What Domestic Animals were key to life in Jesus’ Time?
When we speak of domestic animals, we
are not speaking here pets. There is no
evidence of the ancient Jews keeping
animals as pets at all. Hence, the term
domestic animals here refers to what we
would think of as farm animals, especially
sheep and goats, cattle, and beasts of
burden.
Domesticated animals were the backbone
of rural life. Given the conditions of the
roads in both villages in the countryside,
carriages or carts could not often be used.
The mule or donkey was important as a
pack animal, as a beast of burden.
These animals were so valuable, along with the cow, that they were kept in the stable adjacent to the
courtyard of the owner, chickens also ran freely in the courtyard of many houses!
Sheep and goats tended to be kept in pens on the outskirts of the village since they needed
pastureland to graze. Goat’s milk was a important staple of life. Lambs provided wool (Proverbs
27:26–27). Pigeons were also raised on the outskirts of the town, both for food, and as sacrificial
animals for the temple. When it came time that an Animal must be slaughtered, it was used for many
purposes including food. The skins of lambs and goats could be prepared for use as clothing, water
carriers, and even prepared for the use in the writing the sacred scrolls. Domestic animals were value
very highly: And Jesus said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well
on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” (Luke 14:5)
The Animals in particular:
The ass, or donkey was a conventional beast of burden. It was able to
subsist on very coarse food, and was a very hearty creature. They
helped to plow the fields and trample in the seed. If one wanted to ride
instead of walk, the donkey was the most probable conveyance.
Further, these animals could also be fitted with bags and other ways of
carrying loads.
Sheep are mentioned over 700 times in Scripture and are undoubtedly the
most familiar biblical animal. Sheep are valuable and gentle creatures, but
they are wayward and were very dependent upon a shepherd to be
watched in the pasture and be led to water and protected from wild beasts.
The precious wool of the sheep (often dark-colored) provided warm
garments. They were sheared once a year. Sheep meat was a key
element in the diet.