Fish: Called dag by the Hebrews, a word denoting great fecundity
(Genesis 9:2; Numbers 11:22; Jonah 2:1,10) No fish is mentioned by name either in
the Old or in the New Testament. Fish abounded in the Mediterranean
and in the lakes of the Jordan, so that the Hebrews were no doubt
acquainted with many species. Two of the villages on the shores of the
Sea of Galilee derived their names from their fisheries, Bethsaida
(the "house of fish") on the east and on the west. There is probably
no other sheet of water in the world of equal dimensions that contains
such a variety and profusion of fish. About thirty-seven different
kinds have been found. Some of the fishes are of a European type, such
as the roach, the barbel, and the blenny; others are markedly African
and tropical, such as the eel-like silurus. There was a regular
fish-market apparently in Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 33:14; Nehemiah 3:3; 12:39; Zephaniah 1:10)
as there was a fish-gate which was probably contiguous to it. Sidon
is the oldest fishing establishment known in history.
