FDC Literature Review Committee
Assistant Chief of Education – Melvin Herring
1 (850) 717-3160
Email: Melvin.herring@fdc.myflorida.com



Chief Herring,

We at Sabbath Keepers Fellowship are about to publish our national newsletter for this year. We have deleted all portions we thought might be objectionable to your Florida prison's Literary Review Committee. Before we commit to sending it out to your 1,000 Sabbatarian inmates on our membership rolls, we would like you to view and approve it in advance to make sure we don't waste our donor's money again this year. Without your approval, it will not be sent to the inmates in Florida prisons.

In addition, this newsletter contains the request form for our annual Passover Package Program. As happened last year, your rejection of our newsletter for containing Hebrew language caused your Sabbatarian inmates to miss out on that program. We hope that does not happen again this year, and so that ball is now in your court.

Please, review and advise us of your decision quickly so that we can accommodate your Sabbath-keeping inmates with our free resources, as we do in 41 other states in the USA.

Thank you so much for your time and attention,



Jeff Haufler
Assistant Director Sabbath Keepers Fellowship

JeffSabbath Keepers Fellowship.org
Landline: 903-489-1930 Text: 903-203-4507
SabbathKeepersFellowship.org

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Who are the "weak in faith" and what are the "opinions" in Romans 14:1?

Probably not what your church told you.

112025 / 28th day of the 8yh month 5786
WORD FOR TODAY “every word”: Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

WISDOM FOR TODAY: Pro 20:3 Avoiding quarrels brings a person honor; for any fool can explode in anger.

Ask the LORD how you can serve HIM better

www.BGMCTV.org

ANIMALS

PART 3

HORSE

Horses were used in war not only for riding but also for pulling the heavy, springless war chariots. Two kinds of horses were needed for these different purposes, and the Hebrews distinguished between chariot horses and cavalry horses. Adonai warned the early Israelites against unnecessarily amassing military strength in the form of horses and thereby following the oppressive tactics of the powerful Egyptians {Deuteronomy 17:14-16}, but the demands of war caused both David and Solomon to import horses from Egypt into their kingdoms and to breed them. In early Israel, the horse was opposed as a symbol of pagan luxury and of dependence on physical power for defence {Deuteronomy 17:16; 1 Samuel 8:11; Psalm 20:7; Isaiah 31:1}. Most biblical references to horses refer to their use in warfare, but horses were also used for transportation.

HYENA

A hyena is a stocky carnivore with coarse hair, an erect mane, and long hairs along the neck and back. Hyenas live in holes among rocks and banks. They are mainly nocturnal but are ordinarily neither noisy nor aggressive. Their cry, however, is a disagreeable, unearthly sound. Known as scavengers in Africa, hyenas eat domestic trash in the villages. Since hyenas were notorious for raiding the graves of the dead, all Israelites who could afford it arranged for burial in tombs protected by massive stone doors. Absalom, King David’s son who was killed by Joab in the wild, was buried under a huge pile of stones to protect his corpse from hyenas {2 Samuel 18:17}.

JACKAL

A jackal is a carnivore smaller than the true wolf and with a shorter tail. It is similar to the fox but has a broader head, shorter ears, and longer legs. Whereas the fox is solitary, the jackal tends to live in packs. Old Testament references are chiefly to jackals prowling around ruined cities and wilderness areas {Nehemiah 2:13; Psalm 44:19; Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; 35:7; Jeremiah 9:11; 14:6; 49:33; 51:37; Lamentations 4:3; 5:18; Malachi 1:3}. Many translate such references as “dragon” in the King James Version, but “jackal” is more appropriate.

LEOPARD

This is the most widespread of all the large wildcats. In rocky areas it lives in caves, but in forested regions it lives in thick vegetation. In Old Testament times, many lived in the vicinity of Mount Hermon {Song of Songs 4:8}. The leopard is somewhat smaller than the tiger, measuring up to five feet in length with a tail of about thirty inches. Its body is better proportioned than that of the tiger. The leopard takes its victim by surprise from a silent ambush, often concealing itself near villages or watering places and waiting for its prey, remaining in one spot for long spans of time. The leopard is swift on the ground {Habakkuk 1:8}, agile in trees, and very graceful in its movements. Its colour is yellowish speckled with black spots {Jeremiah 3:23}. The leopard is a wary and cunning animal, formidable and ferocious {Jeremiah 5:6; Hosea 13:7; compare to Isaiah 11:6}.

LEVIATHAN

Sea monster mentioned several times in the Bible {Psalms 74:14; 104:26; Isaiah 27:1}. It may refer to any of the larger marine animals such as large jellyfish, whales, or sharks, or to a large reptile like the crocodile. Some scholars think “Leviathan” may refer to marine reptiles similar to dinosaurs. Other scholars believe that the references are to the crocodile.

LION

Within historic times the lion ranged in Africa, Europe, and the Holy Land. The lion of the Holy Land was the Asiatic or Persian lion. The males have heavy manes that stop at the shoulders but cover much of the chest. The Persian lion cannot climb and is mainly nocturnal, returning to its lair or a thicket by day {Jeremiah 4:7; Jeremiah 25:38; Nahum 2:11-12}. A roaring lion arouses fear {3:8}. The lion is a bold {2 Samuel 17:10; Proverbs 28:1}, destructive animal {Psalm 7:2; Jeremiah 2:30; Hosea 5:14; Micah 5:8}, and the enemy of flocks {Amos 3:12}. The Bible describes the devil as a roaring lion and warns that should be on our guard against him {1 Peter 5:8}. Lions were common in biblical times in all parts of the Holy Land. Hebrew has at least seven words for lion and young lion. The lion is referred to about 130 times in the Old Testament -- more than any other wild animal. To the Jews, the lion was the mightiest of beasts {Proverbs 30:29-31}. Thus, it symbolized leadership {Genesis 49:9-10; Numbers 24:9} and hence eventually became a title for the Moshiach {Revelation 5:5}. It was also the ensign of the tribe of Judah and was used by King Solomon in the decoration of his house and the temple.

LIZARD

The lizard is a useful creature because it captures harmful insects and worms. Like other reptiles, it lays eggs with shells softer than those of a bird and with no clear division between the yolk and the white. Lizards are “cold-blooded” organisms, and they become inactive in cold weather. Lizards are listed as ceremonially unclean in Jewish Law {Leviticus 11:29-31}. The fact that lizards crawl on their bellies made them unclean.

LOCUST

A locust is an insect referred to by at least twelve different names in Scripture. The various Hebrew words may refer to different stages of its development from larva to adult or to the type of damage that it causes. Locusts are characterized by swarming and mass migration. In modern times, they have caused extensive and disastrous destruction to vegetation. A locust plague was one of the most severe evils to come upon the ancient world {Deuteronomy 28:38}. Joel 2:1-11 describes a locust plague in graphic terms, using it as a symbol of YHVH’s destroying judgment. Special days of prayer, fasting, and trumpet blowing were prescribed to remove locust plagues {1 Kings 8:37-38; 2 Chronicles 6:28-29; Joel 2:12-17}. Locusts symbolized powerful and merciless enemies that completely destroyed the earnings of human toil {Judges 6:5; Isaiah 33:4; Jeremiah 46:23; 51:27; Nahum 3:15}. Bedouins eat locusts raw, roasted, or boiled, preserving them by drying and threading. They are also crushed and ground and used in cooking or eaten with bread. They are sometimes mixed with honey and dates. Such was the diet of John the Baptist {Mark 1:6}.

MOLE

A mole is a rodent from six to nine inches long, which burrows in any area where the soil is suitable for digging; it should be called a mole rat. Common in the Holy Land, large numbers are found in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:20 refers to the mole, as does Leviticus 11:29-30. The mole rat has no tail and is mole-like in appearance. The neck is short and thick with a plump body shaped like a sausage. The short legs have broad paws with claws adapted for burrowing. Its ears and almost sightless eyes, which are no larger than poppy seeds, are hidden in the fur. The mole rat feeds on roots, bulbs, tubers, and various other subterranean plant parts, often doing extensive damage to agriculture.

MOTH

A moth is an insect that lays its eggs on wool or furs and whose larvae feed on those materials. The destructive qualities of moths are referred to in several biblical passages {Job 13:28; Psalm 39:11; Isaiah 50:9; Hosea 5:12; Matthew 6:19-20; Luke 12:33; James 5:2}. There are hundreds of species of moths in the Holy Land.

MOUSE

A mouse is a rodent. Being short legged, the Jews considered it one of the creeping creatures and ceremonially unclean {Leviticus 11:29}. The Hebrew word for “mouse” {Leviticus 11:29; 1 Samuel 6:4-5; Isaiah 66:17} is probably a general term for various rats and mice. The root meaning of the Hebrew word “mouse” is “destruction of corn.” Mice can destroy whole fields of crops. They cause food spoilage, damage household articles, and transport the host fleas that spread spotted fever and bubonic plague.

MULE

The hybrid offspring of a male donkey and a female horse is a mule. It is ordinarily sterile. Because crossbreeding was forbidden in the Law {Leviticus 19:19}, the Israelites procured mules from the Gentiles. Mules did not appear in Israel until David’s reign {2 Samuel 13:29}, possibly because of the rarity of horses among the Hebrews. Mules were used chiefly by members of the royal court and by other nobles. King David rode on a mule, and Solomon rode to his inauguration on King David’s mule {1 Kings 1:33}. Absalom met his death riding on a mule {2 Samuel 18:9}. Mules have long enjoyed a reputation for obstinacy, but that trait is not mentioned in the Bible. The mule is prized for riding and for carrying heavy burdens, especially in warm mountainous regions. They are sure-footed and thrive best in hot, dry climates. The mule has the frugality, endurance, and steady gait of a donkey along with the size, strength, swiftness, and courage of a horse. Mules are almost never sick. They live longer than horses. They can carry a load of up to three hundred pounds as far as thirty miles a day.

PIG

The domestic pigs of the Middle East were derived from the wild pig {Sus scrofa}. Pigs cannot be driven, so they are of value only to the settled farmer. The Hebrews were originally a nomadic people; therefore, they had little use for an animal closely associated with settled life. Strict Jews would not even mention swine by name but would always substitute the term “the abomination.” Israelites considered themselves polluted if they were even touched by a swine’s bristle. To the Jews, the pig symbolized filth and ugliness. Pigs will eat faecal material, vermin, rodents, carrion {dead animals}, and the like {2 Peter 2:22}. Proverbs 11:22 refers to the incongruity of a golden ring in the nose of an animal showing such characteristics. A similar metaphor occurs in Yeshua’ statement about casting pearls before swine {Matthew 7:6}. The Prodigal Son reached the lowest of the low when he was forced in his poverty to feed pigs and eat their food {Luke 15:15-16}.

PORCUPINE

A porcupine is a rodent, which lives in forested areas, rocky hills, ravines, and valleys. The porcupine is still found in the Holy Land today. It has long quills that can be raised to give the appearance of a crest. It is almost entirely nocturnal. It eats fruit, bark, roots, and other vegetation, and carrion as well. Although its flesh is edible, the porcupine was not classed among the clean animals for the Israelites. The reference in Isaiah 34:11 {RSV} is probably to the porcupine, as is 14:23 in the NLT.

SCORPION

A dozen species of scorpions is found in the Holy Land. At the end of its long tail the scorpion carries a poisonous sting that is fatal to most prey and extremely painful to humans {Revelation 9:3, 5, 10; compare to 1 Kings 12:11, 14}. Scorpions symbolize Ezekiel’s evil countrymen {Ezekiel 2:6} and the demonic forces of Satan {Luke 10:19}. The scorpion is referred to as frequenting the Sinai Desert {Deuteronomy 8:15}.

SHEEP

This domestic animal is referred to over seven hundred times in Scripture. Sheep represented the chief wealth and total livelihood of pastoral peoples, providing food to eat, milk to drink, wool for the making of cloth, and hides and bones for other uses. In addition, the sheep was a medium of exchange and a sacrificial animal. Sheep are often used figuratively in Scripture. It is the nature of sheep to be gentle and submissive {Isaiah 53:7; Jeremiah 11:19}, defenceless {Micah 5:8; Matthew 10:16}, and in constant need of guidance and care {Numbers 27:17; Matthew 9:36}. The Bible often makes reference to sheep in the New Testament and to Yeshua as Shepherd {Mark 6:34; John 10:1-30; Romans 8:35-37; Hebrews 13:20-21; 1 Peter 2:25}. The resurrected Moshiach told the apostle Peter to “feed My lambs” and “tend My sheep” {John 21:15-17}.

SNAKE

In the Bible, nine Hebrew words and four Greek ones refer to snakes. Snakes are among the most widespread reptiles and are found on all continents except Antarctica. Two dangerous characteristics of the snake noted by biblical writers are its inconspicuous way of moving and the ease with which it hides itself. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, snakes represent evil and, more specifically, the devil. That association began in the Garden of Eden {Genesis 3:1-15} and is also found in the book of Revelation {Revelation 12:9; 20:2-3}. The serpent played the feature role in introducing sin and rebellion to Adam and Eve.

SPIDER

Between 600 and 700 different species of spiders inhabit the Holy Land. Spiders are different from insects in that, like scorpions, they have four pairs of legs instead of three. Spiders are equipped with poison glands -- the effectiveness varying from species to species. A few can kill only insects, but others can also kill birds and mice. Most spiders have a pair of spinnerets attached to silk glands on the underside of the abdomen; from them a web is extruded. In the Bible the spider’s web is referred to as a symbol of frailty and insecurity {Job 8:14; Isaiah 59:5-6}.

WASP

Wasps build large aerial apartment houses in which a thousand or more individual wasps, or hornets, may live. In the Bible the hornet is used as a metaphor for YHVH’s use of military forces {Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12}.

WHALE

The whale is the largest of all living creatures, including those that have become extinct. Whales are referred to in Genesis 1:21 and Job 7:12 {KJV only}. The “great fish” of Jonah 2:1 need not have been a whale but could have been a large shark, such as the whale shark {Rhineodon}, which grows 70 feet long and lacks the terrible teeth of other sharks. Whatever the actual marine organism, Jonah’s deliverance was miraculous. The Greek word for “whale” is sometimes used as a general term for “sea monster” or huge fish and may be used in that sense in Matthew 12:40.

WOLF

A large doglike mammal that travels in bands of up to thirty animals is known as a wolf. Wolves have acute hearing and sight but rely chiefly on scent and usually catch their prey in a swift, open chase. The wolf has a reputation for boldness, fierceness, and voracity {Genesis 9:27; Habakkuk 1:8}. It commonly kills more than it can eat or drag away and thus is known for its greediness. The Bible refers to wolves in a literal sense in only three places {Isaiah 11:6; 65:25; John 10:12}, all other references being figurative. Usually, the wolf is a symbol of enemies or the wicked {Ezekiel 22:27; Zephaniah 3:3; Acts 20:29}. Both the wolf’s courage and its cruelty were probably in the mind of the patriarch Jacob when he predicted the fate of Benjamin’s tribe {Genesis 49:27}.

WORM

Biblical references to worms are usually references to maggots-fly larvae {see Fly}. For example, maggots are evidently referred to in accounts of worms feeding on spoiled manna {Exodus 16:19-20}, corpses {Job 21:26; Isaiah 14:11}, or open wounds {Job 7:5}. In Acts 12:23 a fatal, worm-induced abdominal disease of King Herod is mentioned. Comparing a man to a worm is a metaphor for abasement {Job 25:6; Psalm 22:6}.

ANIMAL

PART 2

CROCODILE

The largest of all existing reptiles, the crocodile attains a length of well over twenty feet. Crocodiles have large lizard-like bodies that are supported by short legs. The head terminates in a flattened snout armed with strong teeth. The crocodile spends most of its time in the water where it feeds mainly on fish but also on aquatic birds and even small animals that come down to the water’s edge to drink. It is surprisingly fast and agile on dry land, even though its legs are so short that its belly and tail drag across the earth leaving a distinct path. The description of “Leviathan” in Job 41 seems to be based on the crocodile {thus the translation of the NLT}. The “dragon” of Ezekiel 29:3, used figuratively of the Egyptian pharaoh, may be a reference to the crocodile.

DEER

The males of this large, cud-chewing animal have antlers {branching horns}. Like other cud-chewing animals, their stomachs are divided into a series of compartments, some of which are used to store partly chewed food. The food is later regurgitated, rechewed, and finally swallowed into a section of the stomach where true digestion takes place. The red deer referred to in the Bible as “hart” {male}, “stag” {male}, or “hind” {female} stood about four feet high at the shoulder. It was gregarious {living in herds or flocks}, each group remaining in a definite territory. Red deer grazed and browsed during the morning and late afternoon {Lamentations 1:6}. The sexes remained in separate herds. The red deer was known for its leaping {Isaiah 35:6} and sure-footedness in the mountains {Psalm 18:33; Song of Songs 2:8-9, 17; Song of Songs 8:14; Habakkuk 3:19}. The hart {the male red deer} was listed among the clean beasts that Jewish Law permitted as food {Deuteronomy 12:15, 22; 14:5}, but deer were not listed among the animals appropriate for sacrifice. The hind {female red deer} illustrated grace and charm {Genesis 49:21; Proverbs 5:19}, and its dark, gentle eyes and graceful limbs were used to describe the beauty of a woman {5:18-19}.

DOG

Dogs were probably the earliest domesticated animals. The dogs of biblical times probably looked like a modern German shepherd, with short pointed ears, a pointed nose, and a long tail. The dog was generally looked down upon in biblical times {Proverbs 26:11; 2 Peter 2:22}. The biblical writers did not share modern sentiments about dogs being our best friends. The dog was pictured as a scavenger, haunting streets and dumps {Exodus 22:31; 1 Kings 22:38; Matthew 15:26; Luke 16:21}. One good quality of dogs highly esteemed by the Israelites was watchfulness {Isaiah 56:10}. In general, however, in biblical times “dog” was a term of contempt {1 Samuel 17:43; 2 Samuel 16:9}.

DONKEY

Donkeys were known as beasts of burden. In biblical times, the donkey was a beautiful, stately, friendly animal. Its colour was usually reddish brown. It is first mentioned in the Bible among the animals that Abraham acquired in Egypt {Genesis 12:16}. From the time of the Middle Kingdom on {about 2040 BC}, it was used for riding in Egypt, but only the Jews and Nubians rode donkeys regularly. The donkey was also used for threshing grain and for pulling the plough. Until the time of Solomon {960 BC}, horses were not used in Palestine. From that time on, warriors rode only horses; those who were traveling peaceably rode the donkey. The Jews held the donkey in high regard, and it was considered an economic asset. An individual had to have a donkey for minimum existence {Job 24:3}. The number of donkeys a family owned indicated their personal worth {Genesis 12:16; 24:35}.

DRAGON

A dragon is used to describe any one of a number of monstrous land and sea creatures. In biblical usage, “dragon” does not refer to the huge, fire-breathing, winged reptile of European folklore. The translators of the King James Version used the term to translate two Hebrew words that are usually rendered more precisely in modern translations. One word referred to “jackals” {Psalm 44:19; Isaiah 13:22; Jeremiah 9:11; Malachi 1:3}. The other Hebrew word translated “dragon” is harder to define. It was frequently used in reference to serpents {so translated in the RSV: Exodus 7:9-12; Deuteronomy 32:33; Psalm 91:13}. In other RSV passages it is translated “sea monster” {Genesis 1:21; Job 7:12; Psalm 148:7}. The exact identity of such sea monsters is not known. In its figurative usages in Scripture, “dragon” has a similar significance, especially in the prophetic books. In the book of Revelation, it is a symbol of Satan, the archenemy of YHVH and His people {Revelation 12:3-17; 13:2, 4, 11; 16:13; 20:2}.

FISH

Aquatic animals are frequently mentioned in the Bible without the benefit of names or descriptions that enable us to identify the particular species. Fish have long constituted one of the staple foods of humanity, and they still serve as the chief source of protein in many parts of the world. The trade in fish was highly developed in biblical times. The Law in Leviticus 11:9-12 permitted the Jews to eat fish, but only those having both fins and scales. Scaleless fish such as catfish were forbidden, even though they had fins. Very early in the history of the believers, the fish became a symbol for the Moshiach and the faith. It was scratched on the walls of Roman catacombs and may be seen today decorating walls, altars, pews, and vestments. The symbol came into use because the Greek word for “fish” {ichthus} is composed of the first letter of each word in the Greek phrase “Yeshua Moshiach, Son of YHVH, Saviour.”

FLEA

Known as a tiny, irritating insect {1 Samuel 24:14; 26:20}, many species of fleas occur in Palestine. A fleabite is painful and causes some swelling and itching. The most dangerous fleas are those of the rat that transmit the organism responsible for bubonic plague.

FLY

Flies are insects that have just one pair of wings. Many winged insects of other orders, however, are also called flies, such as the dragonfly or butterfly. As in almost all parts of the world, flies are abundant in Palestine. One of the most numerous is the common housefly, found chiefly around dung heaps and garbage. The fourth plague in Egypt just before the Exodus featured “swarms of flies” {Exodus 8:21-31; compare to Psalms 78:45; 105:31}.

FOX

A fox is a small, doglike carnivore with a bushy tail that is about half its body length. The red fox of the Holy Land is similar to the North American red fox. The fox is intelligent and known for its slyness {Luke 13:32}. It has considerable endurance and can run at speeds up to 30 miles {48 kilometres} per hour. The Jews rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall were taunted by the wisecrack that even a fox jumping on their wall would knock it over {Nehemiah 4:3}.

FROG

Amphibians live part of life in the water and part on land; frogs are covered with soft, hairless skin and lack a tail in the adult stage. The hind legs are much longer and more powerfully developed than the forelegs so that the animals are able to jump large distances. Frogs are found throughout the Palestinian lowlands, where their croaking is heard in the spring and on summer evenings. The Israelites seem to have associated frogs primarily with sliminess and foulness. They fell into the category of creeping or swarming creatures, which in general were ritually unclean {Leviticus 11:29-31}. The ancient Egyptians made the frog a symbol of life and birth. It was the image of Heqet, the patron goddess of birth. She is depicted with a frog’s head giving life to the newborn. YHVH specifically discredited that deity when He afflicted Egypt in the second of the ten plagues with the very animal that was her symbol {Exodus 8:1-14; Psalms 78:45; 105:30}.

GAZELLE

A gazelle is a small, dainty, graceful antelope with hollow recurved horns on both sexes. Gazelles are still quite common throughout the desert and steppe areas of the Holy Land, especially in the Negev Desert. They are very shy and post guards to warn the herd of approaching danger. In biblical times, the gazelle was probably the game animal most hunted by the Jews {Proverbs 6:5; Isaiah 13:14}. The gazelle is said to have graced Solomon’s table {1 Kings 4:23}. Gazelles were not easy to catch because of their great speed {2 Samuel 2:18; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Proverbs 6:5}; they surpass the deer in swiftness. The gazelle is referred to in Song of Songs 2:9, 17; 4:5; 7:3; 8:14, where it is an image of feminine beauty.

GECKO

A reptile, the gecko is referred to in Leviticus 11:30. In Jewish food Law it was a ritually unclean lizard. Another name for the gecko is the wall lizard, so named because it can walk upside down on ceilings with the aid of the suction discs on its toes -- but it often plops down into the middle of the room. Since it was considered unclean, such an intrusion would have been a disgusting nuisance to Jewish households {Leviticus 11:31-38}.

GNAT

Any very small fly could be called a gnat in common and biblical usage. According to the NLT, the third plague in Egypt before the Exodus consisted of gnats {Exodus 8:16-18; Psalm 105:31}. Gnats were drawn to wine while it was fermenting. The Pharisees in particular would strain their wine to avoid consuming unclean gnats {Matthew 23:24}. Yeshua used this as an illustration of their tendency to neglect the big issues in favour of the tiny ones.

GOAT

Goats are cloven-hooved mammals with large eyes and big, floppy ears. Both males and females have backward arching horns. The Palestinian goat is a cud-chewing animal of lighter build than the sheep. The goat was probably the earliest ruminant to be domesticated. Almost every part of the goat was used by the Israelites. The whole goat was used for sacrifice. Its flesh served as meat {Leviticus 7:23; Deuteronomy 14:4}, and it was the principal source of milk {Proverbs 27:27}. Goats were sheared in the late spring, and the goat hair was used for weaving tent cloth and for various domestic purposes {Exodus 36:14; 1 Samuel 19:13, 16}. The tabernacle at Mount Sinai was made of goat’s hair blankets {Exodus 26:7}. Adult male goats were generally not eaten because of their strong flavour and toughness and also because they were necessary to ensure the flock’s increase. Young kids {baby goats}, however, were usually the chief meat for a feast and were offered to visitors as a symbol of hospitality.

GRASSHOPPER

Grasshoppers have chewing or biting mouth parts and two pairs of wings, the front pair of which is narrow and somewhat thickened and the hind pair used for flying. The terms “grasshopper” and “locust” are often used interchangeably. The difference between grasshoppers and locusts depends more on behaviour than appearance. Grasshoppers are individual insects that lead solitary lives and do not migrate. The same insects when migrating in a swarm are called locusts. Grasshoppers and locusts have been a staple food in the Middle East. To the Israelites the grasshopper was considered ritually clean and could be eaten {Leviticus 11:22}.

HARE

The hare is found in open country, often near or on cultivated lands, and in woods, usually deciduous rather than evergreen. It is an herbivorous rodent and is different from the rabbit, which is not found in Palestine. The hare was ceremonially unclean {Leviticus 11:6; Deuteronomy 14:7}, evidently because although it appeared to chew its cud, it did not have cloven hooves. The hare was widely hunted by other people in ancient times. Its great speed, prolific breeding, timidity, and caution have saved it from extermination by its many enemies.

HIPPOPOTAMUS

Some early interpreters thought the biblical references described a creature comparable to the elephant, others to the wild ox, the mammoth, or any large animal. The King James Version translators called it “behemoth.” Today it is generally agreed that the reference is to the hippopotamus, a large, thick-skinned, amphibious mammal. The description in Job 40:15-24 fits closely the modern hippopotamus {see NLT}, except for the depiction of the tail. At present, the hippopotamus is found only in the rivers of Africa, but there is fossil evidence that it has existed in the Holy Land, perhaps in the swamps of northern Galilee and the Jordan Valley. The hippopotamus lives on plants and herbs growing in rivers, but if food is scarce, it forages on land. In spite of its heavy body, it is surprisingly agile on land.

ANIMALS

PART 1

The Bible mentions animals from Genesis to Revelation. Animals played an important part in many key biblical events. Think about their role in Creation -- YHVH made the animals before He created humans. Consider Adam and Eve’s encounter with the serpent, known as the fall of man. Generations later, pairs of animals were also brought on Noah’s Ark during the Flood. YHVH featured animals during the ten plagues to get his point across to the stubborn pharaoh. Animals were also used in Hebrew worship as sacrifices. Additionally, animals touched the life of Yeshua and affected His teaching style. No doubt, animals played a unique role in biblical times just as they continue to be a significant part of our lives as well. The people of both Old Testament and New Testament times lived close to the land and were well acquainted with various animals. The Bible often uses animals as object lessons to explain a certain truth. The Bible groups animals together differently than modern science. Structure, or what the animals look like, forms the modern biologists’ present system of classification, which traces back to Carolus Linnaeus {an eighteenth-century Swedish botanist}. Habitat, or where the animals live, forms the biblical basis of classification. Thus, Genesis 1 speaks of organisms that live in water {Genesis 1:20}; organisms that fly {1:21}; animals that crawl on the ground {1:24}; cattle or domesticated animals {animals that live in association with humans} {1:24}; and wild animals {1:24}. Leviticus 11 and the whole of Scripture follow the same system of classification. The various animals of the Bible are listed here in alphabetical order-including reptiles, fish, and even invertebrates such as insects, spiders, worms, and sponges.

ADDER

The adder is one of twenty poisonous snakes found in Israel and the surrounding countries. It is also referred to as cockatrice and viper. The poison of adders, or vipers, attacks the respiratory system and disintegrates red blood cells. Both Yeshua and John the Baptist referred to the viper several times {Matthew 3:7; 12:34; 23:33}. Yeshua used the viper to illustrate how dangerous some people can be to our faith. The reference in Acts 28:3 is probably to a small viper that strikes rapidly and is very quarrelsome.

ANT

The ant is mentioned only twice in the Bible, both times in the book of Proverbs. Scientists now recognize at least three species of grain-storing ants -- two occur in Israel and the other in Mediterranean countries. The particular species referred to by Solomon {Proverbs 6:6-8; 30:24-25} is probably the harvester ant.

ANTELOPE

Scripture refers to several antelope-like creatures. One seems to be the white oryx, referred to in Deuteronomy 14:5 {KJV “wild ox”; RSV “antelope”} and Isaiah 51:20 {KJV “wild bull”; RSV “antelope”}. The oryx was probably the antelope, commonly used for food because its long horns made it relatively easy to catch. The Bible mentions another antelope called the addax in Deuteronomy 14:5. It is a native of North Africa with greyish white hind parts, a white patch on the forehead, and twisted and ringed horns. It is common in Africa and in Arabia, where Arabs hunt it with falcons and dogs. Antelopes are very graceful and run with their heads held high. Antelopes are alert, wary, and keen sighted. Both addax and oryx were ceremonially clean in Jewish Law, meaning the Jews could use them for food.

APE

This primate is not native to Palestine. The two references to apes in the Old Testament {1 Kings 10:22; 2 Chronicles 9:21} refer to King Solomon’s import business. He imported apes with other treasures on board the ships of his fleet.

ASP

The asp is a poisonous snake. Most biblical references to the asp {Deuteronomy 32:33} seem to be to the Egyptian cobra, which conceals itself in holes, walls, and rocks. Cobra poison attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis. The Egyptians looked upon it as a sacred creature; they regarded it as a protector since it fed on the rodents that ate their crops. The “fiery serpents” {Numbers 21:6; Deuteronomy 8:15, both RSV} may have been cobras; “fiery” probably refers to the burning fever caused by their venom. Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6 {“flying serpent”} may refer to the hood of the cobra.

BADGER

A badger is a small hoofed mammal. The King James Version calls it a “coney,” while modern translations name it a “rock badger” {Leviticus 11:5; Deuteronomy 14:7; Psalm 104:18; Proverbs 30:26}. Rock badgers, or hyraxes, live together in colonies of six to fifty animals, often sunning themselves on rocks. They are difficult to catch. Guards are posted, and if approaching danger is sighted, the whole group will scurry for cover, warned by the sharp whistles of the guards. Thus, they are commended for taking refuge in the rocks {Psalm 104:18} and are called wise for making “their houses in the rocks” {Proverbs 30:24, 26, KJV}.

BAT

Bats are flying mammals according to modern classification. They have hair and provide milk for their young. The Bible classifies them with other aerial creatures. Bats take shelter in caves, crevices, tree cavities, buildings, and also in exposed places on trees. In colder areas they hibernate or migrate. The normal resting position for a bat is hanging head downward. Bats “swim” through the air rather than fly because they move with their legs as well as with their wings. Eight varieties of bats are known in the Holy Land. One of them, the little brown bat, is found worldwide. It eats insects and probably has the widest distribution of any nonhuman land mammal. Brown bats are mostly cave dwellers. The females form maternity colonies that may number in the tens of thousands. The bats found in the Holy Land vary in size from that of a mouse to the size of a rat; the largest species measures more than twenty inches across the wings. The bat was unclean to the Jews {Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14:18}.

BEAR

Bears are large, heavy mammals with short, powerful limbs, a short tail, and small eyes and ears. The Palestinian bear is a Syrian version of the brown bear. It can grow to a height of 6 feet and may weigh as much as 500 pounds. Bears have an excellent sense of smell but less developed senses of sight and hearing. They are omnivorous {eating any kind of food}; they survive largely on vegetation, fruits, insects, and fish. Bears are usually peaceful and inoffensive, but if they think they must defend themselves {Lamentations 3:10} or their young {2 Samuel 17:8; Proverbs 17:12; Hosea 13:8}, they may become dangerous. David boasted of his role as a bear killer {1 Samuel 17:34-37}. David pointed to the courage and strength he had as a young shepherd, running after a bear and wrenching one of his father’s sheep from its jaws. In comparison, fighting the giant, Goliath, was little challenge. The bear and the lion, often mentioned together in the Bible {1 Samuel 17:37}, were the two largest and strongest beasts of prey in the Holy Land. Thus, they symbolized both strength and terror {Amos 5:19}.

BEE

Bees gather nectar from flowers, transferring pollen from one flower to another in the process. It is believed that they convey the location of sources of nectar to other bees through a bee “dance,” which may indicate both distance and direction. The wild bees of the Holy Land are especially noted for their ferocity in attack. Only the female “worker” bees sting people and animals. Their venom increases its potency in warm weather. A number of biblical passages allude to the irritable, vindictive nature of bees and to the painful stings they inflict {Deuteronomy 1:44; Psalm 118:12; Isaiah 7:18}. In the Holy Land, beekeeping was probably not practiced until the Hellenistic period {second century BC}, although Ezekiel 27:17 suggests that it may have been practiced earlier. If domestic honey was not available to the Hebrews, wild honey certainly was.

CAMEL

A camel is a large beast of burden. Unintelligent, ill-natured, and quarrelsome, the camel is nevertheless a blessing to people living in the desert and on its borders because it is especially adapted to that habitat. It has been called the ship of the desert. Having thick elastic pads of fibrous tissue on its feet, it can walk on hot desert sands. It can go without water for long periods and can survive on vegetation. The camel’s nostrils are pinched together and can be closed at will to prevent penetration of sand during violent sandstorms. Camels are used for transporting both goods and people. A person riding a camel can cover from 60 to 75 miles in a day. A camel can carry a load weighing 600 pounds or more. Camels were used heavily in the spice trade {Genesis 37:25} and travelled regularly in camel trains between Arabia, Egypt, and Assyria. They were also ridden in time of war {Judges 6:5}. A camel can even be hitched to a plough in areas where the land is cultivated. Abraham had camels in Egypt {12:16}. Job had 3,000 camels {Job 1:3} at the beginning of his story. However, through a series of events, he lost everything. Yet the Bible uses his story to illustrate YHVH’s faithfulness. It points out that after his recovery; Job regained 6,000 camels {42:12}. The Bible chose camels as a monetary blessing of that time to illustrate how Job recouped twice as much as he lost.

CATERPILLAR

A caterpillar is the larval stage of insects that change into other forms through a process called metamorphosis. The word “caterpillar” occurs three times in the New Living Translation {1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28; Psalm 78:46}. In the book of Joel, that same Hebrew word is translated “locust” {Joel 1:4; 2:25}.

CATTLE

Cattle are domestic animals of the bovine species. The Old Testament often emphasized the beauty of cattle. Egypt was rich in cattle, especially in the Nile River delta area {Goshen}, where the Hebrews settled under Joseph. Some scholars believe that milk rather than meat was the foremost consideration in the domestication of cattle and that in early civilizations meat supplies came chiefly from wild game. Cattle also supplied strong hides that supplanted wood in the manufacture of shields. Their dung was a source of fuel when wood was scarce {Ezekiel 4:15}. They were used as beasts of burden and for ploughing. Cattle helped with the development of wheeled transportation more than any other animal. The biblical term “cattle” often refers to all domesticated animals or livestock {Genesis 1:24; 2:20; 7:23; 47:6, 16-17; Exodus 9:3-7; Numbers 3:41, 45}. Occasionally, the term was used to refer to all large domestic animals {31:9; 32:26}. The patriarchs {biblical fathers of Israel} practiced cattle breeding {compare to Genesis 32:15; Job 21:10}. For breeding purposes, one bull is normally adequate for about thirty cows, but many more were kept since bulls were widely used in Israel for sacrifices. They might be used as a general sacrifice {Leviticus 22:23; Numbers 23} or for special sacrifices {Judges 6:25; 1 Samuel 1:24} at a certain feast or festival. Aaron, the first high priest, made a golden calf as a rival to the Ark of the Covenant {Exodus 32; Deuteronomy 9:16, 21}. Even though he represented the calf as an image of the invisible Elohiym, it was especially offensive because the calf was a fertility symbol related to Egyptian and Canaanite practices. Two calves were later made by Jeroboam I of Israel {930-909 BC} for his shrines at Bethel and Dan {1 Kings 12:28-33}. Hosea’s prophetic denunciations of calf worship were directed at those shrines {Hosea 8:5-6; 13:2}.

CHAMELEON

This lizard is characterized by its ability to change colour according to its surroundings. To the Israelites, the chameleon was ritually unclean {Leviticus 11:30}.

CRICKET

Crickets are related to grasshoppers and locusts. According to Leviticus 11:22, the cricket was edible. The King James Version translates the Hebrew word as “beetle.”

BIBLE STUDY --- THE GOOD SHEPHERD

PARABLES

From Mark 4:1-25

One time, when Yeshua walked beside the Sea of Galilee, great crowds gathered behind Him. Entering a boat near the shore, Yeshua sat down to teach them. As He often did, He began to teach through stories. Here is one of the stories He told: [Listen! There was once a man who went into a field to sow some seeds. As he threw the seed, some of it fell along the hard soil of the path, and the birds flew down to eat it. Some seed fell on shallow soil filled with rocks. The seeds began to grow quickly in the shallow soil, but the sun soon scorched the young plants for they did not have much root. Some of the seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the young plants and kept the grain from growing. Other seed fell into good soil, and produced a good crop, in some cases thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much as had been planted. If you have ears, you should listen to what I am saying.] When the crowd had gone and Yeshua was alone, some of His followers asked Him about the meaning of the story. [This parable helps you understand the secrets of YHVH’s Kingdom,] Yeshua answered. [Others hear only the story itself, but to you its meaning is revealed. It has been written: ‘Some will look, but not perceive, some will listen, but not understand. But those who do will turn to YHVH and He will take away their sin.’] Then Yeshua said to His followers, [It really isn’t difficult to understand the meaning of this parable. If you don’t understand this one, it will be difficult for you to understand any of the parables. Listen carefully. The seed that is sown is the Word of YHVH. But like the seed that falls on the hard path, some of it falls on hard hearts. As soon as the Word comes to these hearts, Satan descends and snatches it away. In the same way, the rocky soil represents those who accept YHVH’s Word quickly with joy, but because of their shallow hearts they give it up when the first trouble or persecution comes along. The seed among thorns is the Word which is choked out by the worries and cares of this life, the delights of riches, and the desire for things. All of these things keep the Word from bearing fruit. The seed that fell on good soil is the Word that takes root in a life. It is heard, accepted, and allowed to bear fruit. Like the sower’s seed, it will produce thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much as was planted.] Yeshua also said, [Do people light a lamp and then put it under a basket or a bed? Of course not! They put it on a lamp stand so that it will give light. Whatever is hidden now will someday be revealed and whatever is covered now will someday be uncovered. If you have ears, you should listen to what I am saying.] Then Yeshua added, [Be sure to pay attention to this. You will receive in the same measure as you give. You will receive even more. Whoever has much will receive more, but whoever has little will lose what he has.]

COMMENTARY

SEEDTIME AND HARVEST

In the time when Yeshua was on earth, the sowing and harvesting of grain had to be done entirely by hand -- as it still is, in some parts of the Near East and the rest of the world. The climate in Palestine has changed very little, if at all, since Bible times. Seedtime is still -- as it was then -- during the months we think of as harvest time. Farmers begin sowing their seeds in early October; by the beginning of December all the crops are planted. The rains of winter come and keep the crops watered. By April, the crops are fully grown. Just when our farmers are thinking about spring planting, the farmers in Bible lands are sharpening their sickles and getting ready for the harvest. Harvest time has always been a season of great contrasts. There was much hard work to be done, but there were occasions to celebrate a fruitful harvest. The Jews observed the Feast of Pentecost during this season. From the Passover in April until the month of June, they set aside a special time to thank YHVH for His blessings on the land.

BIBLE STUDY -- THE GOOD SHEPHERD

WITH YESHUA THROUGH GALILEE

From Luke 8:1-3

After His visit in Simon’s house, Yeshua began a tour through Galilee, telling the Good News about the Kingdom of YHVH. The twelve apostles went with Yeshua, as well as some women whom He had freed from evil spirits and healed. There was Mary Magdalene, from whom Yeshua had driven seven devils, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, one of Herod’s officers. With Him also was Susanna and many other women who contributed their own money to care for Yeshua and the apostles.

WHERE DID YESHUA GET HIS POWER?

From Matthew 12:22-37

One day some people brought to Yeshua a man who was blind and could not talk because of a demon in him. When Yeshua drove out the demon so that the man was well, the crowds around Him were amazed. [Could this be the Son of David, the Moshiach?] they asked. When the Pharisees heard that, they quickly tried to put down the idea. [He can order demons from people because His power comes from Satan, the ruler over all the demons,] they argued. But Yeshua knew what they were thinking. [Any kingdom that divides into little kingdoms that fight each other will never last. It is the same with any city or family. They will soon pass into ruin. Now if Satan casts out demons, then he is fighting himself, and his kingdom will soon be destroyed. And if I cast out demons by Satan’s power, then what power do your followers use to cast them out? Let them judge what you have just said. But if I cast out demons with the power of YHVH’s Spirit, then YHVH’s Kingdom has come to you. No one can go into a strong man’s house and steal his things without first binding the strong man. Thus, demons can be cast out only by binding Satan first. [Anyone who is not working with Me is working against Me. Anyone who does not help Me gather, scatters. Let Me warn you that every kind of sin or evil saying can be forgiven except evil sayings against Ruach HaKodesh. Those will never be forgiven, in this world or the next. Whoever speaks against Me will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against Ruach HaKodesh will not be forgiven, in this world or the next. [A tree is recognized by its fruit. Good trees give good fruit. Bad trees give bad fruit. You snakes! How can you give good counsel when you are evil? The mouth speaks only what is already in the heart. A good man brings forth good things from the treasure in his heart. An evil man brings forth evil things from the evil resources in his heart. Let Me warn you that on the Judgment Day men will have to account for every foolish word that they speak. By your words YHVH will judge you innocent, or by your words He will judge you guilty.]

SHOW US A MIRACLE

From Matthew 12:38-45

[Why don’t You show us a miracle?] asked some of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. [You want Me to prove further who I am?] Yeshua replied. [No. I will give you no further proof except that of Jonah the prophet. Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of a great fish. In a similar way, I will spend three days and nights in the depths of the earth. [On the Judgment Day, the people of Nineveh will stand to condemn you, for they turned from their sins when Jonah preached to them, but you have not, even when you have heard Someone greater than Jonah. The Queen of Sheba will also stand up on the Judgment Day to condemn you, for she came from lands far away to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, but you will not listen to Someone greater than Solomon who is right here with you. [You are like a man who has had a demon cast from him. The demon wanders through the deserts, looking for a new home. But when he does not find one, he returns to the man from whom he came. Although the man has purified his heart, he has left it empty. Finding the empty heart, the demon goes out and returns with seven other demons worse than himself. Together, they occupy the man’s empty heart and that man is worse in the end than in the beginning. That’s the way it will be with you, for you have foolishly left your hearts empty.]

WHO IS MY BROTHER?

From Mark 3:31-35

While Yeshua spoke to a crowd one day, His mother and brothers came to see Him. But there were so many people in the house where Yeshua spoke that they could not get in. So, they sent word for Him to come out to see them. [Your mother and brothers are outside,] someone said. Yeshua used this occasion to talk about a family bond stronger than any earthly family. [Who is My mother and who are My brothers?] He asked. Then He turned to those who had gathered around Him. [You are My mother and brothers,] He said, [for anyone who does what YHVH wants is My brother and sister and mother.]

COMMENTARY

YESHUA’ FAMILY ANCESTORS

The ancestors of Yeshua’ family came in all varieties, as most ancestors do. There were kings and commoners, rich and poor, people of spotless reputation and those whose reputation was not so good. Royal ancestors included King David, Israel’s greatest warrior king, and King Solomon, Israel’s richest and sometimes wisest king. Abraham and Jacob were shepherds, as were others in the family tree. Ruth was not an Israelite, but a Moabite. Rahab, who draped a scarlet cord from her window at Jericho when Joshua invaded, was also not an Israelite, but a Canaanite. The unexpected appear in the family tree. The lineage came through Judah, Jacob’s son who did not keep his reputation well, not Joseph, Jacob’s favourite son. It came also through Leah, who had been forced upon Jacob as a wife, instead of through Rachel, Jacob’s beloved. Yeshua’ family genealogy appears in two places in the Bible -- Luke 3:23-38, which goes backwards through time from Mary’s husband Joseph to Adam, and -- Matthew 1:11 7, which moves forward through time from Abraham to Joseph. This genealogy points out the clear division of fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the deportation to Babylon, and fourteen from that time to Joseph. While both genealogies are reckoned to Mary’s husband Joseph, the accounts quickly point out that Yeshua was YHVH’s Son and that Joseph was chosen to care for Him.

The laws of logic typically begin with non contradiction, if something is true the opposite cannot be true. When we accept the Creator’s word as sacred truth then anything that contradicts that is not logical. Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” When we choose to believe this, evolution has no place in our reasoning because it contradicts the Bible.