Reference: Herdsman
Easton
In Egypt herdsmen were probably of the lowest caste. Some of Joseph's brethren were made rulers over Pharaoh's cattle (Ge 47:6,17). The Israelites were known in Egypt as "keepers of cattle;" and when they left it they took their flocks and herds with them (Ex 12:38). Both David and Saul came from "following the herd" to occupy the throne (1Sa 9; 11:5; Ps 78:70). David's herd-masters were among his chief officers of state. The daughters also of wealthy chiefs were wont to tend the flocks of the family (Ge 29:9; Ex 2:16). The "chief of the herdsmen" was in the time of the monarchy an officer of high rank (1Sa 21:7; comp. 1Ch 27:29). The herdsmen lived in tents (Isa 38:12; Jer 6:3); and there were folds for the cattle (Nu 32:16), and watch-towers for the herdsmen, that he might therefrom observe any coming danger (Mic 4:8; Na 3:8).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
He is yet speaking with them, and Rachel hath come with the flock which her father hath, for she is shepherdess;
the land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land cause thy father and thy brethren to dwell -- they dwell in the land of Goshen, and if thou hast known, and there are among them men of ability, then thou hast set them heads over the cattle I have.'
And they bring in their cattle unto Joseph, and Joseph giveth to them bread, for the horses, and for the cattle of the flock, and for the cattle of the herd, and for the asses; and he tendeth them with bread, for all their cattle, during that year.
And to a priest of Midian are seven daughters, and they come and draw, and fill the troughs, to water the flock of their father,
and a great rabble also hath gone up with them, and flock and herd -- very much cattle.
And they come nigh unto him, and say, 'Folds for the flock we build for our cattle here, and cities for our infants;
And there is a man of the servants of Saul on that day detained before Jehovah, and his name is Doeg the Edomite, chief of the shepherds whom Saul hath.
and over the herds that are feeding in Sharon is Shitrai the Sharonite; and over the herds in the valleys is Shaphat son of Adlai;
And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock,
My sojourning hath departed, And been removed from me as a shepherd's tent, I have drawn together, as a weaver, my life, By weakness it cutteth me off, From day unto night Thou dost end me.
Unto her come do shepherds and their droves, They have stricken tents by her round about, They have fed each in his own station.
And thou, O tower of Eder, Fort of the daughter of Zion, unto thee it cometh, Yea, come in hath the former rule, The kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem.
Art thou better than No-Ammon, That is dwelling among brooks? Waters she hath round about her, Whose bulwark is the sea, waters her wall.