Leviticus 11:30

_AND THE FERRET, AND THE CHAMELEON, AND THE LIZARD, AND THE SNAIL, AND THE MOLE._ The ferret, х_ HAA'ANAAQAAH_ (H604)]. Gesenius pronounces this to be 'a reptile, probably of the lizard genus, having its name from the moaning cry uttered by some species of lizards.' [The Septuagint renders it mugalee, mus araneus-a shrew mouse, a very small animal, said to be able to climb by a spider's thread, and whose bite is venomous.] THE CHAMELEON, х_ HAKOACH_ (H3581); Septuagint, chamaileoon, Chameleo Africanus] - a large green lizard, supposed by Bochart ('Hieroz.,' vol. 2:, p. 1069) and the generality of biblical scholars to be what is called by the Arabs the warral, which is found sometimes 30 inches in length. It is of a bright red colour, with dark spots (Shaw's 'Travels,' 2:, p. 328). THE LIZARD, х_ HALTAA'AAH_ ...

Verse 30. _THE FERRET_] אנקה _anakah_, from אנק _anak_, to _groan_, to _cry out_: a species of lizard, which derives its name from its piercing, doleful cry. See _Bochart_, vol. ii., col. 1066. _THE CHAMELEON_] כח _coach_. Bochart contends that this is the [Arabic] _waril_ or _guaril_, another species of _lizard_, which derives its name from its remarkable _strength_ and _vigour_ in destroying serpents, the Hebrew כח _cach_ signifying to be _strong_, _firm, vigorous_: it is probably the same with the _mongoose_, a creature still well known in India, where it is often domesticated in order to keep the houses free from snakes, rats, mice, c. _THE LIZARD_] לטאה _letaah_. Bochart contends that this also is a species of _lizard_, called by the Arabs [Arabic] _wahara_, which _creeps close to the ground_, and is poisonou

The identification of “the creeping things” here named is not always certain. They are most likely those which were occasionally eaten. For the “Tortoise” read “the great lizard,” for the “ferret” the “gecko” (one of the lizard tribe), for the “chameleon” read the “frog” or the Nile lizard: by the word rendered “snail” is probably meant another kind of lizard, and by the “mole” the “chameleon.”...

PART III UNCLEANNESS, CEREMONIAL AND MORAL: ITS REMOVAL OR ITS PUNISHMENT SECTION I EXPOSITION THE two preceding parts having made manifest the way of approach to God by means of sacrifice and the appointed priesthood of mediation, there follows a part having for its subject that which keeps man apart from God, namely, uncleanness, whether ceremonial uncleanness, which may be removed by ceremonial observances, or moral uncleanness, that is, unrighteousness, which, so far as it is a ceremonial offense, may be also dealt with ceremonially, but in respect to its moral character demands punishment. This part consists of four sections. The _first _section, comprising chapters 11-15, treats of ceremonial uncleanness, caused...

AND THE FERRET,.... Whatever creature is here meant, it has its name in Hebrew from the cry it makes; and so the ferret has but one note in its voice, which is a shrill, but small, whining cry: it is used to drive rabbits out of their holes: the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render the word by "mygale", the weasel mouse, or "mus areneus" of the Latins, the shrew or shrew mouse: it has something of the mouse and weasel, from whence it has its name in Greek, being of the size of the one, and the colour of the other: but Bochart b is of opinion, that a sort of lizard called "stellio", an evet or newt, is meant; one sort of which, according to Pliny c, makes a bitter noise and screaking: AND [THE] CHAMELEON; this is a little creature like a lizard, but with a larger and longer head; it has four feet, and on each foot three claws; its tail is long; with this, as well as with its feet...

III. HOLINESS DEMANDED 1. The Clean and the Unclean CHAPTER 11 _ 1. Concerning the beasts on the earth (Leviticus 11:1)_ 2. Concerning things in the water (Leviticus 11:9) 3. Concerning flying and creeping things (Leviticus 11:13) 4. Concerning defilement with dead bodies (Leviticus 11:24) The Chapter s which form the third section of Leviticus are by some taken to give evidence that not Moses, but another person arranged the material of the book. Even men who do not deny the inspiration of the book claim that the hand of a redactor is here discovered. In their opi

11- 15. RITUAL CLEANLINESS AND UNCLEANLINESS. Leviticus 11, Animals; Leviticus 12, Childbirth; Leviticus 13, Skin diseases (including tainted garments); Leviticus 14:1, Purgation for skin diseases; Leviticus 14:33, Leprosy in houses, and general conclusion to the Law; Leviticus 15, Issues. Probably to most modern readers, this section is the least intelligible in the book. We must consider it (_a)_ in its ethnological and (_b)_ its specifically Hebrew aspect, (_a)_ These laws are properly taboos. The term is Polynesian, signifying what is in itself, or artificially, forbidden, either for the whole community, or else for common people, or priests, or kings (p. 629). Taboos may relate to places, or to the sexes, or to certain ages. Certain kinds of food m

FERRET. hedgehog. Hebrew. _'anakah,_ only here. LIZARD: or wall-lizard. SNAIL. Hebrew. _chomet,_ Psalms 58:8 _= shabbel._...

Uncleanness caused by Creeping Things 29. _the weasel_†] According to early Versions, and the Mishna the Heb. word should be thus translated; but some prefer the rendering -mole." _the great lizard_†] _tortoise_A.V. The cognate words in Arab. and Syr. support the rendering of R.V....

THESE ALSO SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTO YOU AMONG THE CREEPING THINGS, &C.— Dr. Shaw well observes, that this expression, _creeping things that creep,_ or _which bring forth abundantly upon the earth,_ (see Genesis 1.) being descriptive of reptiles, with what propriety can we place among them the _weasel,_ the _mouse,_ the _ferret,_ or the _mole,_ which are no greater breeders than a variety of others of the less viviparous quadrupeds? for the _tortoise,_ the _camelion,_ the _lizard,_ and the _snail,_ (the _slug_ rather, or the _lymax,_) are animals of a quite different nature, habit, and complexion, having all of them smooth skins, and are likewise oviparous; whereas the others partake altogether of such actions and characteristics as are peculiar to the hairy,—viviparous,—unclean quadrupeds, which have paws for fingers, and would of course be i