יונה. This beautiful genus of birds is very numerous in the east.
In the wild state they generally build their nests in the holes or
clefts of rocks, or in excavated trees; but they are easily taught
submission and familiarity with mankind; and, when domesticated, build
in structures erected for their accommodation, called “dove-cotes.” They
are classed by Moses among the clean birds; and it appears from the
sacred as well as other writers, that doves were always held in the
highest estimation among the eastern nations. Rosenmuller, in a note
upon Bochart, derives the name from the Arabic, where it signifies
_mildness_, _gentleness_, &c. The dove is mentioned in Scripture as the
symbol of simplicity, innocence, gentleness, and fidelity, Hosea vii,
11; Matt. x, 16.
The following extract from Morier’s Persian Travels illustrates a
passage in Isaiah: “In the environs of the city, to the westward, near
the Zainderood, are many pigeon houses, erected at a distance from
habitations, for the sole purpose of collecting pigeons’ dung for
manure. They are large round towers, rather broader at the bottom than
the top, and crowned by conical spiracles, through which the pigeons
descend. Their interior resembles a honey-comb, pierced with a thousand
holes, each of which forms a snug retreat for a nest. More care appears
to have been bestowed upon their outside than upon that of the
generality of the dwelling houses; for they are painted and ornamented.
The extraordinary flights of pigeons which I have seen alight upon one
of these buildings afford, perhaps, a good illustration for the passage
in Isaiah lx, 8: ‘Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to
their windows?’ Their great numbers, and the compactness of their mass,
literally look like a cloud at a distance, and obscure the sun in their
passage.”
The first mention of the dove in the Scripture is Genesis viii, 8,
10–12, where Noah sent one from the ark to ascertain if the waters of
the deluge had assuaged. She was sent forth thrice. The first time she
speedily returned; having, in all probability, gone but a little way
from the ark, as she must naturally be terrified at the appearance of
the waters. After seven days, being sent out a second time, she returned
with an olive leaf plucked off, whereby it became evident that the flood
was considerably abated, and had sank below the tops of the trees; and
thus relieved the fears and cheered the heart of Noah and his family.
And hence the olive branch has ever been among the forerunners of peace,
and chief of those emblems by which a happy state of renovation and
restoration to prosperity has been signified to mankind. At the end of
other seven days, the dove, being sent out a third time, returned no
more; from which Noah conjectured that the earth was so far drained as
to afford sustenance for the birds and fowls; and he therefore removed
the covering of the ark, which probably gave liberty to many of the
fowls to fly off; and these circumstances afforded him the greater
facility for making arrangements for disembarking the other animals.
Doves might be offered in sacrifice, when those who were poor could not
bring a more costly offering.
In the wild state they generally build their nests in the holes or
clefts of rocks, or in excavated trees; but they are easily taught
submission and familiarity with mankind; and, when domesticated, build
in structures erected for their accommodation, called “dove-cotes.” They
are classed by Moses among the clean birds; and it appears from the
sacred as well as other writers, that doves were always held in the
highest estimation among the eastern nations. Rosenmuller, in a note
upon Bochart, derives the name from the Arabic, where it signifies
_mildness_, _gentleness_, &c. The dove is mentioned in Scripture as the
symbol of simplicity, innocence, gentleness, and fidelity, Hosea vii,
11; Matt. x, 16.
The following extract from Morier’s Persian Travels illustrates a
passage in Isaiah: “In the environs of the city, to the westward, near
the Zainderood, are many pigeon houses, erected at a distance from
habitations, for the sole purpose of collecting pigeons’ dung for
manure. They are large round towers, rather broader at the bottom than
the top, and crowned by conical spiracles, through which the pigeons
descend. Their interior resembles a honey-comb, pierced with a thousand
holes, each of which forms a snug retreat for a nest. More care appears
to have been bestowed upon their outside than upon that of the
generality of the dwelling houses; for they are painted and ornamented.
The extraordinary flights of pigeons which I have seen alight upon one
of these buildings afford, perhaps, a good illustration for the passage
in Isaiah lx, 8: ‘Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to
their windows?’ Their great numbers, and the compactness of their mass,
literally look like a cloud at a distance, and obscure the sun in their
passage.”
The first mention of the dove in the Scripture is Genesis viii, 8,
10–12, where Noah sent one from the ark to ascertain if the waters of
the deluge had assuaged. She was sent forth thrice. The first time she
speedily returned; having, in all probability, gone but a little way
from the ark, as she must naturally be terrified at the appearance of
the waters. After seven days, being sent out a second time, she returned
with an olive leaf plucked off, whereby it became evident that the flood
was considerably abated, and had sank below the tops of the trees; and
thus relieved the fears and cheered the heart of Noah and his family.
And hence the olive branch has ever been among the forerunners of peace,
and chief of those emblems by which a happy state of renovation and
restoration to prosperity has been signified to mankind. At the end of
other seven days, the dove, being sent out a third time, returned no
more; from which Noah conjectured that the earth was so far drained as
to afford sustenance for the birds and fowls; and he therefore removed
the covering of the ark, which probably gave liberty to many of the
fowls to fly off; and these circumstances afforded him the greater
facility for making arrangements for disembarking the other animals.
Doves might be offered in sacrifice, when those who were poor could not
bring a more costly offering.