Swallows

The Hebrew word sus is most commonly used to refer to the horse, but in two instances it likely denotes a type of swallow (Jer 8:7; Isa 38:14).

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) and the rock martin (Ptyonoprogne obsoleta) are present in Israel year-round as breeding birds. The red-rumped swallow (Cecropis daurica), sand martin (Riparia riparia), and common house martin (Delichon urbicum, also called city or church swallow) also appear as passing migrants, winter visitors, or summer guests, though they do not breed there. All of these species share a similar appearance and flight behavior and were likely not differentiated in biblical times. The following description refers to the barn swallow, which is by far the most common species, ranking as the fourth most numerous bird species worldwide with 1.1 billion individuals. As a synanthropic bird, it always nests near human settlements.

Swallows are migratory birds that travel in large flocks. They fly high and quietly, making their presence in the sky rather inconspicuous. On the ground, they strangely attempt to line up in long rows, always keeping a minimum distance from their neighbors. Many are surely familiar with the image of overhead power lines, stretching over long distances, densely dotted with birds on every wire. Though these structures may mar the landscape, they make ideal resting places for swallows. Before electrification, the birds had to line up on rooftops or straight cliff edges.

The song of the swallow can be described as a fast-flowing, melodic chirping made up of many rich overtones and some rasping elements. If compared to a human expression of sorrow, one might think of a desperate whisper. This is echoed in some Bible translations: “My voice is thin and weak like the chirping of a swallow” (Isa 38:14).