Raven: Heb. 'orebh, from a root meaning "to be black" (comp.)
(The Song of Solomon 5:11) first
mentioned as "sent forth" by Noah from the ark
(Genesis 8:7) "Every raven
after his kind" was forbidden as food
(Leviticus 11:15; Deuteronomy 14:14) Ravens feed
mostly on carrion, and hence their food is procured with difficulty
(Job 38:41; Psalms 147:9) When they attack kids or lambs or weak animals,
it is said that they first pick out the eyes of their victims
(Proverbs 30:17) When Elijah was concealed by the brook Cherith, God
commanded the ravens to bring him "bread and flesh in the morning, and
bread and flesh in the evening"
(1 Kings 17:3-6) There are eight
species of ravens in Palestine, and they are everywhere very numerous
in that land.
