Raven

The raven is classed among the unclean by the law, (Lev. xi. 15.) Notwithstanding, we have an account in Scripture of the ministry of this bird upon two remarkable occasions. The former from the ark of Noah, (Gen. 8. 7.) and the other feeding the prophet Elijah at the brook Cherith. (1 Kings 17. 4 - 6.) Some have supposed that the word Orebim, which our translators render ravens, means the inhabitants of Oreb, near to Bethshan. But in this case the prophet would not have been hid; and this was the reason wherefore theLord bid him go to Cherith. Besides, if any human beings brought the prophet bread and flesh, so they might also water. But the Scriptures have uniformly held forth this history of Elijah as miraculous, which would not have been the case but in the supposition of his being fed by ravens. The church sets forth the headship and beauties of her husband Christ under the similitude of the fine lustre of the gold, and the rich black shining gloss of the raven. "His head is as the most fine gold; his locks are bushy and black as araven." (Song v. 11.) And to those who know Christ, and eye him as the Head of his body the church, he is all this, and infinitely more.

The raven is very generally confounded with the carrion crow, but though very similar is quite distinct from it. Its size is larger, its black color more iridescent; it is gifted with greater sagacity; is naturally observant and solitary, while the crow is gregarious in its habits; lives in pairs; has a most acute scent; and flies to a great height.

Whether the raven of Palestine is the common species, or the Corvus Montanus of Temminck, is not quite determined; for there is of the ravens, or greater form of crows, a smaller group including two or three others, all similar in manners, and unlike the carrion crows, which are gregarious, and seemingly identical in both hemispheres. Sometimes a pair of ravens will descend without fear among a flight of crows, take possession of the carrion that may have attracted them, and keep the crows at a distance till they themselves are gorged. The habits of the whole genus render it unclean in the Hebrew law; and the malignant, ominous expression of the raven, together with the color of its plumage, powers of voice, and solitary habits, are the causes of that universal and often superstitious attention with which mankind have ever regarded it. This bird is the first mentioned in the Bible, as being sent forth by Noah out of the ark on the subsiding of the waters; and in 1Ki 17:4, ravens bring flesh and bread at morning and eve to the prophet Elijah.

Gen 8:7 ; Lev 11:15, a bird similar to the crow, but larger, and not gregarious. It feeds on dead bodies; and in its general characteristics resembles the crow of America. The eyes of its victim are the first part to be devoured, Pro 30:17 ; and it drives away its young as soon as they can begin to shift for themselves, Job 38:41 ; Psa 147:9 . Elijah was miraculously fed by ravens, 1Ki 17:6 .\par

Raven. (black). The Hebrew, oreb is applied to the several species of the crow family, a number of which are found in Palestine. The raven belongs to the order Insessores , family Corvidae. (It resembles the crow, but is larger, weighing three pounds; its black color is more iridescent, and it is gifted with greater sagacity. "There is something weird and shrewd, in the expression of the raven’s countenance, a union of cunning and malignity, which may have contributed to give it, among widely-revered nations, a reputation for preternatural knowledge."

One writer says that the smell of death is so grateful to them that, when in passing over sheep, a tainted smell is perceptible, they cry and croak vehemently. It may be that in passing over a human habitation, if a sickly or cadaverous smell arises, they should make it known by their cries, and so has arisen the idea that the croaking of a raven is the premonition of death. -- Editor).

A raven was sent out by Noah from the ark. Gen 8:7. This bird was not allowed as food by the Mosaic law. Lev 11:15. Elijah was cared for by ravens. 1Ki 17:4; 1Ki 17:6. They are expressly mentioned as instances of God’s protecting love and goodness. Job 38:41; Luk 12:24. The raven’s carnivorous habits, and especially his readiness to attack the eye, are alluded to in Pro 30:17. To the fact of the raven being a common bird in Palestine, and to its habit of flying restlessly about in constant search for food to satisfy its voracious appetite, may perhaps be traced the reason for its being selected by our Lord, and the inspired writers, as the especial object of God’s providing care.

’oreb, from a root "black," including the crow. Not allowed as food (Lev 11:15). Of the order Insessores, family Corvidae. Gen 8:7, Noah’s first messenger from the ark, which kept going forth and returning, resting on the ark but never entering, feeding on the floating carcasses; type of the carnal soul that having left God finds no rest (Isa 57:20-21); like Satan (Job 1:7; Job 2:2). Ravens fed Elijah at the brook Cherith (1Ki 17:4; 1Ki 17:6) when cut off from intercourse with men, who might have betrayed him to Ahab. When even the voracious ravens were against their nature made to care for him more than for themselves, his confidence was strengthened in Jehovah’s illimitable resources to help him in his coming conflict with the idolatrous priests, dislikes the raven as of ill omen God cares for it (Job 38:41; Psa 147:9; Luk 12:24).

The raven is singled out as exemplifying God’s care for His creatures because of their restless flying in search for food to satisfy their voracious appetites. With their hoarse cry they unconsciously appeal to their Maker and Preserver for their necessary food, and never in vain, though they neither sow nor reap neither have storehouse nor barn. A lesson of faith to us. The ravens build their nests in solitary "valleys," hence a sign of desolation (Isa 34:11). Birds of prey attack the eye especially. The mocker of his father shall die a death of shame, and be a prey to the "raven of the valley" (Pro 30:17). The shrewd and ill visage of the raven, its mourning hue, its solitary haunts, harsh croak, instant scenting of premonitory decomposition even before death, made it be regarded as of ill omen. The glossy steel-blue black of the raven is the image of the bridegroom’s locks (Son 5:11).

The word oreb, from a root signifying ’to be black,’ appears to be used not only for the common raven, but for birds of the same genus (corvus ), as the crow, the rook, etc., for we read of "every raven after his kind" as being unclean. Lev 11:15; Deu 14:14. The raven, when sent from the ark by Noah, could doubtless find food (though the dove could not), because it can feed upon carrion, though it went ’to and fro’ till the waters were dried up. Gen 8:7. That the carnivorous ravens should bring flesh as well as bread to Elijah shows God’s miraculous power; He caused them to feed His servant. 1Ki 17:4; 1Ki 17:6. They are greedy eaters, and have no storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them, and will surely feed those who trust in Him. Job 38:41; Psa 147:9; Pro 30:17; Son 5:11; Isa 34:11; Luk 12:24. There are several species of the raven in Palestine: it belongs to the order Insessores, family Corvidae.

RAVEN.—See Animals in vol. i. p. 66^a.

(Hebrew, "'oreb"):

By: Emil G. Hirsch, I. M. Casanowicz

The first bird specifically mentioned in the Old Testament (Gen. viii. 7), where it is referred to in connection with Noah and the ark. It is included among the unclean brids in Lev. xi. 15 and Deut. xiv. 14, where the term embraces the whole family of Corvidœ—crows, rooks, jackdaws, etc. It has eight species in Palestine. The raven lives generally in deep, rocky glens and desolate places (comp. Isa. xxxiv. 11). Its habit of commencing its attack by picking out the eyes of its victim is alluded to in Prov. xxx. 17. The figure of the raven is used illustratively where references are made to the care with which God watches over His creatures (comp. Ps. cxlvii. 9). Ravens are said to have provided Elijah with food (I Kings xvii. 3-6). The dark, glossy plumage of the raven is compared to the locks of youth (Cant. v. 11).

In the Talmud, besides "'oreb" (B. Ḳ. 92b, etc.), the raven is designated "pushḳanẓa" (B.B.73b), and, from its croaking, "ḳorḳor" (B. B. 23a). "Shalak" in Lev. xi. 17 is explained in Ḥul. 63a as a bird which takes fishes from the sea, and Rashi adds, "It is the water-raven" (comp. Targ. ad loc., and see Cormorant). "Zarzir" is considered a species of raven, and this gave rise to the proverb: "The zarzir goes to the raven, for it is of its kind"—the equivalent of the English "Birds of a feather flock together" (see Ḥul. 62a, 65b; and, for other species, Ḥul. 63a, 64a). While ravens love one another (Pes. 113b) they lack affection toward their young as long as the latter remain unadorned with black plumage (Ket. 49b); but Providence takes care of them by causing worms to arise from their excrement (B. B. 8a et al.). In copulation the spittle ejected from the mouth of the male into that of the female effects conception (Sanh. 108b). The wealthy domesticated the raven (Shab. 126b), but on account of its filthiness the bird was frightened away from the Temple by means of a scarecrow (Men. 107a). The croaking of the raven was an ill omen (Shab. 67b). The comparison of dark locks with the plumage of the raven is found also in Ḥag. 14a. See Dove.

Bibliography:

Tristram, Nat. Hist. p. 198;

Lewysohn, Z. T. p. 172.

RAVEN (‘ôrçb, Arab. [Note: Arabic.] ghurâb).—An ‘unclean’ bird (Lev 11:15, Deu 14:14), numbers of which may always be seen gathered, together with the dogs, around the carrion thrown out into the valley of Hinnom (cf. Pro 30:17). Its glossy plumage is referred to in Son 5:11; it often dwells in the wilderness (Isa 34:11), and yet God cares for and watches over it (Job 38:41, Psa 147:8, Luk 12:24). The name ‘ôrçb is doubtless generic, and includes all the eight species of the Corvidæ known in Palestine.

E. W. G. Masterman.

rā´v’n (ערב, ‛ōrēbh; κόραξ, kórax; Latin Corvus corax): A large family of the smaller birds of prey belonging to the genus Corvus corax. A bird of such universal distribution that it is known from Iceland to Japan, all over Asia, Europe and Africa, but almost extinct and not of general distribution in our own country. In no land is it more numerous than in Palestine In general appearance it resembles the crow, but is much larger, being almost two feet long, of a glossy black, with whiskers around the beak, and rather stiff-pointed neck feathers. A bird exhibiting as much intelligence as any, and of a saucy, impudent disposition, it has been an object of interest from the beginning. It has been able to speak sentences of a few words when carefully taught, and by its uncanny acts has made itself a bird surrounded by superstition, myth, fable, and is connected with the religious rites of many nations. It is partially a carrion feeder, if offal or bodies are fresh; it also eats the young of other birds and very small animals and seeds, berries and fruit, having as varied a diet as any bird. It is noisy, with a loud, rough, emphatic cry, and its young are clamorous feeding time.

Aristotle wrote that ravens drove their young from their location and forced them to care for themselves from the time they left the nest. This is doubtful. Bird habits and characteristics change only with slow ages of evolution. Our ravens of today are, to all intents, the same birds as those of Palestine in the time of Moses, and ours follow the young afield for several days and feed them until the cawing, flapping youngsters appear larger than the parents. In Pliny’s day, ravens had been taught to speak, and as an instance of their cunning he records that in time of drought a raven found a bucket containing a little water beside a grave and raised it to drinking level by dropping in stones.

Palestine has at least 8 different species of ravens. This bird was the first sent out by Noah in an effort to discover if the flood were abating (Gen 8:6-8). Because it partially fed on carrion it was included among the abominations (see Lev 11:15; Deu 14:14). On 1Ki 17:4-6, see ELIJAH and the present writer’s Birds of the Bible, 401-3. Among the marvels of creation and providence in Job 38:41, we have this mention of the raven,

“Who provideth for the raven his prey,

When his young ones cry unto God,

And wander for lack of food?”

The answer to this question is in Psa 147:9:

“He giveth to the beast his food,

And to the young ravens which cry.”

Both these quotations point out the fact that the young are peculiarly noisy. In Pro 30:17 it is indicated that the ravens, as well as eagles, vultures and hawks, found the eye of prey the vulnerable point, and so attacked it first. The Hebrew ‛ōrēbh means “black,” and for this reason was applied to the raven, so the reference to the locks of the bridegroom in the Song of Solomon becomes clear (Son 5:11). The raven is one of the birds indicated to prey upon the ruins of Edom (Isa 34:11). The last reference is found in Luk 12:24: “Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them.” This could have been said of any wild bird with equal truth.

1Ki 17:4 (c) This is a type of any person on earth, but particularly an unsaved person, who naturally would not care for GOD nor for His people, but who is compelled to minister to GOD’s servant against his own nature.

Isa 34:11 (c) This is a picture of the unsaved who dwell in desolate places and who have no interest or care for the things of GOD. The raven was an unclean bird.

Luk 12:24 (b) Here we see a symbol of GOD’s kindness and care. The raven is a worthless bird. It has no particular value and is not cared for by human beings. Yet GOD meets its needs. So the Lord cares for His own who are certainly far better and more to be considered than this unclean bird. Note also that the raven is black. (Sinners are black in GOD’s sight). Its legs conform in color to its surroundings. Those who live along the ocean have white legs; those around black soil have black legs, those in sandy regions have gray legs. So the sinner conforms his walk to the society in which he moves but he stays black all the time. The little young ravens are as black as their parents. Children are sinners just as their parents. Only GOD could change a raven and make it white and make it sing. (Only GOD can change a sinner into a singing saint).

Raven. In the Bible, raven is a catch-all term for crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, magpies, and jays. All were considered unclean by the Jewish people (Lev 11:15). With a wingspread of about 1 meter (three feet), the raven is the largest member of this family.

Ravens are scavenger birds that will eat almost anything. Their harsh cry has probably contributed to their reputation as birds of ill omen. Since they have keen eyes and strong wings, this may explain why the first bird Noah sent from the ark was a raven (Gen 8:7). These birds were also known for their practice of pecking out the eyes of a body-- a quick way to determine whether their meal was actually dead! (Pro 30:17).

The Bible indicates that God feeds even young ravens (Job 38:41). Jesus used a similar example to illustrate God’s care (Luk 12:24). Because God sent ravens to feed the prophet Elijah, ravens are also associated with God’s protective care (1Ki 17:4; 1Ki 17:6). Solomon brought the expression, "black as a raven," into common use (Son 5:11).