THE OX. 65 



portion of their wealth ; aud he is still the basis of the riches of na- 

 tions, which in general flourish only in proportion to the cultivation 



of their territories, and the number of their cattle. In these, all 

 real wealth consists ; for silver and gold are only representations of 

 riches, possessing in themselves little intrinsic value. 



These remarks are verified, by the notice which the sacred wri- 

 ters take of the ox, when they describe the wealth of primordial 

 generations : * Abraham,' say they, ' was very rich in cattle, in sil- 

 ver, and in gold.' ' The Lord has blessed my master greatly,' said 

 the steward of Abraham's house, ' and he has become great ; and 

 he has given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men- 

 servants, and maid-servants, and camels, and asses,' Gen. xxiv. 35. 

 Similar language is used in relation to the riches of Jacob : ' The 

 man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maid-servants, 

 and men-servants, and camels, and asses,' Gen. xxx, 43. Another 

 instance only shall be given from the book of Job : ' His substance 

 also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and 

 five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very 

 great household ; so that the man was the greatest of all the men 

 of the east,' Job i. 3. So highly valued was this animal, that it was, 

 not thought too mean a present for a king to make in ancient times 

 to his ally ; for Moses informs us, that * Abimelech took sheep, and 

 oxen, and men-servants, and women-servants, and gave them to 

 Abraham,' Gen. xx. 14. Soon afleVwards these eminent person- 

 ages entered into a treaty with each other, and, on that occasion, 

 Abraham * took sheep, and oxen, and gave them to Abimelech,' 



The ox, especially when fattened, is of a rounder form than any 

 other domestic animal; a circumstance which has given him a 

 name in the Hebrew text. The beauty of his shape Itas been cele- 

 brated in the lines of the heathen poetSj and acknowledged in the 

 6* 



