פרעש, 1 Sam. xxiv, 14; xxvi, 20. The LXX, and another Greek
version in the _Hexapla_, render it ψύλλον, and the Vulgate _pulex_. It
seems, says Mr. Parkhurst, an evident derivative from פרע _free_, and
רעש _to leap_, _bound_, or _skip_, on account of its agility in leaping
or skipping. The flea is a little wingless insect, equally contemptible
and troublesome. It is thus described by an Arabian author: “A black,
nimble, extenuated, hunch-backed animal, which being sensible when any
one looks on it, jumps incessantly, now on one side, now on the other,
till it gets out of sight.” David likens himself to this insect;
importing that while it would cost Saul much pains to catch him, he
would obtain but very little advantage from it.
version in the _Hexapla_, render it ψύλλον, and the Vulgate _pulex_. It
seems, says Mr. Parkhurst, an evident derivative from פרע _free_, and
רעש _to leap_, _bound_, or _skip_, on account of its agility in leaping
or skipping. The flea is a little wingless insect, equally contemptible
and troublesome. It is thus described by an Arabian author: “A black,
nimble, extenuated, hunch-backed animal, which being sensible when any
one looks on it, jumps incessantly, now on one side, now on the other,
till it gets out of sight.” David likens himself to this insect;
importing that while it would cost Saul much pains to catch him, he
would obtain but very little advantage from it.