שפןShaphan. Lev. xi. 5. Vulgat. Prov. xxx. 26. Psal. ciii. 8. Deut. xiv. 7. Prov. xxx. 26.II. SHAPHAN, an Animal often mention’d in Scripture, and which is sometimes render’d by Chœrogrillus, at other times by Lepusculus, and lastly by Herinacium. Moses declares it to be unclean, tho’ it is a ruminating Animal, because it does not divide the Hoof1. Solomon, in his Proverbs, says, that the Shaphan keeps it self among the Rocks; and he insinuates, that they keep together in Troops. Bochart thinks it to be a kind of great Rat common in Arabia, and good to eat, call’d Aliarbuho. It is not so large as a Squirrel, of a greyish Colour, with the Fore-feet and Tail of a Rat: The End of its Tail, the Eyes, and the Head, are like those of a Rabbit: Its Hindlegs are longer than those before: It chews the Cud, loves to be among the Rocks, and they herd together in Flocks. These are the Qualities agreeing with the Shaphan.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages
Footnotes
-
Translators’ note. In all the Texts here quoted, our Interpreters render Shaphan by Coney. ↩