Mouse in Smiths Bible Dictionary

(the corn-eater). The name of this animal occurs in Le 11:29; 1Sa 6:4,5; Isa 66:17 The Hebrew word is in all probability generic, and is not intended to denote any particular species of mouse. The original word denotes a field-ravager, and may therefore comprehend any destructive rodent. Tristram found twenty-three species of mice in Israel. It is probable that in 1Sa 6:5 the expression "the mice that mar the land" includes and more particularly refers to the short-tailed field-mice (Arvicola agrestis, Flem.), which cause great destruction to the corn-lands of Syria.