- the roebuck:
- Tzevee, in Arabic zaby, Chaldee and Syriac tavya, denotes the gazelle or antelope, so called from its stately beauty, as the word imports. In size it is smaller than the roe, of an elegant form, and it motions are light and graceful. It bounds seemingly without effort, and runs with such swiftness that few creatures can exceed it ("And there¹ were¹ threeª sonsª of Zeruiahª there, Joab,ª and Abishai,ª and Asahel:ª and Asahelª [was as] lightª of footª as aª wildª¹ roe.ª" {2Sm 2:18}). Its fine eyes are so much celebrated as even to become a proverb; and its flesh is much esteemed for food among eastern nations, having a sweet, musky taste, which is highly agreeable to their palates ("Tenª fatª oxen,ª and twentyª oxenª out of the pastures,ª and an hundredª sheep,ª beside¹ harts,ª¹ and roebucks,ª and fallowdeer,ª and fattedª° fowl.ª" {1Kg 4:23}). If to these circumstances we add, that they are gregarious, and common all over the East, whereas the roe is either not known at all, or else very rare in these countries, little doubt can remain that the gazelle and not the roe is intended by the original word.
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