Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
FISH. " See also Gen 48:16, margin. They are mentioned in the first chapter of Genesis (Gen 1:20,Gen 1:26,Gen 1:28) and in Ps 8:8 as one of the chief classes of living creatures, and as placed under the dominion of man. In the Law, Lev 11:9-12, distinction of them is made into clean and unclean, according as they have fins and scales or are without them. Of the numerous species of fish which inhabit the lakes and rivers of Palestine and the adjacent sea, Solomon possessed some knowledge, 1 Kgs 4:33, but not a single variety has its name recorded in the Bible.
) An aggravation of the first plague of Egypt was the destruction of fish -an important part of the food of the people. In the wilderness the Israelites murmured for the fish of their old home. Num 11:5. It was a sad prophecy for Egypt that by the failing of her waters the fishermen should mourn, and that they should be disappointed who make ponds and sluices for fish. Isa 19:5-10; comp. Eze 29:4-10. Most of the still and running waters of Palestine swarm with fish. Josephus first called attention to the similarity of the fish of the Sea of Galilee and those of the Nile.
Of those in the former water Tristram says: the density of the shoals "can scarcely be conceived by those who have not witnessed them. Frequently these shoals cover an acre or more of the surface, and the fish, as they slowly move along in masses, are so crowded, with their back-fins, just appearing on the level of the water, that the appearance at a little distance is that of a violent shower of rain pattering on the surface. " But not all of these fish of Galilee are savory eating. Matt 13:47-48. On this lake four of the disciples toiled as fishermen.
Matt 4:18-21, References to the "fish-gate," 2 Chr 33:14, etc., of Jerusalem show that the city was probably supplied with a market for this kind of food. The product of the Mediterranean was doubtless then, as now, brought from Joppa, the port of Jerusalem. " The fish was frequently worshipped from Egypt to Assyria and India. Deut 4:18. Dagon, the Philistine idol, 1 Sam 5:4, was half fish, half man. " Fish are often carried by the Jordan and smaller streams into the Dead Sea, but soon perish in its acrid element. " Eze 47:1-10.
"Fish is an article of diet of which the Orientals are passionately fond. It brings a high price, unless some extraordinary haul has exceptionally cheapened the market. The government derives a considerable revenue from the tax on fish sold in the market. Every beach on the sea-coast of Syria is enlivened with trawling-nets and cast-nets and fishing-boats, and fishermen, standing often knee-deep or waist-deep, casting their pole-lines into the surf. Fish swarm in the warm water of this latitude, and every variety, even to dog-fish and octopods, are greedily eaten. " — Dr. Post, of Beirut.