Genesis 4:2. Abounded in the pastures of Palestine. Shepherds go before them and call them by name to follow (John 10:4; Psalms 77:20; Psalms 80:1). The ordinary sheep are the broad tailed sheep, and the Οvis aries , like our own except that the tail is longer and thicker, and the ears larger; called bedoween . Centuries B.C. Aristotle mentions Syrian sheep with tails a cubit wide. The fat tail is referred to in Leviticus 3:9; Leviticus 7:3. The Syrian cooks use the mass of fat instead of the rancid Arab butter.
The sheep symbolizes meekness, patience, gentleness, and submission (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32). (See LAMB.) Τsown means sheep"; ayil , the full-grown "ram," used for the male of other ruminants also; rachel , the adult "ewe"; kebes (masculine), kibsah (feminine), the half grown lamb; seh , "sheep" or paschal "lamb"; char , "young ram"; taleh , "sucking lamb"; 'atod (Genesis 31 "ram") means "he-goat"; imrin , "lambs for sacrifice."
The sheep never existed in a wild state, but was created expressly for man, and so was selected from the first for sacrifice. The image is frequent in Scripture: Jehovah the Shepherd, His people the flock (Psalms 23:1; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 23:1-2; Ezekiel 34). Sinners are the straying sheep whom the Good Shepherd came to save (Psalms 119:176; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 50:6; Luke 15:4-6; John 10:8; John 10:11). False teachers are thieves and wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). None can pluck His sheep from His hand and the Father's (John 10:27-29).
From the co-author of the classic Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, Fausset's Bible Dictionary stands as one of the best single-volume Bible encyclopedias ever written for general use. The author's writing style is always clear and concise, and he tackles issues important to the average student of the Bible, not just the Biblical scholars. This makes Fausset an excellent tool for both everyday Bible study and in-depth lesson or sermon preparation.Wikipedia
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