Topical Bible: Commerce: Articles of Cattle

◄ Commerce: Articles of Cattle ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, cattle played a significant role in the economic and social life of ancient Near Eastern societies, including the Israelites. The term "cattle" in the Bible generally refers to domesticated animals such as oxen, cows, sheep, goats, and sometimes camels and donkeys. These animals were integral to the agrarian lifestyle and were considered valuable assets for trade and commerce.

Economic Significance

Cattle were a primary measure of wealth and prosperity in biblical times. The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were described as having large herds, which signified their wealth and God's blessing upon them. Genesis 13:2 states, "And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold." The possession of cattle was not only a sign of wealth but also a means of sustaining a family and community through the provision of milk, meat, and hides.

Cattle in Trade

Cattle were frequently used in trade and barter systems. They were exchanged for goods and services, serving as a form of currency in a largely non-monetary economy. Job 42:12 illustrates the restoration of Job's fortunes, noting, "So the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys." This passage highlights the importance of livestock in measuring wealth and facilitating trade.

Religious and Cultural Context

Cattle also held religious significance. They were often used in sacrificial offerings, which were central to the worship practices of the Israelites. Leviticus 1:3 instructs, "If one's offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer an unblemished male. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted by the LORD." The requirement for unblemished animals underscores the value placed on cattle in religious observance.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The Mosaic Law provided specific regulations regarding the treatment and use of cattle. Exodus 22:1 states, "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep." This law reflects the high value of cattle and the importance of justice and restitution in maintaining social order.

Symbolism and Metaphor

Cattle are often used symbolically in the Bible to represent abundance, strength, and divine provision. Psalm 50:10 declares, "For every beast of the forest is Mine—the cattle on a thousand hills." This metaphor emphasizes God's sovereignty and the vastness of His creation, illustrating that all wealth and resources ultimately belong to Him.

Conclusion

In summary, cattle were a cornerstone of commerce in biblical times, serving as a measure of wealth, a medium of trade, and a key component of religious practice. The biblical narrative reflects the multifaceted role of cattle in the economic, social, and spiritual life of the ancient Israelites, underscoring their enduring significance in the biblical worldview.

Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 27:21
Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with you in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they your merchants.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian ...
... Now though I am too lowly to submit articles that could serve for the ... that people
go about turbulently and irrationally like herds of cattle, which could not ...
/.../iii twenty-seven articles respecting the.htm

Connecticut at the Close of the Revolution
... Connecticut's commerce was an import commerce exchanging natural products ... churches
translated more liberally the Articles of the ... [c] Horses, cattle, beef, pork ...
/.../chapter xii connecticut at the.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... constitution of the family and its property"Chaldaean commerce and industry ... troop
of functionaries and workmen: administrators of corn, cattle, precious metals ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

The Birth of England's Foreign Missions
... the whole chapter is undoubtedly a prophecy), commerce shall subserve ... for domestic
purposes: and a few articles of stock ... a bull, and a few other cattle of both ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter ii the birth of.htm

Identity of Christ's Character.
... drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? ... point out consists in these
two articles: First, that ... In our Lord's commerce with his disciples, one ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter iv identity of christs.htm

The First Theban Empire
... who came in their way, and seized on their cattle"on one ... everything, in fact, which
Central Africa has furnished as articles of commerce from time ...
/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... moreover, commercial relations with Egypt, and furnished it with cattle, chariots,
and ... Royal Messengers," as well as, probably, the maritime commerce of the ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... was panelled with cedar or cypress"rare woods procured as articles of commerce from
the ... grow!"As for thee, thy degree is seen in the cattle-folds and in ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Gaza enjoyed among them a kind of hegemony, alike on account of its strategic position
and its favourable situation for commerce, but this supremacy was of ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm