (Isa 65:10), Mount Carmel (Mic 7:14), Bashan and Gilead (Mic 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 (Ge 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 (Joh 10:12), and sometimes by the sons of the family (1Sa 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 (1Sa 25:4; 2Sa 13:23). They were folded at night, and guarded by their keepers against the attacks of the lion (Mic 5:8), the bear (1Sa 17:34), and the wolf (Mt 10:16; Joh 10:12). They were liable to wander over the wide pastures and go astray (Ps 119:176; Isa 53:6; Ho 4:16; Mt 18:12).
Goats also formed a part of the pastoral wealth of Palestine (Ge 15:9; 32:14; 37:31). They were used both for sacrifice and for food (De 14:4), especially the young males (Ge 27:9,14,17; Jg 6:19; 13:15; 1Sa 16:20). Goat's hair was used for making tent cloth (Ex 26:7; 36:14), and for mattresses and bedding (1Sa 19:13,16). (See Goat.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
which entreated Abram well for her sake, so that he had sheep, oxen and he-asses, men servants, maid servants, she-asses and camels.
Lot also, which went with him, had sheep, cattle and tents:
And he said unto him, "Take a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a three year old ram, a turtle dove and a young pigeon."
And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them unto Abimelech. And they made both of them a bond together.
that he had possession of sheep, of oxen, and a mighty household; so that the Philistines had envy at him,
get thee to the flock, and bring me thence two good kids, and I will make meat of them for thy father, such as he loveth.
And Jacob went and fetched them and brought them to his mother. And his mother made meat of them, according as his father loved.
And she put the meat and bread which she had made in the hand of her son Jacob.
And as he looked about, behold there was a well in the field, and three flocks of sheep lay thereby - for at that well were the flocks watered - and there lay a great stone at the well mouth. And the manner was to bring the flocks thither, and to roll the stone from the well's mouth and to water the sheep, and to put the stone again upon the well's mouth unto his place.
While he yet talked with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them.
Two hundred she goats and twenty he goats: two hundred sheep and twenty rams:
And they took Joseph's coat and killed a goat, and dipped the coat in the blood.
The priest of Midian had seven daughters which came and drew water and filled the troughs, for to water their father's sheep.
If a man steal an ox or sheep and kill it or sell it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
If the theft be found in his hand alive - whether it be ox, ass or sheep - he shall restore double.
When thou meetest thine enemy's ox or ass going astray, thou shalt bring them to him again.
And thou shalt make eleven curtains of goat's hair, to be a tent to cover the habitation.
And they made eleven curtains of goats' hair to be a tent
And the booty, and the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy five thousand sheep;
which country the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle: and we thy servants have cattle.
and when thy beasts and thy sheep are waxed many and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied,
If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou mayest kill of thy oxen and of thy sheep which the LORD hath given thee as I have commanded thee, and thou mayest eat in thine own city whatsoever thy soul lusteth.
These are the beasts which ye shall eat of: oxen, sheep and goats,
If thou see thy brother's ox or sheep go astray, thou shalt not withdraw thyself from them: But shalt bring them home again unto thy brother.
If thou see that thy brother's ass or ox is fallen down by the way, thou shalt not withdraw thyself from them: but shalt help him to heave them up again.
Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.
And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep and ass, with the edge of the sword.
And after him came Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an oxgoad, and delivered Israel also.
And Gideon went and made ready a kid, and sweet cakes of an Ephah of flour, and put the flesh in a basket and the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak and presented it.
Then said Manoah unto the Angel of the LORD, "Grant us to tarry until we have made ready a kid and have set it before thee."
Then said Samuel to Jesse, "Are here all thy children?" And he said, "The youngest is yet behind. Behold, he keepeth the sheep." Then Samuel said unto Jesse, "Send and fetch him for we will not sit down, till he be come hither."
David went and departed from Saul, to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
Then said David unto Saul, "As thy servant kept his father's sheep, there came a Lion and likewise a Bear, and took a sheep out of the flock.
And then she took an image and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow stuffed with goat's hair under the head of it, and covered it with a cloth.
And when the messengers were come in, "Behold there lay an image in the bed, with a pillow of goat's hair under the head of it.
And there was a man in Maon whose cattle was in Carmel, and the man was exceeding mighty, and had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
And when David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal shore his sheep,
honey, butter, sheep and cheese of kine - for David, and all the people that were with him, to eat. For they supposed that the people should be hungry, fainty, and thirsty in the wilderness.
And he departed thence and found Elisha the son of Shaphat plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelve. And Elijah went to him and cast his mantle upon him.
Moreover, they that were nigh to them, as Issachar, Zebulun and, Naphtali, brought bread on asses, camels, mules and oxen, and meat: flour, figs, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep abundantly. For there was mirth in Israel.
And over the sheep was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the rulers of the substance of king David.
His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a very great household: so that he was one of the most principal men among all them of the east country.
{Gimel} O do well unto thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
that our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no decay, no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets.
And we went astray as sheep, and turned every man his way: and the LORD put on him the wickedness of us all.
Sharon shall be a sheepfold, and the valley of Achor shall give the stalling for the cattle of my people, that fear me.
Confusion hath devoured our fathers' labour from our youth up: yea, their sheep and bullocks, their sons and daughters.
For Israel is gone back like a wanton cow. The LORD therefore shall make her feed, as the lamb that goeth astray.
Yea, the residue of Jacob shall be among the gentiles and the multitude of people, as the lion among the beasts of the wood, and as the Lion's whelps among a flock of sheep: which, when he goeth through, treadeth down, teareth in pieces, and there is no man that can help.
Therefore feed thy people with thy rod; the flock of thine heritage which dwell desolate in the wood: that they may be fed upon the mount of Carmel, Bashan and Gilead as afore time.
Therefore feed thy people with thy rod; the flock of thine heritage which dwell desolate in the wood: that they may be fed upon the mount of Carmel, Bashan and Gilead as afore time.
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves: Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.
How think ye? If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them should be gone astray, doth he not leave ninety and nine in the mountains, and go and seek that one which is gone astray?
An hired servant which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flyeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
An hired servant which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flyeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Hastings
The word commonly used in OT is miqneh, meaning primarily possessions or wealth
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When that year was ended, they came unto him the next year and said unto him, "We will not hide it from my lord, how that we have neither money nor cattle for my lord: there is no more left for my lord, but even our bodies and our lands.
behold, the hand of the LORD shall be upon thy cattle which thou hast in the field, upon horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, with a mighty great pestilence.
His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a very great household: so that he was one of the most principal men among all them of the east country.
How he gave their fruits unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the grasshopper;
I bought servants and maidens, and had a great household. As for cattle and sheep, I had more substance of them than all they that were before me in Jerusalem.
Morish
Various Hebrew words are used in reference to the cow and the ox as 'cattle.' The word miqneh, however, often used for 'cattle,' signifies 'possession,' because the principal property of nomadic tribes consisted of their cattle: the word includes also sheep and goats, but not horses and asses. Ex 9:3-21, etc. Another word, tson, signifies small cattle, that is, sheep and goats. Ge 30:39-43; 31:8-43; Ec 2:7. seh has the same meaning, Ge 30:32; Eze 34:17-22: in Isa 7:25 it is translated 'lesser cattle,' and in Isa 43:23 'small cattle.'
See Verses Found in Dictionary
I will go about all thy sheep this day, and separate from them all the sheep that are spotted and of divers colors, and all black sheep among the lambs, and the party and spotted among the kids: And then such shall be my reward.
And the sheep conceived before the staves, and brought forth streaked, spotted and party. Then Jacob parted the lambs, and turned the faces of the sheep toward spotted things, and toward all manner of black things throughout the flocks of Laban. And he made him flocks of his own by themself, which he put not unto the flocks of Laban. read more. And always in the first bucking time of the sheep, Jacob put the staves before the sheep in the gutters, that they might conceive before the staves: But in the latter bucking time, he put them not there: so the last brood was Laban's and the first Jacob's. And the man became exceeding rich and had many sheep, maidservants, menservants, camels and asses.
When he said, 'the spotted shall be thy wages,' then all the sheep bare spotted. If he said, 'the streaked shall be thy reward,' then bare all the sheep streaked. Thus hath God taken away your father's cattle and given them me. read more. For in bucking time, I lifted up mine eyes and saw in a dream: and behold, the rams that bucked the sheep were streaked, spotted and party. And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream saying, 'Jacob?' And I answered, 'Here am I.' And he said, 'Lift up thine eyes and see how all the rams that leap upon the sheep are streaked, spotted and party: for I have seen all that Laban doth unto thee. I am the God of Bethel where thou anointedest the stone and where thou vowdest a vow unto me. Now arise and get thee out of this country, and return unto the land where thou wast born.'" Then answered Rachel and Lea and said unto him, "We have no part nor inheritance in our father's house: he counteth us even as strangers, for he hath sold us, and hath even eaten up the price of us. Moreover, all the riches which God hath taken from our father: that is ours and our children's. Now therefore whatsoever God hath said unto thee, that do." Then Jacob rose up and set his sons and wives up upon camels, and carried away all his cattle and all his substance which he had gotten in Mesopotamia, for to go to Isaac his father, unto the land of Canaan. Laban was gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen her father's images. And Jacob went away unknowing to Laban the Syrian, and told him not that he fled. So fled he, and all that he had, and made himself ready, and passed over the rivers, and set his face straight toward the mount Gilead. Upon the third day after, was it told Laban that Jacob was fled. Then he took his brethren with him and followed after him seven days' journey, and overtook him at the mount Gilead. And God came to Laban the Sirian in a dream by night, and said unto him, "Take heed to thyself, that thou speak not to Jacob ought save good." And Laban overtook Jacob: and Jacob had pitched his tent in that mount. And Laban with his brethren pitched their tent also upon the mount Gilead. Then said Laban to Jacob, "Why hast thou this done, unknowing to me, and hast carried away my daughters as though they had been taken captive with sword? Wherefore wentest thou away secretly, unknown to me, and didst not tell me, that I might have brought thee on the way with mirth, singing, timbrels and harps, and hast not suffered me to kiss my children and my daughters? Thou wast a fool to do it, for I am able to do you evil. But the God of your father spake unto me yesterday, saying, 'take heed that thou speak not to Jacob ought save good.' And now, though thou wentest thy way because thou longest after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?" Jacob answered, and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, and thought that thou wouldest have taken away thy daughters from me. But with whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him die here before our brethren. Seek that thine is by me, and take it to thee." For Jacob wist not that Rachel had stolen them. Then went Laban into Jacob's tent, and into Lea's tent, and into two maidens' tents: but found them not. Then went he out of Lea's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. And Rachel took the images, and put them in the camel's straw, and sat down upon them. And Laban searched all the tent: but found them not. Then said she to her father, "My lord, be not angry that I cannot rise up before thee, for the disease of women is come upon me." So searched he, but found them not. Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: Jacob also answered and said to him, "What have I trespassed or what have I offended, that thou followedest after me? Thou hast searched all my stuff, and what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? Put it here before thy brethren and mine, and let them judge betwixt us both. This twenty years that I have been with thee, thy sheep and thy goats have not been barren, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. Whatsoever was torn of beasts I brought it not unto thee, but made it good myself: of my hand didst thou require it, whether it was stolen by day or night. Moreover, by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Thus have I been twenty years in thy house, and served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy sheep, and thou hast changed my reward ten times. And except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the God whom Isaac feareth, had been with me: surely thou hadst sent me away now all empty. But God beheld my tribulation, and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesterday." Laban answered and said unto Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the sheep are my sheep, and all that thou seest is mine. And what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
behold, the hand of the LORD shall be upon thy cattle which thou hast in the field, upon horses, asses, camels, oxen, and sheep, with a mighty great pestilence. But the LORD shall make a division between the beasts of the Israelites, and the beasts of the Egyptians: so that there shall nothing die of all that pertaineth to the children of Israel.'" read more. And the LORD appointed a time saying, "Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land." And the LORD did the thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. And Pharaoh sent to wete: but there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. Notwithstanding, the heart of Pharaoh hardened, and he would not let the people go. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, "Take your hands full of ashes out of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it up into the air in the sight of Pharaoh, and it shall turn to dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall make swelling sores with blains both on man and beast in all the land of Egypt." And they took ashes out of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses sprinkled it up into the air: And there brake out sores with blains both in man and beast: so that the sorcerers could not stand before Moses, by the reason of botches on the enchanters and upon all the Egyptians. But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, that he hearkened not unto them, as the LORD had said unto Moses. And the LORD said unto Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and tell him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, that they may serve me, or else I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart and upon thy servants and on thy people, that you mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand and will smite thee and thy people with pestilence: so that thou shalt perish from the earth. Yet in very deed for this cause have I stirred thee up, for to show my power in thee, and to declare my name throughout all the world. If it be so that thou stoppest my people, that thou wilt not let them go: behold, tomorrow this time, I will send down a mighty great hail; even such one as was not in Egypt since it was grounded unto this time. Send therefore and fetch home thy beasts and all that thou hast in the field. For upon all the men and beasts which are found in the field and not brought home, shall the hail fall, and they shall die.'" And as many as feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and their beasts flee to house: and they that regarded not the word of the LORD, left their servants and their beasts in the field.
I bought servants and maidens, and had a great household. As for cattle and sheep, I had more substance of them than all they that were before me in Jerusalem.
And as for all hills that now are hewn down, thou shalt not come upon them, for fear of briers and thorns. But the cattle shall be driven thither, and the sheep shall feed there."
Thou gavest me not thy young beasts for burnt offerings, neither didst honour me with thy sacrifices. Though boughtest me no dear spice with thy money, neither pourest the fat of thy sacrifices upon me. Howbeit, I have not been chargeable unto thee in offerings, neither grievous in incense.
"'And as for you, O my sheep, sayeth the LORD God: I will put a difference among the sheep, among the wethers and the goats. Was it not enough for you, to eat up the good pasture, but ye must tread down the residue of your pastures with your feet also? Was it not enough for you to drink clear water, but ye must trouble the residue also with your feet? read more. Thus my sheep must be fain to eat the thing that ye have trodden down with your feet, and to drink it that ye with your feet have defiled. Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD God unto them: Behold, I will sever the fat sheep from the lean: forsomuch as ye have shot the weak sheep upon the sides and shoulders, and run upon them with your horns, so long till ye have utterly scattered them abroad. I will help my sheep, so that they shall no more be spoiled: yea, I will discern one sheep from another.
Smith
Cattle.
[BULL].
See Bull, Bullock