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Sheep.

From: The New Topical Textbook

By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 3 min. read • grade level: 11

Clean and used as food. Deut. 14:4⁴These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, (Deuteronomy 14:4).

DESCRIBED AS

Innocent. 2 Sam. 24:17¹⁷And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. (2 Samuel 24:17).

Sagacious. John 10:4, 5⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (John 10:4‑5).

Agile. Psa. 114:4, 6⁴The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. (Psalm 114:4)
⁶Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? (Psalm 114:6).

Being covered with a fleece. Job 31:20²⁰If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; (Job 31:20).

Remarkably prolific. Psa. 107:41⁴¹Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. (Psalm 107:41). Psa. 144:13¹³That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: (Psalm 144:13). SoS. 4:2. Ezek. 36:37³⁷Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. (Ezekiel 36:37).

Bleating of, alluded to. Judg. 5:16¹⁶Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. (Judges 5:16). 1 Sam. 15:14¹⁴And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? (1 Samuel 15:14).

Under man's care from the earliest age. Gen. 4:4⁴And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: (Genesis 4:4).

Constituted a great part of patriarchal wealth. Gen. 13:5⁵And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. (Genesis 13:5). Gen. 24:35³⁵And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses. (Genesis 24:35). Gen. 26:14¹⁴For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26:14).

Males of, called rams. 1 Sam. 15:22²²And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22). Jer. 51:40⁴⁰I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats. (Jeremiah 51:40).

Females of, called ewes. Psa. 78:71⁷¹From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. (Psalm 78:71).

Young of, called lambs. Ex. 12:3³Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: (Exodus 12:3). Isa. 11:6⁶The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:6).

PLACES CELEBRATED FOR;

Kedar. Ezek. 27:21²¹Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants. (Ezekiel 27:21).

Bashan. Deut. 32:14¹⁴Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. (Deuteronomy 32:14).

Nebaioth. Isa. 60:7⁷All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. (Isaiah 60:7).

Bozra. Mic. 2:12¹²I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men. (Micah 2:12).

Flesh of, extensively used as food. 1 Sam. 25:18¹⁸Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. (1 Samuel 25:18). 1 Kin. 1:19. 1 Kin. 4: 23. Neh. 5:18¹⁸Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. (Nehemiah 5:18). Isa. 22:13¹³And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. (Isaiah 22:13).

Milk of, used as food. Deut. 32:14¹⁴Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. (Deuteronomy 32:14). Isa. 7:21, 22²¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; ²²And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. (Isaiah 7:21‑22). 1 Cor. 9:7⁷Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? (1 Corinthians 9:7).

Skins of, worn as clothing by the poor. Heb. 11:37³⁷They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Hebrews 11:37).

Skins of, made into a covering for the tabernacle. Ex. 25:5⁵And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, (Exodus 25:5). Ex. 36:19¹⁹And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that. (Exodus 36:19). Ex. 39:34³⁴And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering, (Exodus 39:34).

Wool of, made into clothing. Job 31:20²⁰If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; (Job 31:20). Prov. 31:13¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. (Proverbs 31:13). Ezek. 34:3³Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. (Ezekiel 34:3).

Offered in sacrifice from the earliest age. Gen. 4:4⁴And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: (Genesis 4:4). Gen. 8:20²⁰And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (Genesis 8:20). Gen, 15:9, 10.

Offered in sacrifice under the law. Ex. 20:24²⁴An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. (Exodus 20:24). Lev. 1:10¹⁰And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. (Leviticus 1:10). 1 Kin. 8:5, 63.

FLOCKS OF,

Attended by members of the family. Gen. 29:6⁶And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. (Genesis 29:6). Ex. 2:16¹⁶Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. (Exodus 2:16). 1 Sam. 16:11¹¹And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. (1 Samuel 16:11).

Attended by servants. 1 Sam. 17:20²⁰And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. (1 Samuel 17:20). Isa. 61:5⁵And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. (Isaiah 61:5).

Guarded by dogs. Job 30:1¹But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. (Job 30:1).

Kept in folds or cotes. 1 Sam. 24:2 Sam. 7:8⁸Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: (2 Samuel 7:8). John 10:1¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1).

Conducted to the richest pastures. Psa. 23:2²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (Psalm 23:2).

Fed on the mountains. Ex. 3:1¹Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. (Exodus 3:1). Ezek. 34:6, 13⁶My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. (Ezekiel 34:6)
¹³And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. (Ezekiel 34:13).

Fed in the valleys. Isa. 65:10¹⁰And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. (Isaiah 65:10).

Frequently covered the pastures. Psa. 65:13¹³The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing. (Psalm 65:13).

Watered every day. Gen. 29:8-10⁸And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. ⁹And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. ¹⁰And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. (Genesis 29:8‑10). Ex. 2:16, 17¹⁶Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. ¹⁷And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. (Exodus 2:16‑17).

Made to rest at noon. Psa. 23:2²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (Psalm 23:2), with SoS. 1:7.

Followed the shepherd. John 10:4, 27⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:4)
²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27).

Fled from strangers. John 10:5⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (John 10:5).

Washed and shorn every year. SoS. 4:2.

Firstlings of, not to be shorn. Deut. 15:19¹⁹All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep. (Deuteronomy 15:19).

Firstlings of, not to be redeemed. Num. 18:17¹⁷But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor unto the Lord. (Numbers 18:17).

Firstlings of, could not be dedicated as a free-will offering. Lev. 27:26²⁶Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord's firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the Lord's. (Leviticus 27:26).

Tithe of, given to the Levites. 2 Chr. 31:4-6⁴Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord. ⁵And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. ⁶And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps. (2 Chronicles 31:4‑6).

First wool of, given to the priests. Deut. 18:4⁴The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. (Deuteronomy 18:4).

Time of shearing, a time of rejoicing. 1 Sam. 25:2, 11, 36²And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. (1 Samuel 25:2)
¹¹Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? (1 Samuel 25:11)
³⁶And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. (1 Samuel 25:36). 2 Sam. 13:23²³And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. (2 Samuel 13:23).

WERE FREQUENTLY

Given as presents. 2 Sam. 17:29²⁹And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness. (2 Samuel 17:29). 1 Chron. 12:40⁴⁰Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel. (1 Chronicles 12:40).

Given as tribute. 2 Kin. 3:4. 2 Chr. 17:11¹¹Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. (2 Chronicles 17:11).

Destroyed by wild beasts. Jer. 50:17¹⁷Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. (Jeremiah 50:17). Mic. 5:8⁸And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (Micah 5:8). John 10:12¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. (John 10:12).

Taken in great numbers in war. Judg. 6:4⁴And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. (Judges 6:4). 1 Sam. 14:32³²And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. (1 Samuel 14:32). 1 Chron. 5:21²¹And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand. (1 Chronicles 5:21). 2 Chr. 14:15¹⁵They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 14:15).

Cut off by disease. Ex. 9:3³Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain. (Exodus 9:3).

False prophets assume the simple appearance of. Matt. 7:15¹⁵Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15).

ILLUSTRATIVE

Of the Jews. Psa. 74:1¹<<Maschil of Asaph.>> O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? (Psalm 74:1). Psa. 78:52⁵²But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. (Psalm 78:52). Psa. 79:13¹³So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations. (Psalm 79:13).

Of the people of Christ. John 10:7-26⁷Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. ¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. ¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. ¹⁷Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. ¹⁸No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ¹⁹There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. ²⁰And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? ²¹Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? ²²And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. ²³And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. ²⁴Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. ²⁵Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. ²⁶But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. (John 10:7‑26). John 21:16, 17¹⁶He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:16‑17). Heb. 13:20²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20). 1 Peter 5:2²Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (1 Peter 5:2).

Of the wicked in their death. Psa. 49:1¹<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: (Psalm 49:1)

Of those under God's judgment. Psa. 49:14¹⁴Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. (Psalm 49:14).

(In patience and simplicity,) of patience, &c. of Christ. Isa. 53:7⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7).

(In proneness to wander,) of those who depart from God. Psa. 119:176¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments. (Psalm 119:176). Isa. 53:6⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6). Ezek. 34:16¹⁶I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment. (Ezekiel 34:16).

(Lost,) of the unregenerate. Matt. 10:6⁶But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 10:6).

(When found,) of restored sinners. Luke 15:5, 7⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Luke 15:5)
⁷I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7).

(Separated from the goats,) of the separation of saints from the wicked. Matt. 25:32, 33³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: ³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (Matthew 25:32‑33).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Scorning and Mocking.

• Scorpion, the.

• Scriptures, the.

• Sealing of the Holy Ghost.

• Second Coming of Christ, the.

• Seeking God.

• Self-Delusion.

• Self-Denial.

• Self-Examination.

• Self-Righteousness.

• Self-Will and Stubbornness.

• Selfishness.

• Sheep.

• Sidonians, the.

• Simeon, the Tribe of.

• Simplicity.