Hare

Hares are fast-running animals that look similar to rabbits but have longer ears and legs. Three different varieties can be found in Palestine (Lepus europaeus judaeus, Lepus capensis, and Lepus arabicus). Hares like to live in open areas, especially near farms, and in forests where trees lose their leaves. Unlike rabbits (which are not found in Palestine), hares eat only plants. Though they are not like cows that naturally chew their food twice, hares do bring food back up from their stomachs to chew it again when it is hard to digest.

Near Eastern hares have very long ears and large hind feet. Their feet are very furry. They are similar to American jackrabbits, which are true hares. Hares do not dig or live in burrows the way rabbits do. Hares are mostly awake at night. They hide in plants during the day. They eat grasses and herbaceous matter as well as twigs and young bark of woody plants. Hares breed quickly. The young reach sexual maturity at six months.

The hare is ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:6; Deuteronomy 14:7). This is because it seems to chew cud but lacks cloven hooves. Arabs, Chinese, and Lapps also avoid eating hares. However, many others have hunted them, both in ancient times and today. The hare's speed, high birth rate, shyness, and caution protect it from extinction.