Lions

The most powerful of all carnivorous animals. Although not now found in Palestine, they must have been in ancient times very numerous there. They had their lairs in the forests Jer 5:6 12:8 Am 3:4 in the caves of the mountains So 4:8 Na 2:12 and in the canebrakes on the banks of the Jordan Jer 49:19 50:44 Zec 11:3 No fewer than at least six different words are used in the Old Testament for the lion. (1.) _Gor_ (i.e., a "suckling"), the lion's whelp Ge 49:9 Jer 51:38 etc. (2.) _Kephir_ (i.e., "shaggy"), the young lion Jud 14:5 Job 4:10 Ps 91:13 104:21 a term which is also used figuratively of cruel enemies Ps 34:10 35:17 58:6 Jer 2:15 (3.) _'Ari_ (i.e., the "puller" in pieces), denoting the lion in general, without reference to age or sex Nu 23:24 2Sa 17:10 etc. (4.) _Shahal_ (the "roarer"), the mature lion Job 4:10 Ps 91:13 Pr 26:13 Ho 5:14 (5.) _Laish_, so called from its strength and bravery Job 4:11 Pr 30:30 Isa 30:6 The capital of Northern Dan received its name from this word. (6.) _Labi_, from a root meaning "to roar," a grown lion or lioness Ge 49:9 Nu 23:24 24:9 Eze 19:2 Na 2:11

The lion of Palestine was properly of the Asiatic variety, distinguished from the African variety, which is larger. Yet it not only attacked flocks in the presence of the shepherd, but also: (1.) Laid waste towns and villages 2Ki 17:25,26 (2.) Devoured men 1Ki 13:24,25 (3.) Shepherds sometimes, single-handed, encountered lions and slew them 1Sa 17:34,35 Am 3:12 (4.) Samson seized a young lion with his hands and "rent him as he would have rent a kid" Jud 14:5,6

The strength Jud 14:18 courage 2Sa 17:10 and ferocity Ge 49:9 of the lion were proverbial.