had plenty were not there when he had nothing left and famine struck. To feed pigs (15). To the Jew, nothing was lower than feeding hogs. According to the law, the pig was unclean meat, not suitable for eating (Leviticus 11:7, 8). According to ordinary observation, the hog was unclean to keep. This prodigal (meaning wasteful, extravagant spender) hit bottom when he accepted a job feeding pigs. In fact, he was so hungry, he was anxious to eat the pods (seeds of the carob tree) used for the hog food.