Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LOCUST

An insect of the order Orthoptera and family Acrididae, distinguished from the grasshopper by its gregarious and swarming behavior. Within Palestine three species of locusts can be found. Both the European locust (Locusta migratoria L.) and the Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus moroccanus Thnbg.) are usually harmless; rarely have gregarious swarms been observed in historic times. The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forsk.) is most common, regularly invading Palestine from its breeding grounds along the Red Sea and in the Saharo-Sahelian region. The common Hebrew term ʾarbeh (and probably Gk. akrís in the NT) refers to the desert locust. Heb. sālʿām designates the bald locust, which is considered clean to eat (Lev. 11:22).

Other Hebrew terms referring to locusts are not so easily identified. Heb. gōḇay (variant gēḇâ?) appears to be a synonym of ʾarbeh. Heb. yeleq, ḥāsîl, and gāzām are generally interpreted as developmental stages of the desert locust. In this case, the yeleq is the nymph, the ḥāsîl and gāzām are two successive stages of the juvenile hopper, and the ʾarbeh is the fully mature adult locust which is able to fly. Although this interpretation has some support from the description of locust plague in Joel 1:2–2:11, it is faced with several problems. First, four stages of the desert locust are not readily discernible (the desert locust develops through six instars). Second, these terms appear to be used interchangeably with ʾarbeh and each other (Nah. 3:15-17; Ps. 78:46; 105:34) and to represent a distinct catastrophe (1 Kgs. 8:37). The terms do not appear to be used with precision.

The Bible provides a number of realistic descriptions of locust activity. The Exodus plague narrative (Exod. 10:12-20) and the descriptions of plague in Joel (Joel 1:6-7; 2:3-9) are accurate in ecological detail. Elsewhere, the Bible notes that locust swarms reach Palestine in the spring (Amos 7:1), and that locusts are dependent upon the heat of the sun for locomotion (Nah. 3:17). Locust activity also serves as a source for metaphors. In particular, the two prominent characteristics of locusts — they swarm in vast numbers and have a voracious appetite — describe the size and destructive capability of enemy armies (Judg. 6:5; 7:12; Jer. 5:17; 46:23; 51:14).

Bibliography. B. P. Uvarov, Grasshoppers and Locusts, 2 vols. (Cambridge, 1966-1977).

Ronald A. Simkins

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LOCUST

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)