The Swine

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
THE first time we read of the swine in Scripture is in Lev. 11:77And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. (Leviticus 11:7), where the Israelites were forbidden to eat its flesh, as it was amongst the unclean animals. Though dividing the hoof, it does not chew the cud. Some think the reason of this law was because, in hot countries, swine are subject to distempers, and unwholesome; some, because they eat all sorts of unclean things; others think that it was to keep the Jews from imitating the Egyptians, who sacrificed swine to their idols, and then ate their flesh. In Isa. 65:44Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; (Isaiah 65:4), we read of the Jews remaining among the graves, practicing necromancy and eating swine’s flesh, though forbidden by the law. And that judgment would come upon them is shown by Isaiah 46:17, where it says that they shall be consumed. The law not only forbade the Jews eating their flesh, but also touching their dead carcass. (Deut. 14:88And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. (Deuteronomy 14:8)). Swine are well known to be dirty and disgusting in their habits, poking their snouts into mud or any kind of rubbish. Solomon compares a fair woman without discretion to a swine with a jewel in his nose. Nose-jewels are worn by Eastern women. In either case it would leave them debased still. Some think that it was to punish those who, contrary to the law kept swine, that our Saviour allowed the unclean spirits to enter into the herd of those animals when they ran down the steep place, and perished in the sea. (Matt. 8:30-3230And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. (Matthew 8:30‑32)). The sow is mentioned, as liking to wallow in the mire, in 2 Peter 2:22And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:2). Swine are supposed to have been originally derived from the wild boar, which is a cleaner animal in its habits than the swine. It is found in forests, and lives chiefly on shrubs, roots, and fruit. In the vineyards it not only eats the grapes, but roots up the vines. To this David alludes in the Psalms, when he says, “The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.” (Psa. 80:1313The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. (Psalm 80:13)).
J. H. P.
The second prize, “A Bible,” is awarded to Mary H.