CHASE.See Hunting.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
Chase. See Hunting.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
By Dr. William Smith.Published in 1863
chās. See HUNTING.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
Chase
(צוּד, רָדִ, διὠκω, etc.). The practice of hunting wild animals early prevailed among the nomade Hebrews (Gen_25:28; Gen_27:3 sq.), and continued to later times to be a common employment (Lev_17:13; Pro_12:27; Josephus, War, 1:21, 13), both for the sake of the flesh of the game (Sir_36:21; but in the Sabbatical year it was allowed to multiply, Exo_23:11; Lev_25:7; comp. Michaelis, Mos. Recht, 3:178 sq.), and also for the extermination of noxious beasts (2Sa_23:20), of both which there was no lack in Palestine (see Harmar, 1:328 sq.). The means employed in this pursuit were usually the bow (Gen_27:3), the spear or javelin (comp. Strabo, 15:734), the net (רֶשֶׁת, מַכְמָר, מָצוֹד; which was likewise used for the larger kinds of animals, as gazelles, Isa_51:21, and even for lions, Eze_19:8), the sling (צִמַּים, פִּח, מוֹקֵשׁ, 9:12; Psa_91:3), and the pitfall (פִּחִת, שִׁחִת, Plin. 10:54; comp. Eze_19:4; 2Sa_23:20), the last especially for the lion (Shaw, Trav. 152 sq.). Compare the description in Job_18:8 sq. They do not appear to have had hunting dogs (yet comp. Joseph. Ant. 4:8, 9), and it is doubtful if in hunting birds they used trained falcons or other species of birds (Elian, Anim. 8:24), although hawks (Harmar, 3:79), like hounds (Odyss. 19:438; Strabo, 5:215; Philostr. Icon. 1:28; Polyb. 31:22; Curt. 9:1, 31; Plin. 8:61; Becker, Charicles, 1:389) were anciently, and, still are universally common in the East (Shaw, Travels, p. 300; Kampfer, Amaen. p. 131). On the Egyptian monuments hunting scenes are frequently represented (Wilkinson, 1:212 sq.). Hunting became an aristocratic sport (Meurs. ad Lycophr. 499) at least in later periods of Jewish history (Josephus, Ant. 15:7, 7; 16:10, 3; see also Philo, 2:356; comp. Heindorf on Horace, Sat. 2:2, 9). Instances occur in which men of strength overcame wild animals even without weapons (Jdg_14:6; 1Sa_17:35). (See Jahn's Bibl. Archceol. § 52.) SEE NIMROD.
The instruments and modes of the chase are sometimes used figuratively, to indicate the wiles of an adversary, great danger, or impending destruction (Psa_9:16; Psa_57:6; Psa_91:3; Psa_94:13; Psa_119:85; Pro_26:27; Isa_24:17; Isa_42:22; Jer_5:26; Jer_6:21; Jer_16:16; Jer_18:22; Jer_48:44; Amo_3:5; Hos_13:14; Luk_21:35; Rom_11:9; 1Co_15:55). SEE HUNTING.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.