Topical Bible: The Goat: The Young of Fed Near the Shepherds' Tents

◄ The Goat: The Young of Fed Near the Shepherds' Tents ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, goats were a common sight in the pastoral landscapes of the Near East, often found grazing near the tents of shepherds. The young goat, or kid, holds particular significance in the cultural and religious contexts of the Bible.

Biblical References and Symbolism

The goat is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures, symbolizing various aspects of life and spirituality. In the Old Testament, goats were part of the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. Leviticus 16:7-10 describes the ritual of the Day of Atonement, where one goat was sacrificed as a sin offering, and another, the scapegoat, was sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people.

In Song of Solomon 1:8, the beloved is compared to "a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots," and the imagery of goats is used to describe beauty and grace: "Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead" (Song of Solomon 4:1). This pastoral imagery reflects the agrarian lifestyle of the time and the importance of livestock in daily life.

Cultural and Economic Importance

Goats were vital to the economy and sustenance of ancient communities. They provided milk, meat, and hides, and their presence near shepherds' tents indicates their role in the daily life of the people. Genesis 30:32-35 recounts Jacob's agreement with Laban to separate the speckled and spotted goats as his wages, illustrating the value placed on these animals.

The young goats, in particular, were often used in feasts and celebrations. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the elder son laments, "You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends" (Luke 15:29), highlighting the goat's role in communal and familial gatherings.

Spiritual Lessons and Moral Teachings

The Bible also uses goats to convey spiritual lessons. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus speaks of the final judgment, where the righteous are separated from the unrighteous as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. This passage underscores the moral and spiritual discernment expected of believers, with goats representing those who fail to live according to God's commandments.

The presence of young goats near shepherds' tents serves as a reminder of the pastoral care and guidance that God provides for His people. Just as shepherds tend to their flocks, God watches over His children, nurturing and protecting them in their spiritual journey.

Conclusion

The young goat, fed near the shepherds' tents, is a multifaceted symbol in the Bible, representing sacrifice, sustenance, beauty, and moral teaching. Its presence in Scripture reflects the agrarian context of biblical times and offers rich spiritual insights for believers.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Songs 1:8
If you know not, O you fairest among women, go your way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Shepherd of Pella
... Momus ate, and looked with growing grace at his young host. But Laodice succeeded
only in drinking the goat's milk and lapsed into ... You will be fed there; Titus ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter iii the shepherd of.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... a time of persecution and famine had fed a hundred ... soft linen and costly silks for
rough goat's hair ... No young girl of sound and vigorous constitution could have ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... of Anti-Lebanon, where two rivers, fed by innumerable ... in itself, whose inhabitants,
half shepherds, half bandits ... went elephant-hunting near the Syrian town of ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... abandoned his patrimonial inheritance, came to reside near to Merodach ... had to make
a detour by narrow goat-tracks, along ... bulk of the people lived in tents or in ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... him"such as a lion, a stag, or wild goat. ... had colonised a district of the Troad near
Ilion, while the ... as a consequence, the manufactures which fed this trade ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... barked and purified, and was subsequently fed with precious ... tyrant and transfer the
crown to the young prince: his ... 056a.jpg COIN BEARING HEAD OF MOUFLON GOAT]. ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm