And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. Shepherd came to designate not only persons who herded sheep but also kings (2 Samuel 5:2) and God Himself (Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:11). With his arm he will collect together the lambs; and in his bosom he will carry them.” —ISAIAH 40:11. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. Answer: A shepherd during the time of the Old Testament was often, but not always, a child. Juv. ( Isaiah 38:12 ) In certain localities, moreover, towers were erected for the double purpose of spying an enemy at a distance and of protecting the flock; such towers were erected by Uzziah and Jotham, ( 2 Chronicles 26:10 ; 27:4 ) while their existence in earlier times is testified by the name Migdal-edar ( Genesis 35:21 ) Authorized Version "a tower of Edar;" ( Micah 4:8 ) Authorized Version "tower of the flock." Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? Answer: Abel.” Shepherds: Abel, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Rachel, Laban, Jacob’s twelve sons including Joseph (Genesis 37:2), Moses, David, Mesha– King of Moab (Jordan), Doeg, Amos, the shepherds who came to honor Jesus. (The Shulammite Bride)“Like an apple tree [rare and welcome] among the trees of the forest,So is my beloved among the young men!In his shade I took great delight and sat down,And his fruit was sweet and delicious to my palate. I took two staffs naming one "Pleasant" and the other one "Union" - and then I pastured the flock. NetBible, 100 occurrences in 12 translations, Old Testament (78), Genesis (7), Exodus (1), Numbers (1), 1 Samuel (2), 2 Samuel (3), 1 Kings (1), 1 Chronicles (3), 2 Chronicles (1), Psalm (6), Ecclesiastes (2), Song of Songs (10), Isaiah (5), Jeremiah (12), Ezekiel (10), Hosea (1), Amos (1), Micah (3), Zechariah (9), New Testament (22), Matthew (4), Mark (2), John (6), Acts (1), Hebrews (1), 1 Peter (4), Revelation (4). See Sheep; [http://biblegateway/wiki/Occupations, Trades and Professions in Palestine OCCUPATIONS]. Frequently the nearest water is hours away. and who will appoint me the time? “Tell me, O you whom my soul loves,Where do you pasture your flock,Where do you make it lie down at noon?For why should I be like one who is veiledBeside the flocks of your companions?”. where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any be missing.” This is the Lord’s declaration. Thenceforward in Palestine proper the shepherd held a subordinate position. (The Bridegroom)“O my dove, [here] in the clefts in the rock,In the sheltered and secret place of the steep pathway,Let me see your face,Let me hear your voice;For your voice is sweet,And your face is lovely.”, “Until the cool of the day when the shadows flee away,Return quickly, my beloved, and be like a gazelleOr a young stag on the mountains of Bether [which separate us].” Cross references: Song of Solomon 2:6 : Deut 33:27; Matt 28:20 Song of Solomon 2:8 : John 10:27 Song of Solomon 2:16 : Matt 10:32; Acts 4:12 end of crossrefs, (The Bridegroom)“I have come into my garden, my sister, my [promised] bride;I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam and spice [from your sweet words].I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;I have drunk my wine with my milk.Eat, friends;Drink and drink deeply, O lovers.”. The time for you to be slaughtered has come. The Story of Jesus’ Birth The story of Jesus’ birth is found in Luke 2:1-21. "He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that have their young" (Isaiah 40:11) is a picture drawn from pastoral life of Yahweh's care over His children. As shepherd of the sheep, He is the one who protects, guides, and nurtures His flock. ); a scrip or wallet, containing a small amount of food ( 1 Samuel 17:40 ) a sling, which is still the favorite weapon of the Bedouin shepherd, ( 1 Samuel 17:40 ) and lastly, a which served the double purpose of a weapon against foes and a crook for the management of the flock. In Gen 49:24, for example, God is metaphorically referred to as “the shepherd,” but without any elaboration. Genesis 46:32. As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,the land of Nimrod with a drawn blade.So He will rescue us from Assyriawhen it invades our land,when it marches against our territory. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. Shepherd derives from Old English sceaphierde (sceap 'sheep' + hierde ' herder '). 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