Unicorn in Biblical History

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Schaff's Bible Dictionary

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What is a Unicorn?
U'NICORN
(reem, or high), a very unfortunate translation of a word which occurs seven times in the O.T. That fabulous creature the unicorn certainly is not meant by the reem. Critics are agreed that the passages mentioning it, correctly understood, require an animal with two horns. This animal was distinguished for his ferocity, Isa 34:7, strength, Num 23:22; Num 24:8, agility, Ps 29:6, wildness. Job 39:9, as well as for being horned and destroying with his horns. Deut 33:17; Ps 22:21. For various reasons, this animal could not have been the rhinoceros. Probably it was the now extinct aurochs (Bos primigenins), a long-horned and powerful ox, which existed in the forests of Europe nearly, or quite, until the Middle Ages. Caesar found it in the Hercynian forest, and gives this description: "These uri are scarcely less than elephants in size, but in their nature, color, and form are bulls. Great is their strength, and great their speed; they spare neither man nor beast when once they have caught sight of them." An allied species of bovine animals of great size and strength is known to have existed in Palestine, as the bison (Bison bonasus), and some of these, now called aurochs, are still found in the forests of Lithuania. The Scripture references will be found peculiarly appropriate to an animal of the ox kind. Assyrian monuments represent the king and his warriors hunting a wild bison, which "appears to have been considered scarcely less formidable Bison. (Bison bonofius. After Tristram.) and noble game than the lion." In a bone-cave in Lebanon the teeth of the aurochs or a similar ox have been discovered. Altogether, the above interpretation may be regarded as quite established. UNITY OF THE SPIRIT is unity of judgment, affection, and feeling among those who constitute the one body of Christ, Eph 4:3, and it is the gift of God. Jer 32:39. It was remarkably enjoyed in the early ages of the Church, John 17:21; Acts 4:32. and is to be sought after as among the chief of Christian graces. 2 Cor 13:11.

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Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'unicorn' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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