Hunting

Mentioned first in Gen. 10:9 in connection with Nimrod. Esau was “a cunning hunter” (Gen. 25:27). Hunting was practised by the Hebrews after their settlement in the “Land of Promise” (Lev. 17:15; Prov. 12:27). The lion and other ravenous beasts were found in Palestine (1 Sam. 17:34; 2 Sam. 23:20; 1 Kings 13:24; Ezek. 19:3-8), and it must have been necessary to hunt and destroy them. Various snares and gins were used in hunting (Ps. 91:3; Amos 3:5; 2 Sam. 23:20). War is referred to under the idea of hunting (Jer. 16:16; Ezek. 32:30).

Hunting, as a matter of necessity, whether for the extermination of dangerous beasts or for procuring sustenance betokens a rude and semi-civilized state; as an amusement, it betokens an advanced state. The Hebrews as a pastoral and agricultural people, were not given to the sports of the field; the density of the population, the earnestness of their character, and the tendency of their ritual regulations, particularly those affecting food, all combined to discourage the practice of hunting. The smaller of catching animals was, first, either by digging a pitfall; or, secondly, by a trap which was set under ground, (Job 18:10) in the run of the animal, (Proverbs 22:5) and caught it by the leg, (Job 18:9) or lastly by the use of the net, of which there were various kinds, as or the gazelle, (Isaiah 51:20) Authorized Version, “wild bull,” and other animals of that class.

HUNT'ING is the necessity of man in the wild state, and his recreation when civilized. Before the Flood animal food does not seem to have been eaten, but the killing of animals, both tame and wild, was expressly permitted to Noah, Gen 9:3. Nimrod achieved a reputation as "a mighty hunter before the Lord," Gen 10:9. In Palestine the patriarchs probably lived very quietly with their flocks and herds, but they may have occasionally indulged in the pleasures of the hunt; at all events, we know that Isaac was very fond of venison, Gen 27:3-4. After the Exodus we have proof in the promise of God to drive out the wild animals that Palestine was at that time plentifully supplied with beasts of the chase, Ex 23:29. But their utter destruction was provided against. Ex 23:11; Lev 25:7. We find mention made of lions, Jud 14:5; 1 Sam 17:34; bears, 1 Sam 17:34; 2 Kgs 2:24; jackals, Jud 15:4; foxes. Song 2:15; hart, roebucks, and fallow-deer, Deut 12:15; 1 Kgs 4:23. The manner of catching these animals was either by digging a pitfall, which was the usual manner with the larger animals, as the lion, 2 Sam 23:20; Eze 19:4, Josh 19:8, or, secondly, by a trap, which, set under ground. Job 18:10, in the run of the animal, Prov 22:5, caught it by the leg. Job 18:9, or, lastly, by a net stretched across a, ravine, into which the animals were driven and then despatched. The game was for food, Prov 12:27, and the blood of these wild animals was poured out in the same manner as that of the tame. Lev 17:13. Birds were eaten by the Hebrews, Lev 17:13, who exercised considerable ingenuity in the capture of them. The most usual method was by the trap, which was "a net strained over a frame, and a stick to support it, but so placed that it should give way at the slightest touch." Job 18:9; Eccl 9:12; Prov 7:23. Besides the trap, a snare, by which the bird's leg was caught. Job 18:10, a net to close with a string, and a decoy, Jer 5:26-27, were occasionally used.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

The pursuit of game or of wild animals. A. Smith. Happy hunting grounds, the region to which, according to the belief of American Indians, the souls of warriors and hunters pass after death, to be happy in hunting and feasting. Tylor. -- Hunting box. Same As Hunting lodge (below). -- Hunting cat (Zoöl.), the cheetah. -- Hunting cog (Mach.), a tooth in the larger of two geared wheels which makes its number of teeth prime to the number in the smaller wheel, thus preventing the frequent meeting of the same pairs of teeth. -- Hunting dog (Zoöl.), the hyena dog. -- Hunting ground, a region or district abounding in game; esp. (pl.), the regions roamed over by the North American Indians in search of game. -- Hunting horn, a bulge; a horn used in the chase. See Horn, and Bulge. -- Hunting leopard (Zoöl.), the cheetah. -- Hunting lodge, a temporary residence for the purpose of hunting. -- Hunting seat, a hunting lodge. Gray. -- Hunting shirt, a coarse shirt for hunting, often of leather. -- Hunting spider (Zoöl.), a spider which hunts its prey, instead of catching it in a web; a wolf spider. -- Hunting watch. See Hunter, 6.