Who's ? Right: Top Ten Creatures in the Bible

10 The Bee — according to Holy Scripture, Israel is a land flowing with honey (Exodus 3:8). Its dry climate, its rich abundance and variety of aromatic flowers, and its limestone rocks render it particularly adaptable for bees. In the Old Testament, it mentions "a land flowing with milk and honey" thirteen times, which are referenced in the Books of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. During antiquity, honey was a major article of export (Genesis 43:11; Ezekiel 27:17). Bees are spoken of in the Bible as a term of comparison for "a numerous army relentlessly harassing their enemies". Debôrah, the Hebrew name for bee, was a favorite name for women. The most notable was a prophetess and the fourth Judge of pre-monarchic Israel who was the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. As Deborah prophesied, a battle was fought (led by Barak), and Sisera, who was a commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor (Judges 4-5), was completely defeated. The Biblical account of Deborah ends with the statement that after the battle, there was peace in the land for 40 years. (Judges 5:31). All the different species of bees, known by the names of bombus, nomia, andrena, osmia, megachile, anthophora, are widely spread throughout modern-day Israel.

9 Leviathan — one of the mysterious creatures mentioned in the Bible, scholars and theologians have compared it to a sea monster (referenced in the Books of Job, Psalms and Isaiah), a demon (referenced by St. Thomas Aquinas), a crocodile or hippopotomus (as suggested in Revised Standard Version of the Bible) and a dinosaur (touted by Earth Creationists). Leviathan can also be used as an image of Satan, endangering both God's creatures—by attempting to eat them—and God's creation—by threatening it with upheaval in the waters of Chaos. Peter Binsfeld likewise classified Leviathan as the demon of envy, as one of the seven Princes of Hell corresponding to the seven deadly sins. Leviathan became associated with, and may originally have referred to, the visual motif of the Hellmouth, a monstrous animal into whose mouth the damned disappear at the Last Judgement, found in Anglo-Saxon art from about 800 AD, and later all over Europe. The Leviathan of the Book of Job is a reflection of the older Canaanite Lotan, a primeval monster defeated by the god Hadad. Parallels to the role of Mesopotamian Tiamat defeated by Marduk have long been drawn in comparative mythology, as have been wider comparisons to dragon and world serpent narratives such as Indra slaying Vrtra or Thor slaying Jörmungandr, but Leviathan already figures in the Hebrew Bible as a metaphor for a powerful enemy, notably Babylon (Isaiah 27:1). This particular creature is mentioned six times in the Bible (Job 3:8, Job 40:15–41:26, Amos 9:3, Psalm 74:13–23, Psalm 104:26 and Isaiah 27:1).

8 Behemoth — the description of this animal has long puzzled the biblical commentators. Many of them now agree that it represents the hippopotamus; it might possibly correspond as well to the rhinoceros. This certain beast mentioned in Job 40:15–24 is generally translated as "great beasts". Other theories taken into consideration are identities that range from a mythological creature to an elephant or buffalo. Some Young Earth creationists believe it to be a description of a dinosaur. Metaphorically, the name has come to be used for any extremely large or powerful entity. Since the 17th century AD there have been many attempts to identify Behemoth. The reference to Behemoth's "tail" that "moves like a cedar" presents a problem for most of these readings, since it cannot easily be identified with the tail of any animal. Biologist Michael Bright suggests that the reference to the cedar tree actually refers to the brush-like shape of its branches, which resemble the tails of modern elephants and hippopotamuses. Some have identified the cedar as a Behemoth's penis, since the Hebrew word for "move" can also mean "extend", and the second part of the verse speaks of the sinew around his "stones". The Vulgate seems to endorse such a reading by using the word "testiculorum". Russian-language speakers have used the cognate word бегемот (begemot) to refer to the hippopotamus from third quarter of the 18th century. Even the description of this creature leaves one imagination wide open.

7 Dove — the dove is mentioned in the Bible more often than any other bird (over 50 times); The dove is first spoken of in the record of the flood (Genesis 8:8–12); later on we see that Abraham offered up some in sacrifice, which would indicate that the dove was very early domesticated. In fact several allusions are made to dove-cotes, with their "windows" or latticed openings. But in antiquity as well as now, besides the legions of pigeons that swarm around the villages, there were many more rock-doves, "doves of the valleys", as they are occasionally termed (Ezekiel 7:16; Song of Solomon 2:14; Jeremiah 48:28), that filled the echoes of the mountain gorges with the rustling of their wings. The metallic lustre of their plumage, the swiftness of their flight, their habit of sweeping around in flocks, their plaintive coo, are often alluded to by the different sacred writers. The dark eye of the dove, encircled by a line of bright red skin, is also mentioned; its gentleness and innocence made it the type of trust and love, and, most naturally, its name was one of the most familiar terms of endearment. Jesus spoke of the dove as a symbol of simplicity; the sum of its perfections made it a fitting emblem for the Holy Spirit.

6 Lion — now extinct in Israel and in the surrounding countries, the lion was common there during the BC era. Mentioned in the Scriptures, in one form or another, the lion is alluded to 130 times. It represents the classical symbol of strength, power, courage, dignity, and ferocity. The Lion of Judah is the symbol of the Hebrew tribe of Judah (one of the 12 Tribes of Israel). According to the Torah, the tribe consists of the descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. The association between Judah and the lion, can first be found in the blessing given by Jacob to his son Judah in the Book of Genesis. The Lion of Judah is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation, as a term representing Jesus, according to Christian theology. During the 8th century BC, artwork was commissioned by Solomon in the decoration of the temple and of the king's house. The craft and ferocity of the lion, on the other hand, caused it to be taken as an emblem of Satan (1 Peter 5:8) and of the enemies of the truth (2 Timothy 4:17). In a mythological sense, the roar of a lion is considered as the voice of a Goddess. According to pagan belief, a lion's roar stops you, it is a terror that shakes you up and draws you into something beautiful. When referring to the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, a favorite saying is that the lion will lay down with the lamb; however, there are no biblical passages that refer to the lamb and the lion lying down together. Isaiah 11:6 states, "And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them."

5 Dragon — the word “dragon” appears 21 times in the Old Testament (King James Version). The Psalmist jubilantly declared, “Praise the LORD from the earth, you dragons, and all deeps:” (Psalm 148:7). The author of the book of Revelation repeatedly makes mention of the dragon, by which he means "the old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). According to the ancients, the dragon represented a monstrous winged serpent with a crested head and enormous claws, and regarded as very powerful and ferocious creature. Modern Bible translators, who were dubious about having dragons (which they believed to be mythical) in the Bible, prefer the jackal interpretation. The Hebrew word for jackal is “tan” and the plural is “tanim.” So there is a similarity. Ezekiel 32:3 talks about netting a dragon and subsequently hauling it up onto the land. Ezekiel 29:3 refers to inserting hooks into the dragon’s jaws to draw it into the open field where the carnivorous animals would feed on its carcass. Another translation infers it is the name of some unknown creature inhabiting desert places and ruins (Job 30:29; Psalms 44:19; Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; 43:20; Jeremiah 10:22; Micah 1:8; Malachi 1:3). In the New Testament the word "dragon" is found only in Revelation 12:3-4; 12:7; 12:9; 12:16-17, and is used metaphorically to describe "Satan."

4 Lamb — this creature is typically featured as a sacrificial animal throughout the bible. To the Jews the lamb is called the "Paschal Lamb" during Passover: the ewe was both a commemoration of the deliverance from the bondage in Egypt, and a prophetic figure that would be sacrificed to free His people from their slavery to sin and death.  In Christianity, the lamb represents Jesus Christ, as both suffering (crucifixion) and triumphant (resurrection), and referred to as the "Lamb of God". This particular name, "Lamb of God", is mentioned 31 times in Bible: twice in the Old Testament/Torah and 29 times in the New Testament (with 27 of those listed in the book of Revelation). The Jewish Passover sacrifice (Paschal Lamb) was mandated for Jews and Samaritans to ritually slaughter a lamb on the eve of Passover, and eat on the first night of the holiday with bitter herbs and matzo. The Christian religion believes the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus represents a new Passover, and therefore He is the Lamb [of God] for the new Passover (John 1:29). In the King James version [of the Bible] the word - 'lambs' appears 81 times; the word - 'lamb' appears 105 times; and, the word - Lamb's appears twice. It is interesting to note that lambs eventually grow up to be sheep and the word 'sheep' appears 187 times in the Bible, more than any other creature throughout the holy scriptures. 

3 Unicorn  — a biblical creature that is mentioned only nine times in the Old Testament/Tanakh books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, Job, Psalm and Isaiah. Most modern readers have trouble with the definition of a unicorn as the word infers something mythological. Yet, a single-horned feature is not uncommon for the Creator's animal design (such as the rhinoceros and narwhal). The Bible/Tanakh describes unicorns skipping like calves (Psalms 29:6), travelling like bullocks, and bleeding when they die (Isaiah 34:7). According to archaeologists associated with the Assyrian period, the biblical unicorn could have possibly been the auroch (a wild ox known to the Assyrians as "rimu"). The aurochs horns were symmetrical and often appeared as one horn in profile. Fighting rimu was a popular sport for Assyrian kings during antiquity. Tiglath-Pileser I (who ruled during the 11th century BC) boasted of slaying the auroch in the Lebanese mountains. Whether this creature had one horn or two horns, the Bible describes it as an animal of great ferocity and strength, as well as untamable. And it definitely was not the mythological horse, with a single horn sticking out of its head, that authors and artists brought to life through their literary writings and artwork.

2 Ass (Donkey) — the word "ass" in scripture refers to the donkey, and appears approximately 87 times in the King James Bible. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke relate a story of Mary riding upon an ass during the journey to Bethlehem and Egypt, but the top tale about a donkey appears in Numbers 22:21-38. The story begins with Balaam leaving with the princes of Moab, which made the Creator angry. He sent an angel to block his way, but Balaam did not see him. However, his ass did. Three times the donkey stepped aside from the angel and each time the animal was disciplined and rebuked by Balaam. The angel opens the animal's mouth and the words flowed out in reprimand of her master, as well as questioning Balaam's loyalty... Upon the third time of striking his faithful animal, the angel of the Lord made himself known to Balaam, charging him “Why have you struck your ass these three times?" And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me." Balaam's attention was now held in fear, for he knew he had angered the Creator. Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” (Numbers 22:32-35).  So Balaam went with the princes of Moab and did as the angel bidded him to do. Surely the relationship between man and beast was forever changed after such a celestial episode, as well as Balaam learning the Creator sees, hears and knows all.

1 Serpent — is commonly associated with a snake, especially in the Garden of Eden narrative. Many scholars claim the snake originally had legs before the "fall of man", but when looking at Genesis 3:13–15, there is no direct indication that the serpent had legs, only that its curse would be “on your belly you shall go.” In Deuteronomy 32:33, it speaks of a snake's deadly venom and in the book of Job it declares the wicked as sucking the venom of péthén, in punishment whereof the food he takes shall be turned within him into the gall of this poisonous reptile (Job 20:14 & 16). The viper is almost always portrayed as a loathsome creature, directly associated with poison and craftiness. Snakes show up in various verses throughout the Bible: in Pharoah's court (Exodus 7:12), in the wilderness (Numbers 21:7), on the island of Malta (Acts 28:3) and, according to the revelation of Jesus, the serpent was thrown down to earth, along with his angels (Revelation 12:9). As amoral creatures, snakes are not "evil" [in themselves], but the viper can be used as a handy metaphor for evil in many passages scattered throughout the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Jesus was quoted as saying, He had come to save us all from the serpent’s bite: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14–15; cf. Numbers 21:6–9). This is a direct reference that Jesus will one day return and save mankind from the serpent's bite. The serpent (snake) gets plenty of attention in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and is mentioned over 80 times in the Christian Bible.