Herdman (prop. "l|512, a tender of oxen; in dis- tinction from iTii'l"!, a feeder of sheep; but practically the two occupations were generally united). From the earliest times the Hebrews were a pastoral people, Abraham and his sons were masters of herds and flocks, and were regulated in their movements very much by a regard to the necessities of their cattle, in which their wealth almost entirely consisted. In Egypt the Israel- ites were known as keepers of cattle. When they left Egypt, they, notwithstanding the oppressions to which they had been subjected, took with them " flocks and herds" (Exod, xii, 38) ; and though during their wan- derings in the wilderness their stock was ui all probabil- ity greatly reduced, before they entered Canaan they had so replenished it by their conquests in the pastoral regions beyond Jordan that they took with tlicm a goodly number of animals wherewith to begin their new life in the land that had been promised them. Of that land large tracts were suited for pasturage; .certain of the tribes were almost exclusive!}^ devoted to pastoral occupations ; and traces of a nomadic life among other tribes than those settled on the east of the Jordan are found even as late as the time of the monarchy (compare 1 Chron. iv, 38^3).
HERDMAN
197
HERDMAN
The pastoral life has always had a charm for the Sheinitic peoples; and among tliem, as well as among other nations, it has always heen held in honor. In the open and spacious fields bordering on the Jordan and m tlie hill country of Palestine it is a life of comparative case and of great independence even in the present day ; men possessed of flocks and herds become quietly and gradually rich without any severe exertion or anxiety; and but for feuds among themselves, the oppression of superiors, and tlie ]iredatory tendencj' of their less re- spcctalile nciglibors, their life might flow on in an al- most unliniken traiKpiillity. The wealth of sheiks and emirs is measured chiefly by the number of their flocks and herds; and men who would count it an intoleraljle indignity to be constrained to engage in any handicraft occupation, or even in mercantile adventure, fulfil with pride and satisfaction the duties which their pastoral life imposes npon them. It was the same in ancient times. Job's substance consisted chiefly of cattle, his Avealth in which made him the greatest of all the men of the East (i, 3). The first two kings of Israel, Saul and Davitl, came from " following the herd" to ascend the throne (1 Sam. ix; xi, 5; Psa. Ixxviii, 70). Men " very great," like Nabal, derived their riches from their flocks, and themselves superintended the operations con- nected with the care of them (1 Sam. xxv, 2 sq.). Ab- salom, the prince of Israel, had a sheep-farm, and per- sonally occupied himself with its duties (2 Sam. xiii, 23). ]\Iesha, king of iVIoab, was " a sheepmaster" ("Ip^S, 2 Kings iii, 4). The daughters of chiefs and wealth}' pro- prietors did not think it beneath them to tend the flocks and herds of their family (Gen. xxix, 9 [comp. xxiv, 15, 19] ; Exod. ii, 16; comp. Homer, //. vi, 423; Odijs. xii, 121 ; xiii, 221 ; Varro, De Re Rust, ii, 1). The proudest title of the kings of Israel was that of shepherds of the people (Jer. xxiii, 4 ; Ezek. xxxiv, 2, etc. ; comp. iroLj-d- vig \auiv in Homer and Hesiod, ^)oss<;«, and Plato, De j Rep. iv, 15, p. 440, D.), and God himself condescended to be addressed as the Shepherd of Israel (Psa. Ixxx, 1), and was trusted in by his pious servants as their shep- herd (Psa. xxiii, 1). In later times the title of shep- herd was given to the teachers and leaders of the syna- gogues, who were called D"03''.Q (Lightfoot, IIoi: Jleb. ill Mnit. iv, 23) ; but this was unknown to the times be- fore Christ.
By the wealthier proprietors their flocks and herds ■were placed under the charge of servants, who bore the designation of nip's i:.''-i, ".X"^ ""'"l, "'"'"i, "l"3i, or
Q'^lpj. These were sometimes armed with weapons, to jirotect themselves and their charge from robbers or wild beasts; though, if we may judge from the case of David, their furniture in this respect was of the sirnjilest description. Usually they carried with them a staff (b^p 'Ci'y&i furnished with a crook, which might be used for catching an animal by the foot; those wlio had the charge of oxen carried with them a sharper instru- ment (Jiidg. iii, 31 ; 1 Sam. xiii, 21). See Goad. Tlicy had also a wallet or small bag (b:')p?^, 7rT}pa) in which to carry provisions, ammunition, or any easily portable article (1 Sam. xvii, 40, 43 ; Psa. xxiii, 4 ; Micah vii, 14 ; Matt. X, 10; Luke ix, 3, 10). Their dress consisted principally of a cloak or mantle (the humus of the modern Arabs) in which they could wrap the entire body (Jer. xliii, 12). For food they were obliged to be contented with the plainest fare, and often were reduced to the last extremities (Amos vii, 14; Luke xv, 15), Their wages consisted of a portion of the produce, espe- cially of the milk of the flock (Gen. xxx, 32 sq. ; 1 Cor. ix, 7). That they cultivated music is not unlikeh', though it hardly follows from 1 Sam. xvi, 18, for Da- vid's case may have been exceptional ; in all countries and times, however, music has been associated with the pastoral life. When the servants belonging to one mas- ter existed in anj^ number, they were placed under a chief (nipTO "ib. Gen. xlvii, 6; aQxiT^oipjv, 1 Pet. v, 4) ; and under the monarchy there was a royal officer v.ho bore the title of n'^i'iri ^"'S.X, " chief of the herds- men" (1 Sam. xxi, 7 ; compare 1 Chron. xxvii, 29, and "magister regii pecoris," Livy, i, 4).