HERDDIAN (herd-man), (Heb. bo-kare', a tender of oxen; in distinction from 'T'1, a feeder of sheep).
Nothing more strikingly brings out the contrast between the Egyptians and the Hebrews than their different estimation of the pursuit of cattle-raising.
While the latter had large herds and flocks, and considered their possession and keep honorable, the former, quite as dependent upon them for food and labor, despised the herdsman as "an abomination" (Gen. xlvi :34). By the influence of Joseph his brethren were madc Pharaoh's chief herdsmen (Gen. xlvii :6). The patriarchs were great herdsmen. The occupation was not incon sistent with state honors ; thus, Doeg, "the chief est of thc herdsmen," was high in Saul's favor (I Sam. xxi :7). David's herdmasters were among his chief officers of state. In Solomon's time, al though commerce decreased its relative impor tance, the pursuit was still extensive (Eccl. ii :7; Kings iv:23). "It must have suffered greatly from the inroads of the enemies to which the country, under the later kings of Judah and Israel, was exposed. Uzziah, however (2 Chron.
xxvi :to), and Hezekiah (xxxii :28, 29), resuming the raising of cattle, had great herds; their cipal feeding grounds were Sharon ( Chron.
xxvii :29), the Carmel ( Sam. xxv :2), and Dothan, (Gen. xxxvii :17), but doubtless all the unculti vated lands were used for this purpose. But for food they did not use, as we do, full-grown beeves, but killed the calves. Fattening for beef is indeed not practiced in the East. The oxen were broken for service in the third year (Is. xv :5). When the heat had dried up all the pasture, the oxen were stalled (Hab. :17) ; hence the figure "a stalled ox" for stately magnificence, which is used in Prov. xv :17. "Calves of the stall" were watch fully cared for (Mal. iv :2). Cattle feed upon foliage as well as upon grass (Ps. 1:10). A mix ture of various grains, as also chopped straw, is fed when the pasture gives out. See Job vi :5, "fod der ;" Is. xxx :24, "provender ;" Gen. xxiv :25 ; Is. xi :7 ; lxv :25. (See AGRICULTURE; FLOCK ; PAS TURAGE; OX ) (SChaff, Bib. Dia.)