Bible Study Hunting Season

[Cyberseeker]

The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished.
(Gen 25:27)

Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. Now then, get your weaponsâ€â€your quiver and bowâ€â€and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die."
(Gen 27:2-4)

[/quote]

Question for all you Bible background experts.

When was the hunting season in the middle east? What time of the year was this likely to have been when Esau went looking for venison? Spring? Summer? Autumn?

Cyberseeker

 

[handy]

Would there be any kind of set 'season'? I'm sure that responsible hunters then as now didn't hunt pregnant does, or does that were suckeling. But, as for bucks, I don't think the hunters then would have limited themselves because of any particular time of year. Their families would be hungry all year round, not just during the fall.

 

[Cyberseeker]

Maybe I asked a dumb question. :

Im actually trying to figure the time of year that Jacob had his dream at Bethel. (Gen 28) I think it was summer or early autumn because he slept under the stars. In the rainy season that would be unlikely; his family was not too poor to afford tents.

Well, I was trying to find confirmation for my little theory :smt115 by thinking about the hunting season because Jacobs trip was within days of tricking his brother Esau.

So, all year round ya reckon? Hmmm, but not springtime coz like you say, skillful hunters don't shoot does while they are in fawn?

Ah well, Im still scratching my head. Any more clues greatfully received.

Cyberseeker

 

[DavidLee]

Maybe I asked a dumb question. :

I don't think it was a dumb question, but I don't think there's anyway to know what season it was.

Hunting seasons are a modern construct of land managers and governments designed to control sport hunters (among other things).

Jacob was traveling. And while they had tents, they didn't have lightweight tents, and they would not take a tent for one person. He used a rock for a pillow! Tougher than me for sure. I don't think he'd care about rain.

No matter the season, If I had the choice of carrying food or a tent, it would be food.