LEOPARD

נמר , Cant. iv, 8; Isaiah xi, 6; Jer. v, 6; xiii, 23; Hosea xiii, 7; Hab. i, 8; Dan. vii, 6; ϖάρδαλις, Rev. xiii, 2; Ecclus. xxviii, 23. There can be no doubt that the pard or leopard is the animal mentioned. Bochart shows that the name is similar in the Chaldee, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic. The LXX uniformly render it by ϖάρδαλις; and Jerom, pard us . Probably, these animals were numerous in Palestine; as we find places with a name intimating their having been the haunts of leopards: Nimrah , Num. xxxii, 3; Beth-Nimrah , Num. xxxii, 36; Joshua xiii, 27; and waters of Nimrim ,” Isa. xv, 6; Jer. xlviii, 34; and mountains of leopards,” Cant. iv, 8. Nimrod might have his name from this animal: He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord,” Gen. x, 9. It is supposed, however, that his predations were not confined to the brute creation. Dr. Geddes remarks, that the word hunter” expre es too little. He was a freebooter, in the worst sense of the word; a lawle despot: Proud Nimrod first the bloody chase began, A mighty hunter, and his prey was man. Isaiah, describing the happy state of the reign of Me iah, says, The leopard shall lie down with the kid,” Isaiah xi, 6. Even animals shall lose their fiercene and cruelty, and become gentle and tame. Jeremiah, v, 6, mentions the artful ambuscades of this animal; and in xiii, 23, alludes to his spots: Can a Cushite change his skin; or a leopard his spots? Then may ye prevail with them to do good who are habituated to do evil;” and Habakkuk, i, 8, refers to its alertne .