Helix, if you ever want to make any headway with understanding any other person or culture, you must understand how they see things. You are not right just because you are you.
Our taxonomic classifications are based on the things we think are important.
Ancient classifications were based on what they saw as important.
Neither is right nor wrong. Both suit the cultures they represent.
As a result, we cannot judge their method of classification by our standards. Our standards might not have made any sense to them at all!
As for the hare chewing the cud, you disapprove of their idea of cud. I don't. I understand what was being said.
But if you are eager to discount any but your way of looking at things, you will find your world to be awfully small.