If you come across a bird’s nest on the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the hen sitting on the young, or on the eggs, you shall not take the hen with the young.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. Thou shalt not take, and so forth This was to shew them to exercise a certain mercy even to irrational creatures; and by that means to train them up to a horror of cruelty; and to the exercise of humanity, and mutual charity one to another. Challoner.—Some were of opinion that the person who could take the old bird on the nest might assure himself of good fortune, fecundity, and so forth S. Thom. i. 2. q. 102. a. 6. Such superstition is reprehensible. Phocilides advises not to take all the young ones, nor the hen, in consideration of one’s having more birds. Calmet.