Genesis 13:7 - "and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle ..."

Luke 8:34 - "When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country."

The biblical herdsman was one who supervised and cared for groups of cattle, pigs, oxen, horses, camels, or asses. The patriarchs, of course, were great herdsmen. Although we might think of this as being a relatively lowly occupation, it was not inconsistent with state honors. For example, David’s herdsmen were among his chief officers of state. In general, however, the herdsman was s…