Movers endeavors to show that Herakles and Her- cules are not merely Greek and Latin synonymes for this god, but that they are actually derived from his true Phoenician name. This original name he supposes to have consisted of the syllables IX (as found in "^"iX, lion, and in other words), meaning strong, and hz, from bD"^, to conquer; so that the compound means Ar con- quers. This harmonizes with what he conceives to be the idea represented by Hercules as the destroj'er of Tj'jihonic monsters (J. c. p. 430). Melkarth, the IVIfXi- KapOoc of Sanchoniathon, occurs on corns only in the form mpb^:. We must in this case assume that a kajjh has been absorbed, and resolve the word into T^^'U Xri^p, king of the city, ttoXioi'XOS. The bilingual in- scription renders it by 'ApyiyiTTjc ; and it is a title of the god as the patron of the city Kitto, s. v. See Baal.
Herd (prop, ^p3, of neat cattle ; "I'lS, a flock of smaller animals; tl 3 p:D, as property; ayi\rj,a. drove). The herd was greatly regarded both in the patriarchal and Mosaic period. Its multiplying was consideretl as a blessing, and its decrease as a curse (Gen. xiii, 2; Deut. vii, 14 ; xxviii, 4 ; Psa. cvii, 38 ; cxliv, 14 ; Jer. li, 23). The ox was the most precious stock next to horse and mule, and (since those were rare) the thing of greatest value which was commonly possessed (1 Kings xviii, 5), Hence we see the force of Saul's threat (1 Sam. xi, 7). The herd yielded the most esteemed sacrifice (Numb. vii, 3 ; Psa. Ixix, 31 ; Isa. Ixvi, 3) ; also flesh-meat and milk, chiefly converted, probably, into butter and cheese (Deut. xxxii, 14; 2 Sam. xvii, 29), which such milk jdelds more copiouslj' than that of smaU cattle (Arist. Hist. Anim. iii, 20). The full-grown ox is hardly ever slaughtered in Syria; but, both for sacrificial and con- vivial purposes, the young animal was preferred (Exod, xxix, 1) — perhaps three years might be the age up to which it was so regarded (Gen. xv, 9) — and is spoken of as a special dainty (Gen. xviii, 8; Amos vi, 4; Luke XV, 23). The case of Gideon's sacrifice was one of exi- gency (Judg. vi, 25), and exceptional. So that of the people (1 Sam. xiv, 32) was an act of wanton excess. The agricultural and general usefuhiess of the ox in ploughing, threshing, and as a beast of burden (1 Chron. xii, 40; Isa. xlvi, 1), made such a slaughtering seem wasteful ; nor, owing to cUflicidties of grazing, fattening, etc., is beef the product of an Eastern chmate. The
HERD
195
HERDER
animal was broken to service probably in his third year (Isa. XV, 5 ; Jer. xlviii, 34 ; comp. Pliny, //. N, viii, 70, eil. Par.). In the moist season, when grass abounded in tlie Wiiste lands, especially in the "south" region, herds grazed there; e. g. in Carmel, on the west side of the Dead Sea (1 Sam. xxv, 2 ; 2 Chron. xxvi, 10). Dothan also, ]Mishor, and Sharon (Gen. xxxvii, 17 ; comp. Rob- inson, iii, 122; Stanley, S. and Pal. p. 247, 260, 484; 1 Chron. xxvii, 29 ; Isa. Ixv, 10) were favorite pastures. For such purposes Uzziah built towers in the ^\ilderness (2 Chron. xxvi, 19). Not only grass, but foliage, is ac- ceptal)le to the ox, and the woods and hills of Bashan and Gilead afforded both abundantly; on such upland (Psa.l, 10; Ixv, 12) pastures cattle might graze, as also, of course, by river sides, when driven by the heat from the regions of the "wilderness." Especially was the eastern table-land (Ezek. xxxix, 18 ; Numb, xxxii, 4) " a place for cattle," and the pastoral tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, who settled there, retained something of the nomadic character and banded down some image of the patriarchal life (Stanley, S. and Pal. p. 324, 325). Herdsmen in Egypt were a \»\\; perhaps the lowest, caste ; hence, as Joseph's kindred, tlirough his position, were brought into contact with the highest
An Egyptian deformed Oxherd, so represented on the Mouu- meuts to mark contempt. (Wilkinson.)
castes, they are described as " an abomination ;" but of the abundance of cattle in Egypt, and of the care there bestowed on them, there is no doubt (Gen. xlvii, 6, 17; Exod. ix, 4, 20). Brands were used to distinguish the owners' herds (Wilkinson, iii, 8, 195; iv, 125-131). So the plague of hail was sent to smite especially the cattle (Psa. Ixxviii, 48), the firstborn of which also were smit- ten (Exod. xii, 29). The Israelites departing stipulated for (Exod. x, 26) and took " much cattle" with them (xii, 38). See Exode. Cattle formed thus one of the traditions of the Israelitish nation in its greatest period, and became almost a part of that greatness. They are the subject of providential care and legislative ordinance (Exod. XX, 10 ; xxi, 28 ; xxxiv, 19 ; Lev. xix, 19 ; xxv, 7 ; Deut. xi, 15 ; xxii, 1, 4, 10 ; xxv, 4 ; Psa. civ, 14 ; Isa. XXX, 23; Jon. iv, 11), and even the Levites, though not holding land, were allowed cattle (Xumb. xxxv, 2, 3). When pasture failed, a mixtiu-e of various grains (called. Job vi, 5, b'^ba, rendered "fodder" in the A. V., and, Isa. XXX, 24, "provender;" compare the Roman ynrra^o and oojmnm. Pliny, xviii, 10 and 42) was used, as also '^ri, " chopped stray.'" (Gen. xxiv, 25 ; Isa. xi, 7 ; Ixv, 25), whicli was torn in pieces by the threshing-machine, and used i)robably for feeding in stalls. These last formed an imitortaiit adjunct to cattle-keeping, being indispen- sable fur shelter at certain seasons (Exod. ix, 6, 19). The herd, after its harvest duty was done, which prob- ably caused it to be in high condition, was especially worth caring for; at the same time, most open pas- tures would have failed because of the heat. It was then probably stalled, and would continue so until vege- tation returned. Hence the failure of " the herd" from " the stalls" is mentioned as a feature of scarcity (Hab. iii, 17). " Calves of the staU" (]Mal. iv, 2 ; Prov. xv, 17) are the objects of watchful care. The Reubenites, etc., bestowed their cattle " in cities" when they passed the