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Easton's Bible Dictionary
In their wild state doves generally build their nests
in the clefts of rocks, but when domesticated "dove-cots" are prepared for them
(Cant 2:14 ; Jeremiah 48:28 ; Isaiah 60:8 ). The dove was placed on the standards
of the Assyrians and Babylonians in honour, it is supposed, of Semiramis ( Jeremiah
25:38 ; Vulg., "fierceness of the dove;" Compare Jeremiah 46:16 ; 50:16 ).
Doves and turtle-doves were the only birds that could be offered in sacrifice,
as they were clean according to the Mosaic law ( Genesis 15:9 ; Leviticus 5:7
; 12:6 ; Luke 2:24 ). The dove was the harbinger of peace to Noah ( Genesis 8:8
Genesis 8:10 ). It is often mentioned as the emblem of purity ( Psalms 68:13 ).
It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit ( Genesis 1:2 ; Matthew 3:16 ; Mark 1:10 ; Luke
3:22 ; John 1:32 ); also of tender and devoted affection (Cant 1:15 ; 2:14 ).
David in his distress wished that he had the wings of a dove, that he might fly
away and be at rest ( Psalms 55:6-8 ). There is a species of dove found at Damascus
"whose feathers, all except the wings, are literally as yellow as gold" ( Psalms
68:13 )
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
(no entry)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The first menton of this bird occurs in Genesis 8. The
doves rapidity of flight is alluded to in ( Psalms 55:6 ) the beauty of its plumage
in ( Psalms 68:13 ) its dwelling int he rocks and valleys in ( Jeremiah 48:28
) and Ezekiel 7:16 its mournful voice in ( Isaiah 38:14 ; 59:11 ; Nahum 2:7 )
its harmlessness in ( Matthew 10:16 ) its simplicity in ( Hosea 7:11 ) and its
amativeness in ( Solomon 1:15 ; 2:14 ).
Doves are kept in a domesticated state in many parts of the East. In Persia pigeon-houses
are erected at a distance from the dwellings, for the purpose of collecting the
dung as manure. There is probably an allusion to such a custom in ( Isaiah 60:8
)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
duv (tor, yonah; peristera; Latin Zenaedura carolinensis):
A bird of the family Columbidae. Doves and pigeons are so closely related as to
be spoken and written of as synonymous, yet there is a distinction recognized
from the beginning of time. It was especially marked in Palestine, because doves
migrated, but pigeons remained in their chosen haunts all the year. Yet doves
were the wild birds and were only confined singly or in pairs as caged pets, or
in order to be available for sacrifice. Pigeons, without question, were the first
domesticated birds, the record of their conquest by man extending if anything
further back than ducks, geese and swans. These two were the best known and the
most loved of all the myriads of birds of Palestine. Doves were given preference
because they remained wild and were more elusive. The thing that escapes us is
usually a little more attractive than the thing we have. Their loving natures
had been noted, their sleek beautiful plumage, their plump bodies. They were the
most precious of anything offered for sacrifice. Their use is always specified
in preference to pigeons if only one bird was used; if both, the dove is frequently
mentioned first. Because of their docility when caged, their use in sacrifice,
and the religious superstition concerning them, they were allowed to nest unmolested
and, according to species, flocked all over Palestine. The turtle-dove nested
in gardens and vineyards, and was almost as tame as the pigeons. The palm turtle-dove
took its name from its love of homing in palm trees, and sought these afield,
and in cities, even building near the temple in Jerusalem. It also selected thorn
and other trees. It has a small body, about ten inches in length, covered with
bright chestnut- colored feathers, the neck dappled with dark, lustrous feathers.
The rock dove swarmed over, through, and among the cliffs of mountains and the
fissures of caves and ravines. The collared turtle-dove was the largest of the
species. It remained permanently and homed in the forests of Tabor and Gilead,
around the Dead Sea, and along the Jordan valley. This bird was darker than the
others and took its name from a clearly outlined collar of dark feathers encircling
the neck, and was especially sought for caged pets on account of its size and
beauty.
In all, the dove is mentioned about fifty times in the Bible. Many of these references
are concerning its use in sacrifice and need not all be mentioned. The others
are quoted and explained from a scientific standpoint and in accordance with the
characteristics and habits of the birds. The first reference to the dove occurs
in Genesis 8:8 - 12, in the history of the flood; then follows its specified use
in sacrifice; note of its migratory habits is made, and then in poetry, prophecy,
comparison, simile and song, it appears over and over throughout the Bible.
In Genesis 8:8 - 12, we read, "And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the
waters were abated." Noah first sent out a raven, because it was a strong, aggressive
bird and would return to its mate. But the raven only flew over the water and
returned to perch on the ark. This was not satisfactory, so Noah in looking for
a bird better suited to his purpose, bethought him of the most loving and tender
bird he knew--the dove. It not only would return to the ark, but would enter and
go to the cage of its mate, and if it found green food it would regurgitate a
portion for her or its young, or if not nesting he could tell by its droppings
if greenery had been eaten and so decide if the waters were going down. And this
is precisely what happened. The dove came back, and the watching Noah saw it feed
its mate little green olive leaves, for the dove never carries food in the beak,
but swallows and then regurgitates it to mate and young. This first reference
to birds was made on account of the loving, tender characteristics of the species;
the next, because they were the most loved by the people, and therefore chosen
as most suitable to offer as sacrifice (Genesis 15:9). In Leviticus 1:14, doves
are mentioned as sacrifice: "And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and
wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be drained
out on the side of the altar." In Leviticus 5:7 the proper preparation of the
sacrifice is prescribed. For method of handling sacrifice see Leviticus 5:8 ,
9 , 10. In Leviticus 12:6 the law for a sacrifice for a mother is given, and 12:8
of same chapter provides that if she be too poor to offer a lamb, doves or pigeons
will suffice. In Leviticus 14:4 - 8 the reference for the sacrifice of a leper
is merely to "birds," because it is understood that they are pigeons and doves,
and it contains the specification that if the victim is too poor to afford so
elaborate a sacrifice, a smaller one will suffice. The birds are named in Leviticus
14:22: "Two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and
the one shall be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt-offering" (compare Leviticus
15:14 , 29 ; Numbers 6:10). When David prayed for the destruction of the treacherous,
he used the dove in comparison, and because he says he would "lodge in the wilderness"
he indicates that he was thinking of the palm turtle. - "And I said, Oh that I
had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest" (Psalms 55:6). +
In chanting a song of triumph, David used an exquisite thought. - "When ye lie
among the sheepfolds, It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her
pinions with yellow gold" (Psalms 68:13). + He referred to the rock dove because
the metallic luster on its neck would gleam like gold in sunshine, and the soft
grayish- white feathers beneath the wings as he would see the bird above him in
flight would appear silver-like. By this quotation David meant that in times of
peace, when men slept contentedly at home among their folds, their life was as
rich with love and as free in peace as the silver wing of the dove that had the
gold feathers and was unmolested among the inaccessible caves and cliffs. In Psalms
74:19 the term "turtle-dove" is used to indicate people whom the Almighty is implored
to protect: "Oh deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast: forget
not the life of thy poor for ever."
Solomon uses the dove repeatedly in comparison or as a term of endearment. In
Song of Solomon 1:15 ; 4:1 ; 5:12 , he compares the eyes of his bride full, tender,
beautiful, with those of a dove. In Song of Solomon 2:12 he uses the voice of
the dove as an indication of spring. In Song of Solomon 2:14 he addresses the
bride as a rock dove, In Song of Solomon 5:2 is another term of endearment, this
time used in the dream of the bride (compare Song of Solomon 6:9). Isaiah 38:14
has reference to the wailing, mournful dove note from which the commonest species
take the name "mourning dove." The reference in Isaiah 60:8 proves that the prophet
was not so good an observer, or so correct in his natural history as David, who
may have learned from the open. As a boy, David guarded the flocks of his father
and watched the creatures around him. When exulting over the glory of the church
in the numerous accessions of Gentiles, Isaiah cried, "Who are these that fly
as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?" This proves that he confounded
pigeons and doves. Doves were wild, mostly migratory, and had no "windows." But
the clay cotes of pigeons molded in squares so that one large cote sheltered many
pairs in separate homes had the appearance of latticed windows and were used as
a basis in estimating a man's wealth. This reference should be changed to read,
"and as pigeons to their windows." In Jeremiah 8:7 the fact is pointed out that
doves were migratory; and in Jeremiah 48:28 people are advised to go live in solitary
places and be peaceable, loving and faithful, like the rock doves. See also Ezekiel
7:16: "But those of them that escape shall escape, and shall be on the mountains
like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one in his iniquity." This
merely means that people should be driven to hide among the caves and valleys
where the rock doves lived, and that the sound of their mourning would resemble
the cry of the birds. It does not mean, however, that the doves were mourning,
for when doves coo and moan and to our ears grow most pitiful in their cries,
they are the happiest in the mating season. The veneration cherished for doves
in these days is inborn, and no bird is so loved and protected as the dove--hence,
it is unusually secure and happy and its mournful cry is the product of our imagination
only. The dove is the happiest of birds. Hosea 7:11 and Hosea 11:11 each compares
people with doves; the first, because the birds at times appear foolishly trusting;
the second, because, while no bird is more confiding, none is more easily frightened.
"And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt,
they go to Assyria" (Hosea 7:11). "They shall come trembling as a bird out of
Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will make them to dwell
in their houses, saith Yahweh" (Hosea 11:11). The reference in Nahum 2:7 is to
the voice of the birds.
New Testament references will be found in a description of the baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3:16). People are admonished to be "harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).
"And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and
bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the
seats of them that sold the doves" (Matthew 21:12). This proves that these birds
were a common article of commerce, probably the most used for caged pets, and
those customarily employed for sacrifice.
Dove's Dung (chari yonim, Kethibh for dibhyonim): 2 Kings 6:25: "And there was
a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head
was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's
dung for five pieces of silver." This seems so repulsive that some commentators
have tried to prove the name applied to the edible root of a plant, but the history
of sieges records other cases where matter quite as offensive was used to sustain
life. The text is probably correct as it stands.
Gene Stratton-Porter
Tags:
bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, bird, clean, define, dove, sacrifice, tor
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