צפור Στρεθίον, Passer.SPARROW, Passer, in Hebrew, Tzipphor. This Hebrew Word is us’d not only for a Sparrow, but also for all Sorts of clean Birds, or such whose Use was not forbid by the Law. The Rabbins Kimchi, Pomarius, and Aquinas, even pretend, that it signifies all Kind of Birds in general; which is very well confirm’d by Bochart1. But he shews also, that it signifies particularly a Sparrow. In most of the Passages where Passer or Sparrow is read, there is to be understood a Bird in general. As for Example, Transmigra Psal. xi. 1.in montem sicut Passer; Flee as a Bird to your Mountain: For it is known, that Sparrows do not frequent Mountains. And Psal. cii. 7.elsewhere, I watch, and am as a Sparrow alone upon the House-top. It ought to be understood of the Owl, that hides itself under the Roofs of Houses. And again, Cedri Psal. civ. 16, 17.Libani, illic passeres nidificabunt; The Sparrows do not build in the Cedars of Libanus. In these Passages therefore Passer or Sparrow signifies a Bird in general.
There is a famous Passage in Leviticus2, where Moses appoints him, that is declared clean from his Leprosy, to bring to the Priest at the Entry of the Tabernacle, two young Sparrows alive, and which it is allow’d to eat; or rather, two Birds alive, and clean. For if they must needs be Sparrows, what need it be added, that they must be such as may be eaten; as if there were two Sorts of ‘em? Thus the Seventy read only Birds, and the Interpreter of Origen reads two Hens. The Leprous Person therefore was to bring two clean Birds to the Door of the Tabernacle, with a Bundle of Cedar-branches and Hyssop, tied up with a scarlet String. They fill’d an earthen Vessel with Water; then the Priest took one of the little Birds, and tied it with the scarlet String to the Bundle of Cedar and Hyssop, the Head towards the Handle, and the Tail and Wings towards that Part of the Bundle that was to be dipp’d in the Water. The Leprous Person took the other Bird, sacrificed it, and made its Blood run into the Water provided in the Vessel. Then the Priest dipp’d the Bundle of Cedar and Hyssop, with the living Bird, into the Water mingled with Blood, and with it sprinkled the Leper that was healed. After which he set the Bird at Liberty that had been dipp’d in the Blood of its Companion. The same Ceremony was us’d when the Priest purify’d a House, where any Spot had appear’d of what they call’d the Leprosy of Houses. There were also other Sacrifices of Birds, which were appointed by the Law, chiefly in favour of the poorer Sort; but the Kind of the Birds was ascertain’d. Moses expressly required Doves. See the Lev. i. 15. v. 8.Article DOVE.
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