Walter Jacob
Wild nature was a primary enemy and was much more dangerous than any human incursions. The latter could be fought successfully and they came only occasionally, while the disasters of nature were constant.
Did the environmental concerns include any friendly views of animals? Every effort was made to protect useful animals; they were included in Shabbat rest(Ex. 20:10). Farm animals were to be given proper care; they were not machinery bereft of feeling. They were also to be fed adequately(Deut. 25:4), treated properly, and helped when overloaded(Ex. 23:4). The humane slaughter of animals was legislated and maiming animals was prohibited(Lev 11; Deut 14:4-21). Legislation prohibited the boiling of a kid in its mother’s milk(Ex. 23:19; 34.26; Deut. 14:21) and the taking of a bird along with its eggs(Deut. 22:7f), partly out of concern for the animal's feelings.
Protecting land under cultivation was the focus of the Sabbatical year(Lev. 25:2). During this period fields and vineyards were not to be tilled and whatever they produced was to be available to all human beings and animals(Lev. 25:1ff). The same restrictions applied during the Jubilee year in which all property was restored to its original owner(Lev. 25:13ff). We should note that these provisions applied only to land under cultivation; no concern existed for uncultivated land. Orchards were to be protected from siege warfare, so fruit trees of besieged cities were not to be wantonly destroyed; however, other trees could be freely used to construct siege works without restrictions. Judges (9:8-15) revealed a hierarchy among trees, separating those that were obviously useful and those that were not.
These restrictions elevated the land to a closer relationship with humanity. Resting the land, although useful for agriculture as it helped restore fertility, was not legislated on those grounds. Scripture simply commanded that the land rest as did its inhabitants.
These restrictions along with some others, displayed a view of the natural world that was totally different from our own. Nature was magnificent to the poet but hostile to the farmer, herder, and traveler. Its riches were endless and its domain without borders. It was to be feared, and whenever human beings ceased to impose their will, a wilderness quickly overgrew cities which had been carved out of its domain. The Book of Deuteron omy threatened such destruction if Israel was unfaithful to God , while the Book of Lamentations and sections of the prophetic