Domesticated by the time of Jacob (Gen. 30: 37–42); sheep provided meat, wool, hide, and milk, and so were fundamental to human existence. Their shepherds were in constant search of suitable pasture (1 Chron. 4: 39–40). In the NT sheep are often used as a metaphor: thus, the people of Israel are compared to sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9: 36) and Jesus is ‘a good shepherd’ who gives his life for his sheep (John 10: 7–9) but, also, he himself is compared to a sheep that is led to the slaughter (Acts 8: 32).