ELTB BB 22-23
Pelican
Perhaps Adam watched a pelican scoop up his meal from the water, and then vomit up the shell and rocks. He named it 'vomit after'. That's gross.
Vomit, like spit, is a symbol of rejection. [1] Those who reject the word should not be teachers of the word. There are some Bible teachers who don't even believe in God. There are some who will tell you there was never a garden, a man named Adam, or a flood. They will say they have reasons to not believe in those things. But why would someone dedicate themselves to teaching something they don't believe? [2] The pelican represents those who reject the word of God.
- pelican qa’ath קאת - vomit קא after ת.
Gier eagle
The name contains the Hebrew root 'to love'. The birds are mated for life and seldom separated. This may be part of what Adam saw, but if this was all, we would have difficulty understanding why it is an unclean bird. Love is a good thing to learn. But the Gier eagle eats almost nothing but carrion or road kill.
The full name actually means 'not understanding love'. Though they are together in the appearance of love, they eat nothing but dead rotting things. Someone who loves you teaches you good things, not bad things. If your friend wants you to do bad things, you know there is no love there.
It is true that when we eat the bread of communion, we are learning from the death of Jesus, but it is followed by the wine or 'living water' as a symbol of the life he gives us through his resurrection. [3]
Paul teaches that if we don't have love, our faith, generosity, knowledge, and sacrifices mean nothing. [4]
The one who truly loves, eats or learns from, the living word of God with others.
- gier eagle haracham הרחם - not understanding ה love רחם.
- ↑ ▸ ± Job 20:15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
- ↑ ▸ ± Pr 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
- ↑ ▸ ± Le 17:11 For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul.
- ↑ ▸ ± Co 13:2,3 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
