Hare
“Possibly from roots meaning "to crop" and "fruit"”
Summary
The hare was classified as unclean in Mosaic law because, while it appears to "chew the cud," it does not have divided hooves, disqualifying it as food for Israelites.
☩Classification as Unclean
The hare (Hebrew arnebeth) is mentioned only in the dietary laws of Leviticus and Deuteronomy as forbidden food. The law states it "chews the cud" but does not divide the hoof. Scientifically, hares do not actually ruminate—they belong to the rodent order, with a single stomach quite different from true ruminants. However, the constant motion of their mouths (as they abrade their ever-growing teeth on tender shoots) appears similar to cud-chewing. Moses, not writing a zoological treatise, used the popular understanding of the time.
☩Abstinence Among Other Nations
Many ancient nations of Semitic origin similarly abstained from hare's flesh. Turks, Armenians, and Arabians avoided it, as did Greeks and Romans on sanitary grounds. Even the British Celts reportedly abstained, possibly before any contact with Phoenician merchants. Several species of hare exist in Palestine, similar to but distinct from European varieties.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Hare," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Hare," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Hare," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Hare," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).