In biblical times, the role of shearers was significant in the agrarian society of ancient Israel. Shearers were responsible for the shearing of sheep, an essential task in the production of wool, which was a valuable commodity for clothing and trade. The process of shearing was often a communal event, marked by festivity and celebration, as it signified the harvest of wool and the prosperity of the flock.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 38:12-13 · The account of Judah and Tamar provides an early reference to sheep shearing as a notable event. "After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to Timnah to the shearers of his sheep." This passage highlights the social aspect of sheep shearing, as Judah travels to join the shearers, indicating a gathering or event.

2. 1 Samuel 25:2-4 · The account of Nabal and Abigail also centers around a sheep-shearing event. "Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very wealthy; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel." This passage underscores the wealth associated with large flocks and the importance of shearing as a time of economic activity.

3. 2 Samuel 13:23-24 · The narrative of Absalom and Amnon includes a sheep-shearing event. "Now it came about after two full years that Absalom had shearers in Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons." Here, the shearing is again depicted as a significant occasion, one that Absalom uses to gather the king's sons, setting the stage for subsequent events.

4. Isaiah 53:7 · The imagery of a sheep before its shearers is used prophetically to describe the suffering servant. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth." This metaphor highlights the humility and submission of the servant, drawing on the familiar image of sheep shearing.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Sheep shearing in biblical times was not only an economic activity but also a cultural and social event. It often involved feasting and celebration, as seen in the accounts of Nabal and Absalom. The gathering of people for shearing provided opportunities for social interaction and the strengthening of community ties.

From a religious perspective, the imagery of sheep and shearers is used in the Bible to convey deeper spiritual truths. The metaphor of the silent sheep before its shearers in Isaiah 53:7 is a poignant illustration of submission and sacrifice, pointing to the Messiah's suffering and redemptive work.

In summary, shearers played a vital role in the biblical world, both economically and symbolically. Their work was integral to the livelihood of shepherds and landowners, and the events surrounding sheep shearing were woven into the social and religious fabric of ancient Israel.1494. gazaz -- to shear
... root Definition to shear NASB Word Usage cut off (3), cut off your hair (1), shaved
(1), shear (3), shearers (3), shearing (2), sheepshearers (2), sheepshearers ...
/hebrew/1494.htm - 6k

Abigail's Sensible Advice
... and your family and to all that you have. Now I have heard that you have
sheep-shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/abigails sensible advice.htm

Prophecy.
... He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought
as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter i prophecy.htm

The First Cry from the Cross
... Dumb as sheep before her shearers, he had not a word to say in his own defense to
man, but he continues in his heart crying unto his Father, and no pain and no ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 15 1869/the first cry from the.htm

The Same Continued.
... and they shall call his name Immanuel." [1227] And concerning the passion, "He was
led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before her shearers is dumb ...
/.../the epistle of ignatius to the antiochians/chapter iii the same continued.htm

The Cross as a Social Principle
... He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that
is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter xi the cross as.htm

The Crucifixion.
... "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He is brought
as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon x the crucifixion.htm

The Exile --Continued.
... The glimpse of old-world ways in the story, the rough mirth of the shearers, the
hint of the kind of black mail by which David's little force was provided, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/viii the exilecontinued.htm

The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New
... He who spoke the awful words of the text is he who was brought as a lamb to the
slaughter; and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so he opened not his ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xi the god of.htm

The Patience of Christ.
... He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was brought
as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/the patience of christ.htm

Eighteenth Day. Patience.
... How patient!""As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth."
In these awful moments, outraged Omnipotence might have summoned twelve ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the mind of jesus/eighteenth day patience.htm

Shearers (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shearers (5 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 25:7 Now I
have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds have now ...
/s/shearers.htm - 8k

Sheep-shearers (3 Occurrences)
Sheep-shearers. Sheepshearers, Sheep-shearers. Sheepshearing .
Multi-Version Concordance Sheep-shearers (3 Occurrences). ...
/s/sheep-shearers.htm - 7k

Baal-hazor (1 Occurrence)
... ba-al-ha'-zor ba`al chatsor; Bailasor, Bel-la-sor: A place on the property of Absalom
where his sheep-shearers were gathered, beside Ephraim (2 Samuel 13:23). ...
/b/baal-hazor.htm - 7k

Sheepshearing
... shearing is done in the springtime, either by the owners (Genesis 31:19; Genesis
38:13 Deuteronomy 15:19 1 Samuel 25:2, 4) or by regular "shearers" (gazaz) (1 ...
/s/sheepshearing.htm - 7k

Sheep-shearing (1 Occurrence)
... shearing is done in the springtime, either by the owners (Genesis 31:19; Genesis
38:13 Deuteronomy 15:19 1 Samuel 25:2, 4) or by regular "shearers" (gazaz) (1 ...
/s/sheep-shearing.htm - 8k

Origin (25 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 25:11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat that I have
killed for my shearers, and give it to men who I don't know where they come ...
/o/origin.htm - 13k

Insulted (18 Occurrences)
... On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. (WEB NIV).
1 Samuel 25:7 Now I have heard that you have shearers. ...
/i/insulted.htm - 11k

Missed (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 25:7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers; now thy shepherds who
were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there aught missed by them, all ...
/m/missed.htm - 10k

Mistreat (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 25:7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers; thy shepherds have now
been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there aught missing unto ...
/m/mistreat.htm - 10k

Multiplied (109 Occurrences)
... died. And Judah was comforted, and he went up to his sheep-shearers, to
Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. (DBY YLT). ...
/m/multiplied.htm - 38k

Why is Jesus referred to as a man of sorrows in Isaiah 53:3? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Abigail in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Nabal in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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