B-H-M-H – ‘terrestrial animal principle; animality’

Quadrupeds. That is to say, according to the idea of Moses, that part of the animal kingdom whose individuals are neither winged as birds, nor crawling nor swimming as the terrestrial reptiles or the fishes. For it is obvious that this hierographic writer divides the animal kingdom into three great series according to the locomotive movement which he points out in the divers lands which compose this kingdom.

The first of this great series, comprises the animals of the first origin, vermiform, crawling upon the earth, swimming in the waters or flying in the air, which he calls, in general ,שרץ חיה, primitive life, vermiform. He divides this first series into two kinds: the aquatic and the aerial kind. The first of these kinds, retains the original name שרץ, that is to say vermiform; the second is called ערף ערפף fowl-flying.

The second of this great series consists of the animals of the second origin, which Moses designates in general, by the name of נפש חהיה soul of life. These are the genera which are distinguished from the first original series, by their bulk, their strength and the different relations which they already have with terrestrial animals. The marine animals of this series are called תנינים, the-huge-bulked-bodies: the aerials bear the name of עוף כנף, that is to say, quick-and-strong-winged fowl.

Finally, the third series is composed of animals called, In general חיתו ארץ, terrestrial animality. In this series are contained all the terrestrial animals whose locomotive movement is neither trailing, nor swimming, nor flying; but which is executed progressively by the aid of appropriate members. This series contains also two particular genera; namely, the animals which creep along like lizards, רמש, [remesh] and those which support themselves like quadrupeds, called בהמה.[behemah] I have already explained the first of these names, which is applied to whatever moves itself by a trailing and contractile movement. As to the second, it is formed from the root בא, expressing all progressive and sustained movement, and from the onomatopoeia הם, which depicts that which is raised and loud.

Before finishing this note I wish to say that these three classes of animals, considered abstractly, and under figure of three moral beings, have been named by the Hebrew poets: לויתן, Leviathan; that is to say, the universality of marine monsters; עזן, Hozan, the universality of birds; and .בהמות, Behemoth, the universality of terrestrial animals. The savants who sought for the signification of these words, brought into their researches too much scholastic prejudice to draw from it any fruit.

I shall refrain from saying anything in regard to the three grand divisions which Moses established in the animal kingdom; I shall only observe that there is as much precision and more true philosophy in drawing methodical distinctions from the kind of movement in animals, as there is in drawing these same distinctions from their legs or from the temperature of their blood. (Hebraic Tongue Restored, Fabré d’Olivet, p. 54-56).