Fishing from the earliest times - Blog

410 ROD NOT EMPLOYED—REASONSSea-fishing was out of the question, for with the doubtfulexception of a small bit of the Galilaean coast — probably notheld continuously—no part of the Mediterranean sea-shorebelonged to Israel during the Monarchy, while the climateand intense heat of the Valley of the Jordan, the only realriver, kept its inhabitants apart from the dwellers on themountains.But contra : even if the majority were Simple Simons,the numerous references (about 74) in the Bible to fishes,fishing, and fishing implements indicate a wide, if perhapsimpersonal, knowledge of the practice. The fact that the largernumber of these were used as metaphors or similes evidencesa more than local knowledge of fishing, because for a metaphoror simile to be telling it usually must, as do the Homeric,appeal to a well-known, common, and long-established customor craft.B. Although fishing apparently prevailed always in theSea of Galilee, it must be remembered that practically thewhole hterature of the Old Testament emanates from central andsouthern Palestine, and (as is the case with Egyptian hteratureas regards Deltaic conditions) contains but scant allusion tolife among the Northern Tribes. Hence possibly the silenceabout the Rod, which may nevertheless have been employed.C. The Old Testament stories, although some belong to thesame period as the Homeric, are told in a manner very differentfrom the latter. Every picture is sketched with the feweststrokes, and accordingly details are, have to be, taken forgranted.Thus, although the majority of the people subsistedlargely on milk, there is not one reference to milking.But contra : this omission seems to me hardly on all fourswith that of the Rod. The word milk, when not expresslylimited, e.g. " of thy bosom," or used metaphorically, signifiessolely the lacteal liquid extruded from the teats of an animal,and so imphes milking or a previous act of extrusion, whereasthe word fishing connotes no single method of taking fish,as the Old Testament in its mention of the implements. Spear,Hook and Line, and Nets, demonstrates. Then again Job xxi.24 (R.V. margin), " his milk-pails are full of milk," and Judges