Shepherding as a Metaphor
2014; Volume: 42; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
0792-3910
Autores Tópico(s)Biblical Studies and Interpretation
ResumoWhy does the Bible specifically indicate the shepherding occupation of so many biblical figures? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Jacob are all described in the Bible as shepherds. Jacob's sons give shepherding as their occupation and that of their forefathers (Gen. 47:3). Later, Moses and David are also denoted as shepherds. While it is true that shepherding is an appropriate occupation for the nomadic Patriarchs, what message does the Bible convey by pointing out this fact? Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neriah mentions the merits of shepherding in his comments to the verse, Three times a year--on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the Feast of Weeks, and on the Feast of Booths--all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place that He will choose. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed (Deut. 16:16). He cites TB Hagigah 3a, Rava expounded: What is the meaning of the verse: How lovely are your feet in sandals, O daughter of nobles! (Song of Songs 7:2). [It means:] How comely are the feet of Israel when they go up on the festival pilgrimage. Rabbi Neriah writes, beauty that accompanied the soles of the feet included ... O fairest of women, Go follow the tracks of the sheep (Song of Songs 1:8)--go and walk in the footsteps of your holy forefathers (kodashim or kedoshim?) who went and walked there with their sheep. (1) R. Neriah explains that shepherding is considered a lofty occupation because it was that of the biblical forefathers. However, this does not explain why they were shepherds in the first place. With all the occupations available, why choose this one, and why point it out in the Bible? Keeping sheep was known as a job for an ignoramus--a young boy and a dog could undertake it. Biblical commentators write of shepherding as a task leading to solitude and contemplation, (2) thus making it an appropriate lifestyle for a religious individual. think there is another reason why the Bible points out that many biblical heroes were shepherds. The standard midrashic explanation for Moses and David being shepherds is that taking care of sheep was a prelude and, in a way, a training ground for leading the Israelites. Exodus Rabbah (2:2) presents God observing the leadership capabilities of both Moses and David through their shepherding skills. Regarding Moses, the Midrash famously tells how a little lamb ran away while he was tending Jethro's flock. Moses chased after the lamb and found it drinking at a spring. He then exclaimed, I did not know that you ran away because you were thirsty! You must be tired. He then lifted the little lamb and carried it on his shoulders back to the flock. Owing to this display of compassion, God declared, Since you have mercy while leading sheep of flesh and blood, then by your life, you shall also shepherd My sheep, Israel. Similarly, regarding David, the Midrash states that he kept the big sheep penned and let the little ones graze first, allowing them to eat the softer vegetation. Next, he released the old sheep to graze on the medium vegetation, and finally the strongest sheep were released to graze on the toughest vegetation. God then declared, Whoever knows how to take care of sheep, each one according to its strength, he is the one who shall come and shepherd My people. The connection between leadership and shepherding is also made in Midrash Tanhuma (Beshalah, 15), where many parallels are listed between the way God and Moses looked after the Israelites. For example, a shepherd takes care of his sheep even if they run off, just as God and Moses did not abandon the Israelites during the forty years of wandering in the desert, despite their constant complaints and rebelliousness. …
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