Owl in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
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What is an Owl?
OWL
In Deut 14:16-17; Isa 34:11, 2 Sam 20:15; Ps 102:6 this word doubtless denotes some one or other of the five species of owl common in Egypt and Syria. The Hebrew word translated Eagle Owl (Bubo Maximus. After Houghton.) "owl" in eight other cases means the ostrich, as is often indicated in the margin. Some of these birds we know are very abundant in Palestine, especially among ruins, and their doleful hooting as they seek their prey by night intensities the present desolation of these former habitations of pride and glory. The prophecies of Isa 34 find a fulfilment in modern Petra - ancient Idumaea - as described by Irby and Mangles: "The screaming of eagles, hawks, and owls, which were soaring above our heads in considerable numbers, seemingly annoyed at any one approaching their lonely habitation, added much to the singularity of the scene." See Night-hawk, Ostrich. OX, a well-known domestic animal, clean by the Levitical Law, strong and patient of labor, of great use in agricultural pursuits, and one of the most valuable possessions of the Jewish husbandman. Gen 24:35; Gen 30:43; 1 Sam 11:7; Job 1:3. Oxen were used for ploughing, Deut 22:10; 1 Kgs 19:19; Job 1:14; Prov 14:4; Isa 30:24; for drawing. Num 7:3, Num 3:7-8; for threshing or treading out grain, Deut 25:4; 1 Cor 9:9; for beasts of burden, 1 Chr 12:40; for sacrifice, Gen 15:9; 1 Kgs 8:63; 2 Chr 29:33; to produce milk and butter, Deut 32:14; Isa 7:22; 2 Sam 17:29; and their flesh as food. 1 Kgs 19:21; 1 Chr 12:39-40; Matt 22:4. The full-grown ox was,however, rarely slaughtered either for food or sacrifice, being esteemed too valuable for any ordinary use of this kind. The young animal was taken instead. Of the herds of Moab in our day Tristram says: "Unlike the sheep, the cattle do not find their way across Jordan to the markets of Jerusalem or Nablous. Beef is a costly luxury, for the bullocks are as valuable for the plough as the heifers are for milch-kine." The cattle of the Jews were probably broken to service when three years old. Isa 15:5; Jer 48:34. The oxen of ancient Egypt are shown by the monuments to have been large and handsome creatures, and it is likely that those of Palestine were then similar, though they have now much deteriorated, in size at least. As is shown by the above synopsis, oxen were used in general as horses are now. East of the Jordan vast herds of cattle grazed through the entire year, being driven to new pastures as old ones were exhausted. This was sometimes possible in Western Palestine, owing to the variety of elevation and climate. When these resources failed, a mixture of grains (as the Hebrew indicates) called "fodder" or "provender," Job 6:5; Isa 30:24, was given, or the torn "straw" left by the threshing-machine. See Thresh. In the more populous districts cattle were stall-fed, as to some extent in all parts. 1 Kgs 4:23; Prov 15:17; Hab 3:17. At present the herds and flocks of a whole village are commonly pastured together, and at night driven into some large cave, natural or artificial. It is possible that the cave shown at Bethlehem as our Saviour's birthplace was thus used - in part at least - and was really the manger in which the new-born Christ was laid. Various provisions of the Mosaic Law concerning cattle are recorded in the following additional references: Ex 20:10; Josh 21:28; Ex 34:19; Lev 19:19; Deut 25:7; Deut 22:1, Ex 6:4, 1 Kgs 16:10. Herds were often left to care for themselves in the vast feeding-grounds east of the Jordan. These half-wild cattle will gather in a circle around any strange object, and, if irritated, charge upon it with their horns. Ps 22:13. The wild ox of Deut 14:5, or wild bull of Isa 51:20, is probably the oryx, a powerful creature of the antelope kind, See Agriculture, Herd.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'owl' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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