vulture Summary and Overview

(1.) Heb. da'ah (Lev. 11:14). In the parallel passage (Deut. 14:13) the Hebrew word used is "ra'ah", rendered "glede;" LXX., "gups;" Vulg., "milvus." A species of ravenous bird, distinguished for its rapid flight. "When used without the epithet 'red,' the name is commonly confined to the black kite. The habits of the bird bear out the allusion in Isa. 34:15, for it is, excepting during the winter three months, so numerous everywhere in Israel as to be almost gregarious." (See EAGLE T0001101.) (2.) In Job 28:7 the Heb. 'ayyah is thus rendered. The word denotes a clamorous and a keen-sighted bird of prey. In Lev. 11:14 and Deut. 14:13 it is rendered "kite" (q.v.).

The rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew daah, dayyah, and also in #Job 28:7| of ayyah. There seems no doubt that the Authorized Versions translation is incorrect, and that the original words refer to some of the smaller species of raptorial birds, as kites or buzzards. [KITE] But the Hebrew word nesher, invariably rendered "eagle" in the Authorized Version, is probably the vulture. [EAGLE]

VUL'TURE . In Lev 11:14, Deut 14:13, and Isa 34:15, in place of this word, we should probably read "black kite" (Milvus migrans). This is a bird which, except in the winter months, collects in Palestine in great numbers and is very sociable in its habits, according to the reference in Isaiah. Another Hebrew word rendered "vulture" in Job 28:7 is elsewhere correctly rendered Kite, which see. It is a striking instance of the accuracy of the Scripture writers that, while Egyptian Vulture, or "Pharaoh's Hen." the peculiar faculty for discovering their food which carrion-devourers possess is popularly attributed to the sense of smell, the Bible attributes it to sight. In the book of Job the characteristic of the eagle is that "her eyes behold afar off." Job 28:7 refers to the same peculiarity, "There is a path which the vulture's eye hath not seen," implying that its vision is most acute and penetrating. It is well proved that birds of prey discern their booty at vast distances, that the eager flight of one is observed and followed by another, and so on, till many are gathered together wheresoever the carcase is. __________________________________________________________________ W.

'ayah (the red kite famed for sharp sight: Job 28:7); daah (GLEDE or black kite: Leviticus 11:14; Deuteronomy 14:13 raah); dayah, the Vulturidae; the words "after his kind" mark more than one species. Vultures differ from eagles and falcons by having the head and neck borer of feathers, the eyes not so sunk, the beak longer, curved only at the end. Cowardly; preferring carrion to other food; rarely killing their prey, unless it is feeble.

The griffon of the Vulturidae is noted for seeing its prey from the greatest height. Though previously scarcely known in the Crimea, during the Anglo-Russian war they remained near the camp throughout the campaign; "wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together" (Matthew 24:28; Job 39:30). Besides the griffon, the lammergever and the Egyptian vulture, "Pharaoh's hens," are found in Israel.