Monkeys, as a category of primates, are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, their presence in the ancient Near East and their symbolic significance in various cultures provide a context for understanding their potential relevance in biblical times.

Biblical Context and Symbolism

While the Bible does not directly reference monkeys, it does mention various animals that were part of the ancient world. The absence of monkeys in the biblical text may be attributed to the geographical and cultural context of the Israelites, who primarily inhabited regions where monkeys were not native. However, trade routes during the biblical era, such as those established by King Solomon, could have introduced exotic animals, including monkeys, to the region.

In 1 Kings 10:22 , it is noted: "For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years, the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks." The term "apes" here is often interpreted to include various primates, potentially encompassing monkeys. This passage highlights the wealth and extensive trade networks of Solomon's kingdom, which brought diverse and exotic goods, including animals, to Israel.

Cultural and Historical Insights

In the broader ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean context, monkeys were sometimes kept as exotic pets or used in entertainment. They were often associated with foreign lands and luxury, symbolizing the reach and opulence of a kingdom. The presence of monkeys in Solomon's imports underscores the king's wealth and the grandeur of his reign.

Monkeys also appear in the art and literature of neighboring cultures, such as Egypt and Mesopotamia, where they were depicted in various roles, from playful creatures to symbols of chaos and mischief. These cultural representations may have influenced how monkeys were perceived by the Israelites and their neighbors.

Theological Reflections

From a theological perspective, the mention of exotic animals like monkeys in the context of Solomon's wealth can serve as a reminder of the diversity and creativity of God's creation. It also reflects the interconnectedness of the ancient world, where trade and cultural exchange brought different peoples and their customs into contact with one another.

In the broader biblical narrative, animals often serve as symbols or teaching tools, illustrating moral and spiritual lessons. While monkeys themselves are not used in this way in the Bible, their inclusion in the list of Solomon's imports can be seen as a testament to the vastness of God's creation and the human desire to explore and understand it.

Conclusion

Though not directly mentioned in the Bible, monkeys hold a place in the historical and cultural backdrop of the biblical world. Their presence in the trade networks of King Solomon's time highlights the wealth and reach of his kingdom, while also pointing to the broader theme of God's diverse creation.(n.) Plural of Monkey.

The Scaffolding Left in the Body
... in habit as well as in body with some of the apes, that they probably lived in trees,
and that baby-men clung to their climbing mothers as baby-monkeys do to ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter ii the scaffolding left.htm

The Northern Mountains
... 'The Capuchin monkeys,' he continues, 'are singularly fond of these "chestnuts of
Brazil," and the noise made by the seeds, when the fruit is shaken as it fell ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xi the northern mountains.htm

A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... forward over the foolish, kindly, greedy, sad face, with its wide, suspicious,
beseeching eyes, and mouth which, as in all these American monkeys, as far as we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter v a letter from.htm

The Evolution of Language
... The deer had formed themselves into herds, and the monkeys into troops; the birds
were in flocks, and the wolves in packs; the bees in hives, and the ants in ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter v the evolution of.htm

Miscellaneous.
... The Orang and Pongo monkeys, which are classed with those which make the nearest
approach to man, have three vertebra fewer than man. * * * *. ...
/.../miscellaneous.htm

Science and the Savages
... The secret of why some savage tribe worships monkeys or the moon is not to be found
even by travelling among those savages and taking down their answers in a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xi science and the savages.htm

And as She Stood Looking Towards London, Diamond Saw that She was ...
... A great roar of wild animals rose as they rushed over the Zoological Gardens, mixed
with a chattering of monkeys and a screaming of birds; but it died away in ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 4 and as she.htm

The Mango-Tree
... All things, save I, are full of life: The minas, pluming velvet breasts; The monkeys,
in their foolish strife; The swooping hawks, the swinging nests; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the mango-tree.htm

Manasseh
... and then wings grow"that by-and-by they wanted to crawl, and then legs came, and
they became lizards, and by divers steps they then became monkeys, and then ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/manasseh.htm

Whether Certain Monstrous Races of Men are Derived from the Stock ...
... various races who differ from one another and from us to be true; but possibly they
are not: for if we were not aware that apes, and monkeys, and sphinxes are ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 8 whether certain monstrous races.htm

Monkeys (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Monkey. Multi-Version Concordance
Monkeys (2 Occurrences). 1 Kings 10:22 For the king had ...
/m/monkeys.htm - 7k

Tarshish-ships (3 Occurrences)
... king had Tarshish-ships at sea with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the
Tarshish-ships came with gold and silver and ivory and monkeys and peacocks. ...
/t/tarshish-ships.htm - 7k

Monster (10 Occurrences)

/m/monster.htm - 10k

Monitor (1 Occurrence)

/m/monitor.htm - 7k

Sailing (23 Occurrences)
... had Tarshish-ships sailing with the servants of Huram: once every three years the
Tarshish-ships came back with gold and silver, ivory and monkeys and peacocks ...
/s/sailing.htm - 13k

Hand (14438 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys,
and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus. ...
/h/hand.htm - 27k

Ships (46 Occurrences)
... king had Tarshish-ships at sea with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the
Tarshish-ships came with gold and silver and ivory and monkeys and peacocks. ...
/s/ships.htm - 53k

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