And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,
and the horned owl, and the pelican, and the vulture,
and the swan, and the pelican, and the carrion vulture,
and the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,
Leviticus — A holy people before a holy God. Five offerings, a priesthood, a purity code — and at the centre, a single day that carries the sins of a year to a cleansed Most Holy Place.
Voices4
And the swan,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)reformed
The swan - תנשמת tinshemeth. The Septuagint translate the word by πορφυριωνα, the porphyrion, purple or scarlet bird. Could we depend on this translation, we might suppose the flamingo or some such bird to be intended. Some suppose the goose to be meant, but this is by no means likely, as it cannot be classed either among ravenous or unclean fowls. Bochart thinks the owl is meant. The pelican - קאת kaath.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832evangelical
No less than twenty species of birds, all probably then known, are mentioned under this category, and the inference follows that all which are not mentioned were allowed; that is, fowls which subsist on vegetable substances.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871reformed
It is solitary in its habits and, like other large aquatic birds, often flies to a great distance from its favorite haunts. the gier eagle--Being here associated with waterfowl, it has been questioned whether any species of eagle is referred to. Some think, as the original name racham denotes "tenderness," "affection," the halcyon or kingfisher is intended [CALMET].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871reformed
