Hunter-Gatherer Society

See, along with man came what was known as the first society, that of the hunter-gatherer. The book starts out with creation, of man and woman placed inside s beautiful garden. There they had everything needed to survive. Chances are, if they woke up hungry the next morning, they would just go to nearest tree and pull down some fruit. Between long walks through the garden and foraging trips, it likely occupied them for hours. This is known as gathering, or foraging, for food. But it's not just food though. This gathering can also be for whatever else is needed and readily available. Things like shelter can be made quite simply from a few branches of a nearby tree. More extensive shelters can be found by increasing the extent and amounts of things gathered. You have to be careful with it though not to destroy the surrounding landscape. Living things like trees do not grow back as easily as hoped and not quite as quickly. So that is the gatherer right. Food is available on the basis of need and the supply of it of course, prompts a migration. It's along the lines of where there is need, a supply can be found, if you follow it. Some species of animals would be strictly gatherers and some strictly hunters. But only man can pick and choose based on either survival or need whatever the case may be. It was a choice that kind of made sense in this environment, wasn't it? There was plenty and little reason to do any different.

Then we see the first man and woman driven from the garden for breaking the standards of law and order. Isn't it funny how too much of a good thing in excess is bad. The tree wasn't even wanted for food but rather for knowledge and power. Does this make one unwise then when it drives all our pursuits? To answer that question of no longer having enough, God took an animal and broke the second rule, that of the order. By doing this, he made them clothes to wear and also showed them how to kill and eat meat. Perhaps not right away, but later they would. This then is the hunter that by nature takes what would have been given. It is stricter than the other two due to necessity. In this type of society, the hunter takes what is needed through prey. Of course, since hunting animals takes time and thought, it is more carefully planned than a quick trip through the shrubbery. Goods such as clothes under this system are more durable and made to last longer. It takes a while to prepare for what is needed. Often these preparations are acquired as a skill. But the rewards are more worthwhile when you do.

You might wonder can the two work together. Absolutely they can. It helps when there are multiple people involved in this arrangement. Then one or more can gather or forage for immediate needs and the hunting can be done by some others to meet longer-term goals. Of course, communication in such a society is also key to making this arrangement work.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and splendour.

Psalm 8:4-5