Topical Bible: The Goat: Jews had Large Flocks of

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, goats were an integral part of the agrarian lifestyle of the Israelites, serving as a vital resource for sustenance, trade, and religious practices. The prominence of goats in the daily life and economy of the Jewish people is well-documented throughout the Scriptures.

Economic Importance

Goats were highly valued for their milk, meat, and hair. Goat's milk was a staple in the diet of the Israelites, often consumed fresh or used to make cheese. Proverbs 27:27 highlights the importance of goat's milk: "You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you, food for your household, and nourishment for your maidservants." This verse underscores the role of goats in providing essential nutrition and sustenance for families.

The meat of goats was also consumed, although sheep were more commonly used for sacrifices and feasts. The hair of goats, particularly from the black goats of the region, was used to make tents and garments, as seen in the description of the Tabernacle's construction in Exodus 26:7 : "You are to make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle—eleven curtains in all."

Religious Significance

Goats held significant religious symbolism and were used in various sacrificial rites. The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, involved the ritual of the scapegoat, where one goat was sacrificed, and another was sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the sins of the people. Leviticus 16:10 describes this practice: "But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat."

Flocks and Herds

The patriarchs and leaders of Israel are often depicted as having large flocks of goats, indicating wealth and prosperity. Genesis 30:43 records the prosperity of Jacob: "Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He owned large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys." The size of one's flocks was a measure of wealth and status, and goats were a significant component of these herds.

Symbolism and Metaphor

In biblical literature, goats are sometimes used metaphorically to represent various spiritual truths. In Matthew 25:32-33 , Jesus uses the imagery of sheep and goats to illustrate the final judgment: "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left." Here, goats symbolize those who are separated from the righteous, highlighting the moral and spiritual lessons drawn from everyday life.

Conclusion

The presence of large flocks of goats among the Jewish people in biblical times reflects their economic, religious, and cultural significance. As a source of sustenance, a symbol in religious rituals, and a metaphor in spiritual teachings, goats played a multifaceted role in the life and faith of ancient Israel.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 32:14
Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 25:2
And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Chapter xxxvi
... swift"; 'Aran (v. Genesis 36:28) ""mountain goat"; Jobab (v ... would be that Jacob with
his large flocks and herds ... The Jews had lost the meaning of the word and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... distance the distended udder of a she-goat was no ... the modern Palestine is about twice
as large as Wales; it ... period of sore national trial, the Jews had no more ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

'Other Sheep'
... learned to believe that 'salvation is of the Jews,' though they ... much as He promised,
as much as we had any right ... the snow, and after a while a goat's step, as ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/other sheep.htm

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... of the Blessed Virgin, while a wild she-goat came to ... to, or because He knew that
the time had not yet ... bitterly over the degraded state of the Jews living there ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... his bearers to carry him; he climbed like a goat, slept on ... were slain by the sword
as if they had been ordinary foes, such as Jews, Tibarenians, or ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

The Perpetual virginity of Blessed Mary.
... of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt ... sorrowing." It was His mother
who said this, not the Jews. ... He had not, it is true, a commandment from the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the perpetual virginity of blessed.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... exchange under other conditions than those which had hitherto prevailed ... their trade
to cut up the large gold ingots ... 056a.jpg COIN BEARING HEAD OF MOUFLON GOAT]. ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... This word 'Saviour' is a word so large that it hath place in all the ... not only subdued
the nation, and put down the kingly race of the Jews, but had set up ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

The Sibylline Oracles.
... shall ravage Egypt, and carry off large booty across ... person reading Hebrews 4:8,
"if Jesus had given them ... concluding that Jesus Christ led the Jews into Canaan ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the sibylline oracles.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... exchange my soft linen and costly silks for rough goat's hair. ... [2993] At this age
the Jews suppose Adam ... assisting, and shed tears as if they themselves had died ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm