NESER (ne'ser). See EAGLE.
NEST (nest), (Heb. kane, from R, kaw nam', to build; Gr. raraornvwcres,,kat-as-kay'no-sis, encampment, a perch).
1. A small lodgment, where fowls hatch their young (Dent. xxii :6).
2. The eggs or young birds in a nest (Dent. xxxii :it ; Is. x:14).
FiguratiVe. (t) A habitation seemingly very secure and undisturbed (Jer. xlix :16; Obad• 4.; Hab. :9). (2) "To die in one's nest" (Job xxix :18) seems to mean in the bosom of one's family', with children to succeed him. (3) The Assyrians, Amoritcs. and other nations arc likened to cedars in whose boughs all the fowls of heaven made thcir nests to mark their great strength, pride, and prosperity (Ezek. xxxi :6). (4) A 'nest in cedars,' is houses built of cedar wood (Jer. xxii :23). (5) The figure of the partridge "gath ering young which she hath not brought forth" (Jer. xvii marg.) is applied to one who wrong fully gathers riches. (6) The robbing of a nest in the absence of the parent birds is symbolical of an easy victory (Is. x :i4).
NET (net), (Heb. kheh-rem', a net, snare, harm).
There are in Scripture several words denoting different kinds of nets, and this, with the fre quency of images derived from them, shows that nets were much in use among the Hebrews for fishing, hunting, and fowling. Indeed, for the two latter purposes, nets were formerly used to an ex tent of which now, since the invention of fire arms, a notion can scarcely be formed.
(1) Fishing Nets. \Ve have no positive in formation concerning the nets of the Hebrews, and can only suppose that they were not materially different from those of the ancient Egyptians, concerning which we now possess very good in formation. Indeed, the nets of Egypt, the fishers who used them, and the fish caught by them, are more than once mentioned in Scripture (Is. xix: 8). The usual fishing net among this people was of a long form, like the common drag-net, with wooden floats on the upper, and leads on the lower side. It was sometimes let down from a boat, but those who pulled it usually stood on the shore, and landed the fish on a shelving bank. This mode, however, was more adapted to river than to lake fishing; and hence, in all the detailed ex amples of fishing in the New Testament, the net is cast from and drawn into boats, excepting in one case where, the draft being too great to take into the boat, the fishers dragged the net after their boats to the shore (John xxi :6, 8). Sometimes use was made of a smaller net for catching fish in shallow water, furnished with a pole on either side, to which it was attached ; and the fisherman, holding one of the poles in either hand, thrust it below the surface of the water, and awaited the moment when a shoal of fish passed over it.
It is interesting to observe that the fishermen in the boat, excepting the master, are almost naked, as are also those who have occcasion to wade in the water in hauling the net to the shore. Such seems also to have been the practice among his Hebrew fishermen ; for Peter, when Ile left the boat to hasten on shore to his risen Lord, 'girt his fisher's coat unto him, for he was naked' (John xxi :7) although, in this case, the word 'naked' must be understood with some latitude. (See NAKED.) (2) Nets for Birds. Nets were also used in taking birds. to an extent of which we can scarcely form an adequate conception. A clap net was usually ,employed. This was of different kinds. It consisted of two sides or frames, over which the net work was spread; at one end was a short net, which they fastened to a bush. or a cluster of reeds, and at thc other was one of considerable length, which. as soon as the birds were seen feed ing in the area within, was pulled by the fowlers, causing the instantaneous collapse of the two sides. In hunting. a space of considerable size was somethnes enclosed with nets, into which the animals were driven by beaters. The spots thus enclosed were usually in the vicinity of the water brooks to which thcy were in the habit of repair ing .in the morning and evening; and having awaited the time when they went to drink, the hunters disposed their nets, occupied proper posi tions for observing them unseen, and gradually closed in upon them. These practices are ob viously alluded to in such passages as Job xix :6; Ps. cx1:5 ; Is. li :20.
Figurative. (t) God's "net," is the entangling afflictions wherewith he chastises or punishes men (Job xix :6). Or the church ; or the dispensation of the gospel, whereby many are drawn to Christ. 'I his is cast into the sea of this world, and many are either really, or in appearance drawn by it. At last it will be emptied into the eternal state (Matt. xiii :47-50)• (2) The "net" of wicked men wherewith they ensnare others, and draw wealth and power to themselves, is their crafty plots, and vigorously executed purposes of mis chief (Ps. ix :t5 ; cx1:5 ; Mic. vii :2; Hab. :16).
(3) The Jewish rulers and priests were a "net," a means of drawing others into sin and ruin (Hos. v :1). 'In vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird:' without cause, traps are laid to en snare and destroy innocent persons (Prov. :17). (See FistmooK.)