the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Coney
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or One of the animals the Israelites were not to eat: it is described as chewing the cud, but not dividing the hoof. The rabbit, which is only another name for Coney, is not known in Palestine. The Hebrew word shaphan is supposed to signify the Syrian Hyrax, an animal about the size of the rabbit, but which does not really chew the cud. It has the habit of continually rubbing its teeth together when at rest, and thus has the appearance of chewing. It is an animal that forms a wholesome meal, and therefore one that would have needed to be specified under the Jewish ritual. Leviticus 11:5; Deuteronomy 14:7 . It exactly answers to the other notices respecting the shaphan, such as living among the rocks, which it constantly does, and it is exceedingly quick in leaping from rock to rock, Psalm 104:18; it is also extremely difficult to catch; one of their number being on the watch while the others feed: at the approach of an enemy a signal is given, and all disappear. This agrees with its being called 'exceeding wise.' Proverbs 30:24,26 . The Hyrax is classed among the pachydermatous animals.
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Coney'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/c/coney.html. 1897.
