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Was the reem an unicorn--one horned?

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by Logos1560, Feb 7, 2007.

  1. robycop3

    robycop3 Well-Known Member
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    The wild ox, known as aurochs(name is both singular & plural) was somewhat larger than present-day cattle, by all accounts less intelligent(as if cattle are known for wisdom anyway) than present-day cattle, and much more aggressive.

    This animal was considered to be a greater menace than even the lion in many places, as the aurochs would almost always attack a man or any other animal upon sight, while lions would not always attack, same as today.

    Its range indeed included old Israel & the Sinai area, and it coulda been the most powerful & aggressive wild animal known to them.

    Tha Assyrians used the word riim to identify the aurochs.

    These animals were occasionally domesticated, and well may have been the domesticated oxen of the Israelis. However, they apparently retained their aggressive nature as the Mosaic law covers damages and deaths inflicted by one's ox.

    But while the re'em may well have been the aurochs, the early English Bible translators evidently had the mythical unicorn in mind.
     
  2. AntennaFarmer

    AntennaFarmer Member

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    Maybe about 2.5 at this point.

    A.F.
     
  3. Logos1560

    Logos1560 Well-Known Member
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    In his book entitled BY DEFINITION: A READER'S GUIDE TO THE KJB, KJV-only author James W. Knox acknowledged that this animal "is connected with young calves that skip (Ps. 29:6) and with bulls and bullocks (Deut. 33:17, Isa. 34:7)" (p. 170).

    He seems to ignore all the evidence that indicates that the Hebrew word reem is singular in number and that it had horns [plural], not just one horn.
     
  4. Logos1560

    Logos1560 Well-Known Member
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    Concerning Numbers 23:22 in his multi-volume commentary entitled UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE, David Sorenson, a KJV-only author, wrote that "The latter mentioned creature [referring to the unicorn] likely refers to the aurochs which were great wild bulls, now extinct" (p. 813).
     
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