FOWLER (יָקוּשׁ, H3687); One who traps and hunts wild birds. In ancient times birds were caught or killed in many different ways—with decoys, traps, nets, snares, lures, bait, slings, bows and arrows, bird lime smeared upon branches, birdcalls, and setting dogs. Birds were a favorite food esp. of Egyptians; and many Egypt. paintings exhibit scenes of fowling. The Egyptians were expert at killing, preserving, and preparing for the table all kinds of birds. Even today countless birds migrate N and S across Pal. in the spring and fall, preferring to fly over land rather than across the Mediterranean. Birds were used for food, as caged pets, and for sacrifice. In the Mosaic legislation it was forbidden to take the mother bird with the eggs or young, lest the species should become exterminated (Deut 22:6, 7). The word is used often in a metaphorical sense to represent evil men who set snares to catch the unwary and bring them to moral and spiritual ruin (Ps 91:3; 124:7; Prov 6:5; Jer 5:26; Hos 9:8).