Fowling, the practice of hunting birds, is a topic that appears in various contexts throughout the Bible. In ancient times, fowling was a common activity, both for sustenance and as a metaphor in biblical literature. The Bible provides insights into the methods, significance, and symbolic meanings associated with fowling.

Methods and Practices

In biblical times, fowling was typically conducted using nets, traps, and snares. These methods are referenced in several passages, illustrating the commonality of bird hunting in the ancient Near East. For instance, in Hosea 7:12, God speaks of spreading a net over the people, likening His judgment to the capture of birds: "When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will chastise them according to the proclamation of their assembly" . This imagery suggests the use of nets as a prevalent method for capturing birds.

Symbolic and Metaphorical Uses

Fowling is often used metaphorically in the Bible to convey themes of entrapment, danger, and divine judgment. The imagery of birds being caught in snares or nets serves as a powerful symbol of vulnerability and the suddenness of peril. In Psalm 91:3, the psalmist declares God's protection from such dangers: "Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly plague" . Here, the "snare of the fowler" represents hidden dangers from which God provides deliverance.

Similarly, in Proverbs 6:5, the urgency of escaping from a trap is emphasized: "Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler" . This verse underscores the importance of vigilance and the need to avoid spiritual and moral entrapments.

Cultural and Religious Context

Fowling, as part of the broader practice of hunting, was an accepted and necessary activity in the agrarian societies of the biblical world. Birds were a source of food, and their capture was a practical aspect of daily life. However, the Bible also reflects a consciousness of ethical considerations in hunting practices. For example, Deuteronomy 22:6-7 provides specific instructions regarding the treatment of birds: "If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life" . This law reflects a concern for the preservation of species and the humane treatment of animals.

Conclusion

Fowling in the Bible is depicted both as a practical activity and a rich source of metaphorical language. It serves as a reminder of the human condition, the need for divine protection, and the ethical considerations inherent in the relationship between humans and the natural world. Through its various references, the Bible provides a nuanced view of fowling, integrating it into the broader tapestry of biblical teaching and symbolism.1 Samuel 26:20
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 140:5
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 141:9,10
Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
Nave's Topical Index

Proverbs 1:17
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
Nave's Topical Index

Ecclesiastes 9:12
For man also knows not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.
Nave's Topical Index

Lamentations 3:52
My enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.
Nave's Topical Index

Amos 3:5
Can a bird fall in a snare on the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
Nave's Topical Index

Egypt
... The Egyptian loved the country, with its fresh air and sunshine, as well as its
outdoor amusements"hunting and fishing, fowling and playing at ball. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter v egypt.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... They went fowling among the reed-beds, or retired within their painted pavilions
to read tales, to play at ... Gymnastic exercises, hunting, fishing, sailing ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

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