Methods of Bible Study

Manners and Customs of Bible Lands

VII.  Occupations.

 A.  The Shepherd and sheep.

    1.  A large number of sheep in this region.  Job 42:12; 1 Kings 8:63

         The most popular kind of sheep is the ‘fat tail’.

    2.  The task of tending the sheep usually fell to the youngest boy or the girls.

        1 Samuel 16:11  

    3.  Equipment used.

      A.  Tunic and camel hair coat.

      B.  Scrip.  A leather pouch.  1 Samuel 17:40; Matthew 10

      C.  Rod.  1 Samuel 17:34-36; Psalm 23:4; Ezekiel 20:37; Leviticus 27:32

           (The sceptre of kings is based on the shepherd’s rod)

      D.  Staff.  Approximately 2 meters long.  Psalm 23:4

      E.  Sling.  Used to control sheep at a distance.  1 Samuel 17:40-49; 25:29

      F.  Flute

    4.  Care for the sheep.

      A.  Pasture must be found.  1 Chronicles 4:39

      B.  Food provided when grass finished.  Isaiah 40:11

      C.  Water.  Psalm 23:2  streams, pools, wells.  Genesis 29:8-10

      D.  Pens

        1).  Temporary

          A).  Made of bushes and thorns.

          C).  Caves

        2).  Permanent places.  John 10:1-3

      E.  Named the sheep.  John 10:3

      F.  They are not driven, but they are led.  John 10:4; Psalm 23:3

           Isaian 40:11; 43:2

      G.  Protection.  1 Samuel 17:34-37

    5.  Gathering sheep.

      A.  Allowed to mix together.  Genesis 29:1-3

      B.  Sheep will follow their shepherd’s voice.  John 10:4,5

      C.  Some used trained dogs.  Job 30”1

      D.  Sheep have a tendency to wander away.  Palm 119:176; Isaiah 53:6; Luke 15:6

    6.  Products of the sheep.

      A.  Wool 

      B.  Skin.  Hebrews 11:37

      C.  Meat

      D.  Milk

      E.  Ram’s horn

      F.  Sacrifice.

  B.  Shepherd and goats.

    1.  Goats are more difficult to hadle than sheep.

      A.  They like rocky slopes of mountains.

      B.  They eat the young leaves of trees.

      C.  Heat does not affect them as it does the sheep.

      D.  Mor vigorous, headstrong, and playful than sheep.

    2.  Goats can mix with herd of sheep, but it is better to separate them at feeding. 

         Matthew 25:32,33

    3.  Goat’s milk is very rich and popular.  Proverbs 27:27

    4.  Only the meat of the young goat is good for eating.  Judges 6:19; Luke 15:29

    5.  The hair is expecially good for making tents.  Exodus 26:7; 35:23

    6.  Sacrifices.  Leviticus 1:10; 16:22