the list of birds forbidden to be eaten by the Levitical law (Leviticus 11:19;
Deuteronomy 14:18). It is like the crane, but larger in size. Two species
are found in Palestine, the white, which are dispersed in pairs over the
whole country; and the black, which live in marshy places and in great
flocks. They migrate to Palestine periodically (about the 22nd of March).
Jeremiah alludes to this (Jeremiah 8:7). At the appointed time they return
with unerring sagacity to their old haunts, and re-occupy their old nests.
“There is a well-authenticated account of the devotion of a stork which, at
the burning of the town of Delft, after repeated and unsuccessful attempts
to carry off her young, chose rather to remain and perish with them than
leave them to their fate. Well might the Romans call it the pia avis!”
In Job 39:13 (A.V.), instead of the expression “or wings and feathers unto
the ostrich” (marg., “the feathers of the stork and ostrich”), the Revised
Version has “are her pinions and feathers kindly” (marg., instead of
“kindly,” reads “like the stork’s”). The object of this somewhat obscure
verse seems to be to point out a contrast between the stork, as
distinguished for her affection for her young, and the ostrich, as
distinguished for her indifference.
Zechariah (5:9) alludes to the beauty and power of the stork’s wings.
- STRAIN AT Simply a misprint for “strain out” (Matthew 23:24).
- STRANGER This word generally denotes a person from a foreign land
residing in Palestine. Such persons enjoyed many privileges in common
with the Jews, but still were separate from them. The relation of the Jews
to strangers was regulated by special laws (Deuteronomy 23:3; 24:14-21;
25:5; 26:10-13). A special signification is also sometimes attached to this
word. In Genesis 23:4 it denotes one resident in a foreign land; Exodus
23:9, one who is not a Jew; Numbers 3:10, one who is not of the family of
Aaron; Psalm 69:8, an alien or an unknown person. The Jews were allowed
to purchase strangers as slaves (Leviticus 25:44, 45), and to take usury
from them (Deuteronomy 23:20). - STRAW Used in brick-making (Exodus 5:7-18). Used figuratively in Job
41:27; Isaiah 11:7; 25:10; 65:25. - STREAM OF EGYPT (Isaiah 27:12), the Wady el-‘Arish, called also “the
river of Egypt,” R.V., “brook of Egypt” (Numbers 34:5; Joshua 15:4; 2
Kings 24:7). It is the natural boundary of Egypt. Occasionally in winter,