Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 48 No. 3, 2017.
Ostalo
The historical, biblical, cultural and social foundations of Hebrew veterinary and human medicine
Saša Zavrtnik
; Geotehnički fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu,
Damir Žubčić
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Sažetak
This paper discusses the historical, biblical, cultural and social foundations of Hebrew veterinary and human medicine. Hebrews, as a nation of nomadic shepherds, were a society of cattle breeders, and later, after concurring the land of Canaan – Palestine, they also dealt with agriculture. Their everyday life was interconnected with animals. They bred sheep and goats, mostly in mixed flocks, but they also kept cattle and donkeys, and later camels and horses. In the land of Canaan, they also fished. Animals were used as a source of materials for many necessities. Flesh was used for food and an inevitable role of animals was sacrificing. As the foundation for Hebrew history and for understanding their life, the Old Testament record was used, particularly the Pentateuch. Priests were mediators between God and people, every individual, through acts of reconciliation as seen in sacrificing, but they also played a significant role as physicians. The oldest form of quarantine was found among Hebrews.
Since animals for sacrifice were required to be without fault, of almost perfect phenotype, the conclusion is that shepherds selected animals based on their desirable features. A high degree of consciousness and responsibility to God and his laws is emphasized and, accordingly, towards people and all plants and animals, including the abidance of health and hygiene regulations, respecting the ill, elderly and poor, and respecting animals during breeding and slaughtering. Every law had a deeper spiritual, ritual component, but was also practical and applicable in the life of an individual. A biblical text that expresses the basis for the medical aspect of laws and rules is found in the book of Exodus 23:25, which states: “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.”
Ključne riječi
Hebrew history; veterinary and human medicine; Bible, shepherd; prevention and quarantine
Hrčak ID:
222310
URI
Datum izdavanja:
11.6.2017.
Posjeta: 1.428 *