Bear: A native of the mountain regions of Western Asia, frequently mentioned
in Scripture. David defended his flocks against the attacks of a bear
(1 Samuel 17:34-37) Bears came out of the wood and destroyed the children
who mocked the prophet Elisha
(2 Kings 2:24) Their habits are referred to
in
(Isaiah 59:11; Proverbs 28:15; Lamentations 3:10) The fury of the female bear when
robbed of her young is spoken of
(2 Samuel 17:8; Proverbs 17:12; Hosea 13:8) In
Daniel's vision of the four great monarchies, the Medo-Persian empire
is represented by a bear
(Daniel 7:5)
