THE SHEEP. 185

it; they say that it is an Arabic word for ram, though the
modern Arabians do not use the word in that sense. That
a horn of some kind was intended seems very certain, and
that of the ram appears to be as probable as any other. In
Exodus xix. the same word is employed to denote the instru-
ment used when the jubilee was proclaimed.

Numerous texts might be cited in proof that the practice
of keeping sheep was very prevalent among the Hebrews
in the patriarchal ages. A few will suffice. David was a
keeper of sheep, as related in 1 Samuel xvi. In Nathan’s
beautiful parable he relates that “the rich man had exceed-
ing many flocks and herds,” the poor man also had his
“one little ewe-lamb ;” and, though only a fiction, it shows
that the custom of keeping sheep was a common one. In
2 Kings iii. it is said that “Mesha, king of Moab, was a
sheep-master, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hun-
dred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with
the wool,” which shows that tribute and taxes were paid in
this kind of produce, and that even the wealth of kings
consisted much in live-stock. This is not by any means
peculiar either to the time or country, for even at this
period the king of Persia receives part of his tribute in live-
stock and raw produce; and that the same custom prevailed