And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
These are they ... abomination among the fowls. All birds of prey are particularly ranked in the class unclean-all those which feed on flesh and carrion; no less than 20 species of birds-all probably then known-are mentioned under this category; and the inference follows, that all which are not mentioned were allowed-that is, fowls which subsist on vegetable substances. From our imperfect knowledge of the natural history of Palestine, Arabia, and the contiguous countries, it is not easy to determine exactly what some of the prohibited birds are; although they must have been all well known among the people to whom these laws were given.
The eagle, х hanesher (H5404)] - the golden eagle, which is the chief species (Gesenius).
The ossifrage, х haperec (H6538)] - bone-breaker; rendered in the Septuagint [grups], griffin; supposed to be the Gypoetos barbatus, the lammer geyer of the Swiss-a bird of the eagle or vulture species, inhabiting the highest mountain-ranges in Western Asia as well as Europe, and pursuing as its prey, the chamois, ibex, or marmot, among rugged cliffs, until it drives them over a precipice-thus obtaining the name of 'bone-breaker.'
The ospray, х haa`aazniyaah (H5822); Septuagint, aliaistos] - the sea eagle; but according to Bochart ('Hieroz.,' 2:, 774) [who takes the word = 'azyaah, strong], the black eagle, among the smallest but swiftest and strongest of its kind.
Verse 14. The vulture, х hadaa'aah (H1676)]. The word so rendered in our version means more probably 'the kite' or 'glede,' and describes a rapid and varying but majestic flight, exactly that of the kite, which now darts forward with the rapidity of an arrow, now rests motionless on its expanded wings in the air: it feeds on small birds, insects, and fish. [In Deuteronomy 14:13 it is called haaraa'aah (H7201), from its keen, penetrating sight; Septuagint, gups.]
The kite, х haa'ayaah (H344)] - a clamorous bird of prey. Septuagint, iktinos, indifferently, kite or vulture; Bochart, falco aesalon, the merlin. In Egypt, and perhaps in the adjoining countries also, the kite and vulture are often seen together flying in company, or busily pursuing their foul but important office of devouring the carrion and relics of putrefying flesh, which might otherwise pollute the atmosphere.
After his kind - i:e., the prohibition against eating it extended to the whole species.
Verse 15. Every raven, х `oreeb (H6158), from its black colour] - including the crow, the pie. Verse 16. The owl, х bat (H1323) haya`ªnaah (H3284)] - daughter of the female ostrich; i:e., the female ostrich (Bochart, 'Hieroz,' 2:, 230).
The night hawk, х hatachmaac (H8464)] - the male ostrich (cf. Job 30:29; Isaiah 13:21; Isaiah 30:13; Isaiah 43:20; Micah 1:8, where those birds are described as inhabitants of the desert, and distinguished by doleful cries).
The cuckoo, х hashaachap (H7828)]. Evidently some other bird is meant by the original term, from its being ranked among rapacious birds. Dr. Shaw thinks it is the saf-saf; but that being a graminivorous and gregarious bird, is equally objectionable. Others think that the sea mew, sea gull, or some of the small sea fowl, are intended (Bochart,` Hieroz.,' 2:, lib. 2:, ch. 18:)
The hawk, х haneets (H5322); Septuagint, hierax]. The Hebrew word includes every variety of the falcon family, as the gos-hawk, the jer-hawk, the sparrow-hawk, etc. Several species of hawks are found in Western Asia and Egypt, where they find inexhaustible prey in the immense numbers of pigeons and turtle-doves that abound in those quarters. The hawk was held pre-eminently sacred among the Egyptians; and this, besides its rapacious disposition and gross habits, might have been a strong reason for its prohibition as an article of food to the Israelites.
The little owl, х hakowc (H3563)]. Our translators have followed the Septuagint, which renders it nuktikorax, owl, 'the little owl;' as also do Theodotion, Aguila, and other interpreters; Michaelis, the horned owl; Bochart, the pelican or cormorant ('Hieroz.,' 2:, p. 281), from the pouch х kowc (H3563), a cup], which serves as a repository for its food. (But see the note at Leviticus 11:18.)
Cormorant, х hashaalaak (H7994); Septuagint, kataraktees] - the gannet, pelicanus bassanus, Linnoeus (Bochart, 'Hieroz.,' 2:, lib, 2:, p. 21).
The great owl, х hayanshuwp (H3244); Septuagint, hibis] - a water or marsh fowl, namely, the Egyptian heron. Bochart, following the Chaldean and Syriac versions, renders it 'owl' ('Hieroz.,' 2:, p. 261). The ibis of the Egyptians was well known to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 14:16; Isaiah 34:11), According to Parkhurst, the bittern, but not determined.
Verse 18. The swan, х hatinshemet (H8580); Bochart, 'Hieroz.,' 1:, p. 1083; the Septuagint, porfurioon] - the crested rumple heron; ardea purpurea, Linnaeus (quoted by Gesenius); Vulgate, cygnus, swan-found in great numbers in all the countries of the Levant, and frequents marshy places, the vicinity of rivers and lakes. It was held sacred by the Egyptians, and kept tame within the precincts of pagan temples. It was probably on this account chiefly its use as food was prohibited. Michaelis considers it the goose.
The pelican, х haqaa'aat (H6893)] - the vomiter-so called from its vomiting the shells and other things which it has voraciously swallowed, after they have been opened by the heat of its belly, in order to pick out the fish, which form its staple food. [Septuagint, pelekan.] Cf. Deuteronomy 14:17; Psalms 102:6; Isaiah 34:11; Zephaniah 2:14, in which it appears a bird of the desert; and if so, the kaath cannot be the pelican, whose large webbed feet; and capacious pouch, with the manner of catching its food with it, like a net, which can only be done in the water, show it to be a waterfowl, which, as Harmer remarks, must of necessity starve in the desert.
The gier eagle, х haaraachaam (H7360)] - a small species of vulture, white, with black wings, feeding on dead bodies; vultur percnopterus, Linnoeus. The Hebrew name was given to it from its tenderness to its young; hence, some have thought that it is the bird now called rachami, a kind of Egyptian vulture, abundant in the streets of Cairo, and popularly called Pharaoh's fowl. It is white in colour, in size like a raven, and feeds on carrion; it is one of the foulest and filthiest birds in the world. But being here associated with aquatic birds, it has been questioned whether any species of eagle is referred to, and that, as the original name rachami, denotes tenderness, affection, the halcyon or king's fisher is intended.
Verse 19. The stork, х hachaciydaah (H2624); Septuagint, eroodios] - a bird of benevolent temper, and held in the highest estimation in all Eastern countries. It was declared unclean, probably from its feeding on mice, lizards, and other reptiles, as well as rearing its young on the same food.
The heron, х haa'anaapaah (H601); Septuagint, charadrios] - a bird which nestles in the clefts of rocks or in hollow banks. Bochart ('Hieroz.,' 2:, p. 335) follows the Jewish commentators in interpreting it 'angry bird.' The name only occurs in the prohibited list of food, and has been variously rendered, the crane, the plover, the woodcock, the parrot. In this great diversity of opinion nothing certain can be affirmed regarding it; and as, from the group with which it is classified, it must be an aquatic bird that is meant, it may as well be the heron as any other bird, the more especially as herons abound in Egypt and in the Hauran of Palestine.
The lapwing, х haduwkiypat (H1744); Septuagint, epopa; Vulgate, upupa] -- or hoopoe, found in warm regions, a very pretty but filthy species of bird; and was considered unclean, probably from its feeding on insects, worms, and snails. According to the Targum, it signifies a species of large grouse, tetrao urogallus (Gesenius).
The bat, х haa`ªTaleep (H5847); Septuagint, nukteros] - the great or Ternat bat known in the East; noted for its voracity and filthiness, frequenting caverns and dark places; true vespertilionidoe, or insect-eating bats; but when they are designated as unclean, and it is prohibited to eat them, the fact shows that there were men or tribes who at the time ate animals classed with bats-a practice still in vogue in the great Australasian islands, where the frugiferous pteropi, of the harpy or goblin family, are caught and eaten (Dr. Ainsworth, 'Transactions, Biblical Institute,' 1859).