שלו, Exod. xvi, 13; Num. xi, 31, 32; Psalm cv, 10; a bird of the
gallinaceous kind. Hasselquist, mentioning the quail of the larger kind,
says, “It is of the size of the turtle dove. I have met with it in the
wilderness of Palestine, near the shores of the Dead Sea and the Jordan,
between Jordan and Jericho, and in the deserts of Arabia Petrea. If the
food of the Israelites was a bird, this is certainly it; being so common
in the places through which they passed.” It is said that God gave
quails to his people in the wilderness upon two occasions: first, within
a few days after they had passed the Red Sea, Exod. xvi, 3–13. The
second time was at the encampment at the place called in Hebrew,
Kibroth-hataavah, the graves of lust, Num. xi, 32; Psalm cv, 40. Both of
these happened in the spring, when the quails passed from Asia into
Europe. They are then to be found in great quantities upon the coast of
the Red Sea and Mediterranean. God caused a wind to arise that drove
them within and about the camp of the Israelites; and it is in this that
the miracle consists, that they were brought so seasonably to this
place, and in so great number as to furnish food for above a million of
persons for more than a month. The Hebrew word _shalav_ signifies “a
quail,” by the agreement of the ancient interpreters. And the Chaldee,
Syriac, and Arabic languages call them nearly by the same name. The
Septuagint, Symmachus, and most of commentators, both ancient and
modern, understand it in the same manner; and with them agree Philo,
Josephus, Apollinaris, and the rabbins; but Ludolphus has endeavoured to
prove that a species of locust is spoken of by Moses. Dr. Shaw answers,
that the holy psalmist, in describing this particular food of the
Israelites, by calling the animals feathered fowls, entirely confutes
this supposition. And it should be recollected, that this miracle was
performed in compliance with the wish of the people that they might have
flesh to eat.
gallinaceous kind. Hasselquist, mentioning the quail of the larger kind,
says, “It is of the size of the turtle dove. I have met with it in the
wilderness of Palestine, near the shores of the Dead Sea and the Jordan,
between Jordan and Jericho, and in the deserts of Arabia Petrea. If the
food of the Israelites was a bird, this is certainly it; being so common
in the places through which they passed.” It is said that God gave
quails to his people in the wilderness upon two occasions: first, within
a few days after they had passed the Red Sea, Exod. xvi, 3–13. The
second time was at the encampment at the place called in Hebrew,
Kibroth-hataavah, the graves of lust, Num. xi, 32; Psalm cv, 40. Both of
these happened in the spring, when the quails passed from Asia into
Europe. They are then to be found in great quantities upon the coast of
the Red Sea and Mediterranean. God caused a wind to arise that drove
them within and about the camp of the Israelites; and it is in this that
the miracle consists, that they were brought so seasonably to this
place, and in so great number as to furnish food for above a million of
persons for more than a month. The Hebrew word _shalav_ signifies “a
quail,” by the agreement of the ancient interpreters. And the Chaldee,
Syriac, and Arabic languages call them nearly by the same name. The
Septuagint, Symmachus, and most of commentators, both ancient and
modern, understand it in the same manner; and with them agree Philo,
Josephus, Apollinaris, and the rabbins; but Ludolphus has endeavoured to
prove that a species of locust is spoken of by Moses. Dr. Shaw answers,
that the holy psalmist, in describing this particular food of the
Israelites, by calling the animals feathered fowls, entirely confutes
this supposition. And it should be recollected, that this miracle was
performed in compliance with the wish of the people that they might have
flesh to eat.