partridge Summary and Overview

(Heb. kore, i.e., "caller"). This bird, unlike our own partridge, is distinguished by "its ringing call-note, which in early morning echoes from cliff to cliff amidst the barrenness of the wilderness of Judea and the glens of the forest of Carmel" hence its Hebrew name. This name occurs only twice in Scripture. In 1 Sam. 26:20 "David alludes to the mode of chase practised now, as of old, when the partridge, continuously chased, was at length, when fatigued, knocked down by sticks thrown along the ground." It endeavours to save itself "by running, in preference to flight, unless when suddenly started. It is not an inhabitant of the plain or the corn-field, but of rocky hill-sides" (Tristram's Nat. Hist.). In Jer. 17:11 the prophet is illustrating the fact that riches unlawfully acquired are precarious and short-lived. The exact nature of the illustration cannot be precisely determined. Some interpret the words as meaning that the covetous man will be as surely disappointed as the partridge which gathers in eggs, not of her own laying, and is unable to hatch them; others (Tristram), with more probability, as denoting that the man who enriches himself by unjust means "will as surely be disappointed as the partridge which commences to sit, but is speedily robbed of her hopes of a brood" by her eggs being stolen away from her. The commonest partridge in Israel is the Caccabis saxatilis, the Greek partridge. The partridge of the wilderness (Ammo-perdix heyi) is a smaller species. Both are essentially mountain and rock birds, thus differing from the English partridge, which loves cultivated fields.

(Heb. kore) occurs only #1Sa 26:20| and Jere 17:11 The "hunting this bird upon the mountains," #1Sa 26:20| entirely agrees with the habits of two well-known species of partridge, viz. Caccabis saxatilis, the Greek partridge (which is the commonest partridge of the holy land), and Ammoperdix heyii. Our common partridge, Perdix cinerea, does not occur in Israel. (The Greek partridge somewhat resembles our red-legged partridge in plumage, but is much larger. In every part of the hill country it abounds, and its ringing call-note in early morning echoes from cliff to cliff alike amid the barrenness of the hills of Judea and in the glens of the forest of Carmel. Tristram's Nat. Hist. of Bible. The flesh of the partridge and the eggs are highly esteemed as food, and the search for the eggs at the proper time of the year is made a regular business.-ED.)

PAR'TRIDGE (Heb. the caller). The Greek partridge (Caccabis saxatilis) is very common in Palestine, and one or two other kinds are found. The modern peasants esteem the flesh of these birds a luxury: and as, when hunted, they try to save themselves by running rather than by flight, they are often chased till, being fatigued, they can be knocked down with a stick or a stone. 1 Sam 26:20. The partridge lays many eggs, which are prized by the Syrians and gathered in large numbers. The ancients undoubtedly hunted the bird and its eggs in the same way as is now customary. Thus the partridge often laid her eggs and brooded upon them in vain, which is the meaning of Jer 17:11.

kore'. 1 Samuel 26:20, "a partridge in the mountains." Jeremiah 17:11, "the partridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not" ("sitteth on eggs which it has not laid," Henderson), typifying the profitlessness of unlawful gain (Psalm 39:6; Psalm 49:16-17; Psalm 55:23) in the end. Breeding in the desert mountain regions it makes its rude nest, a hole scratched in the earth and lined with dried leaves, and deposits 15 eggs. Like many of the rasorial birds they lay in one another's nests, and a different bird hatches from the bird who laid the eggs. This is Jeremiah's reference, or rather to its nest being on the ground, liable to be trodden under foot or robbed by carnivorous animals, notwithstanding all the beautiful maneuvers of the parent bird to save the brood. Jehoiakim's covetous grasping acts are here glanced at. Kore') is from Hebrew "call," referring to the call of the cock bird, as German rebhuhn is from rufen "to call." Kore') imitates the call note of the Caccabis saxatilis, "Greek partridge," which frequents rocky, brushwood covered, ground. The Ammopedix Heyii is the partridge of the mountains, often hunted from place to place, until being fatigued it is knocked down by the sticks, zerwattys, of the Arabs (Shaw Tray. 1:425); familiar to David in his camping near Adullam cave, and less apt to take wing than the Caccabis saxatilis. So Saul sought, by surprising David in his haunts from time to time, at last to destroy him.