24 THE HOG. 



clothes and all, to purify himself, The swineherds formed an iso. 

 lated race, outcasts from society, forbidden to enter a temple, or 

 intermarry with other families." Hence it probably is, that, in the 

 beautiful parable of th Prodigal Son, this unhappy young man is 

 represented as being reduced to the office of a swineherd, that being 

 considered as the lowest possible degradation. 



Others are of opinion that this and many other of the prohibitions 

 and ordinances established by Moses were solely for the purpose of 

 distinguishing the Jews from other nations, and making them what 

 they are to this day in all countries and under all climates. " a pe- 

 culiar people." Others, again, assert that it was with a view to 

 correct their gross and gluttonous habits that none but the simplest 

 and mildest kinds of animal food were permitted to the Jews. And, 

 lastly, another maintains that the swine was thus declared an abomi- 

 nation in the sight of God, as a lesson to the Jews to abstain from 

 the sensual and disgusting habits to which this animal is given. 



The aversion to swine has descended to the Jews, Egyptians, and 

 followers of Mohammed of modern times. The Copts rear no 

 pigs, indeed this animal is scarcely known in most of the cities of 

 Lower Egypt ; and the poorest Jew would sooner starve than touch 

 a morsel of this forbidden food, even though the presumed cause of 

 prohibition has long ceased to exist, and he is removed to colder 

 climes, where pork is both wholesome and nutritious. 



By the precepts, warnings, and threatenings of the prophets, we 

 read that, so great was the detestation excited in the minds of the 

 Jewish nation against this animal, that they would not even pollute 

 their lips by pronouncing its name, but always alluded to it as " that 

 beast," i( that thing ;" and we read in the history of the Maccabees, 

 that Eleazer, a principal scribe, being compelled by Antiochus Epi- 

 phanes to open his mouth and receive swine's flesh, spit it forth, and 

 went of his accord to the torment, choosing rather to suffer death 

 than break the divine law and offend his nation, 



And yet it is well known that immense numbers of swine were 

 reared in the country of the Jews, probably for the purpose of gain, 

 and in order to supply strangers and the neighboring idolaters ; and 

 it has been supposed, that it was in order to punish this violation of 

 the Divine commandments that our Saviour permitted the herd of 

 swine te be affected with that sudden disorder which caused them to 

 rush headlong into the lake of Genesareth. 



Martin says at what period the hog was reclaimed, and by what 

 nation, we cannot tell. As far back as the records of history go, we 

 find notices of this animal, and of the use of its flesh as food. By 

 some nations it was held in abhorrence, and prohibited as food ; 

 while among others its flesh was accounted a great delicacy. By 

 the Mosaic law, the Jews were forbidden to use the flesh of the swine 

 as food it was unclean ; and the followers of Mohammed, borrow- 



