Topical Bible: The Ox: Formed a Part of the Wealth of the Jews

◄ The Ox: Formed a Part of the Wealth of the Jews ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The ox holds a significant place in the socio-economic and religious life of the ancient Israelites, as reflected in the biblical narrative. As a domesticated animal, the ox was integral to agricultural practices, transportation, and religious sacrifices, thereby forming a substantial part of the wealth and daily life of the Jewish people.

Agricultural Importance

In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, the ox was indispensable for farming. It was primarily used for plowing fields, a task that required strength and endurance. The Book of Proverbs highlights the value of the ox in agriculture: "Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox" (Proverbs 14:4). This proverb underscores the ox's role in ensuring a bountiful harvest, thus contributing to the sustenance and economic stability of a household.

Symbol of Wealth and Status

Ownership of oxen was a sign of wealth and prosperity. The more oxen a person owned, the greater their capacity for agricultural production and trade. In the patriarchal narratives, the wealth of figures such as Abraham and Job is often measured by their livestock, including oxen. For instance, Job's wealth is described in terms of his extensive livestock holdings: "He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys" (Job 1:3). This enumeration of Job's possessions illustrates the ox's role as a key component of wealth.

Religious and Sacrificial Role

The ox also played a crucial role in the religious life of the Israelites. It was one of the animals prescribed for sacrifice in the Mosaic Law. The Book of Leviticus outlines various offerings that include oxen, such as the burnt offering and peace offering (Leviticus 1:3-9). These sacrifices were central to the Israelites' worship and covenant relationship with God, serving as atonement for sin and expressions of thanksgiving.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The Mosaic Law contains specific regulations concerning the treatment and use of oxen, reflecting their importance and the ethical considerations surrounding their use. For example, the law commands, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain" (Deuteronomy 25:4), ensuring that the animal is allowed to eat while working. This commandment highlights a principle of fairness and care for working animals, which is echoed in the New Testament as an illustration of the right of workers to benefit from their labor (1 Corinthians 9:9-10).

Judicial and Social Implications

The ox also appears in legal contexts within the Torah, where laws address issues of property and liability. Exodus 21:28-32 provides guidelines for situations where an ox gores a person, establishing the owner's responsibility and the consequences of negligence. These laws reflect the ox's integration into the social and legal fabric of Israelite society, where its actions could have significant implications for community relations and justice.

In summary, the ox was a multifaceted asset in ancient Israel, contributing to agricultural productivity, symbolizing wealth, playing a role in religious practices, and being subject to legal regulations. Its presence in the biblical text underscores its importance in the daily and spiritual life of the Jewish people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 32:4
Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and your servants have cattle:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 144:14
That our oxen may be strong to labor; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Canaan
... The Philistines formed part of the host which invaded Egypt in ... six hundred of them
"with an ox-goad." But ... become a distinct and powerful tribe, formed out of ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

Dwight -- the Sovereignty of God
... parents who bowed before the Lama or the ox, an image ... The whole scheme is so formed
as to be plain, easy ... Every part and precept of the whole is calculated for ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/dwight the sovereignty of.htm

The Extent of Messiah's Spiritual Kingdom
... of these prophecies are expressed, a great part of which ... in the same manner as the
Jews formed their expectations of ... and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxxvii the extent of.htm

Thanksgiving to God for the Pardon Granted to the Offenders ...
... shame the ungrateful Jews, thus speaks; "The ox knoweth his ... and the moulding of every
other part; not even ... It is, that when God formed man, he implanted within ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xii thanksgiving to god.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... and large wickerwork shields covered with ox-hide, which ... their horses as though they
actually formed part of the ... Judah had taken little or no part in external ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... opposition to the god of light, they necessarily formed the idea ... nor the waters,
nor the earth, nor ox, nor fire ... When Ahura had pronounced the first part of the ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... of the spoil taken from the Midianites he formed and set ... followed an independent
course for the most part, and their ... Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Letter cviii. To Eustochium.
... is he that soweth beside the waters where the ox and the ... For my part I used to say
that it was best to ... body, He must have also had the whole body formed of them ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cviii to eustochium.htm

The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr
... that the Fashioner is greater than what he has formed. ... Hear also in what part of
the earth he was ... through the above-mentioned prophet Isaiah: "The ox knows his ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the first apology of justin.htm

Exposition of the Moral Law.
... First rule, Our life must be formed by the Law, not ... Likewise in Exodus, "That thine
ox and thine ass may ... of the seventh day), while the moral part remains"viz ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 exposition of the.htm