חגב, Lev. xi, 22; Num. xiii, 33; 2 Chron. vii, 13; Eccles.
xii, 5; Isaiah xl, 22; 2 Esdras iv, 24; Wisdom xvi, 9; Eccles. xliii,
17. Bochart supposes that this species of the locust has its name from
the Arabic verb _hajaba_, “to veil,” because, when they fly, as they
often do, in great swarms, they eclipse even the light of the sun. “But
I presume,” says Parkhurst, “this circumstance is not peculiar to any
particular kind of locust: I should rather, therefore, think it denotes
the _cucullated_ species, so denominated by naturalists from the
_cucullus_, “cowl” or “hood,” with which they are furnished, and which
distinguishes them from the other kinds. In Scheuchzer may be seen
several of this sort; and it will appear that this species nearly
resemble our grasshopper.” Our translators render the Hebrew word
_locust_ in the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple, 2
Chron. vii, 13, and with propriety. But it is rendered _grasshopper_, in
Eccles. xii, 5, where Solomon, describing the infelicities of old age,
says, “The grasshopper shall be a burden.” “To this insect,” says Dr.
Smith, “the preacher compares a dry, shrunk, shrivelled, crumpling,
craggy old man; his backbone sticking out, his knees projecting forward,
his arms backward, his head downward, and the apophyses or bunching
parts of the bones in general enlarged. And from this exact likeness,
without all doubt, arose the fable of Tithonus, who, living to extreme
old age, was at last turned into a grasshopper.” Dr. Hodgson, referring
it to the custom of eating locusts, supposes it to imply that luxurious
gratification will become insipid; and Bishop Reynolds, that the
lightest pressure of so small a creature shall be uncomfortable to the
aged, as not being able to bear any weight. Other commentators suppose
the reference to the chirping noise of the grasshopper, which must be
disagreeable to the aged and infirm, who naturally love quiet, and are
commonly unable to bear much noise. It is probable that here, also, a
kind of locust is meant; and these creatures are proverbially
loquacious. They make a loud, screaking, and disagreeable noise with
their wings. If one begins, others join, and the hateful concert becomes
universal. A pause then ensues, and, as it were, on a signal given, it
again commences; and in this manner they continue squalling for two or
three hours without intermission. The Prophet Isaiah contrasts the
grandeur and power of God, and every thing reputed great in this world,
by a very expressive reference to this insect: Yahweh sitteth on the
circle of the earth, and the inhabitants are to him as grasshoppers,
Isaiah xl, 22. What atoms and inanities are they all before him, who
sitteth on the circle of the immense heavens, and views the potentates
of the earth in the light of grasshoppers, those poor insects that
wander over the barren heath for sustenance, spend the day in
insignificant chirpings, and take up their contemptible lodging at night
on a blade of grass! See LOCUST.
xii, 5; Isaiah xl, 22; 2 Esdras iv, 24; Wisdom xvi, 9; Eccles. xliii,
17. Bochart supposes that this species of the locust has its name from
the Arabic verb _hajaba_, “to veil,” because, when they fly, as they
often do, in great swarms, they eclipse even the light of the sun. “But
I presume,” says Parkhurst, “this circumstance is not peculiar to any
particular kind of locust: I should rather, therefore, think it denotes
the _cucullated_ species, so denominated by naturalists from the
_cucullus_, “cowl” or “hood,” with which they are furnished, and which
distinguishes them from the other kinds. In Scheuchzer may be seen
several of this sort; and it will appear that this species nearly
resemble our grasshopper.” Our translators render the Hebrew word
_locust_ in the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple, 2
Chron. vii, 13, and with propriety. But it is rendered _grasshopper_, in
Eccles. xii, 5, where Solomon, describing the infelicities of old age,
says, “The grasshopper shall be a burden.” “To this insect,” says Dr.
Smith, “the preacher compares a dry, shrunk, shrivelled, crumpling,
craggy old man; his backbone sticking out, his knees projecting forward,
his arms backward, his head downward, and the apophyses or bunching
parts of the bones in general enlarged. And from this exact likeness,
without all doubt, arose the fable of Tithonus, who, living to extreme
old age, was at last turned into a grasshopper.” Dr. Hodgson, referring
it to the custom of eating locusts, supposes it to imply that luxurious
gratification will become insipid; and Bishop Reynolds, that the
lightest pressure of so small a creature shall be uncomfortable to the
aged, as not being able to bear any weight. Other commentators suppose
the reference to the chirping noise of the grasshopper, which must be
disagreeable to the aged and infirm, who naturally love quiet, and are
commonly unable to bear much noise. It is probable that here, also, a
kind of locust is meant; and these creatures are proverbially
loquacious. They make a loud, screaking, and disagreeable noise with
their wings. If one begins, others join, and the hateful concert becomes
universal. A pause then ensues, and, as it were, on a signal given, it
again commences; and in this manner they continue squalling for two or
three hours without intermission. The Prophet Isaiah contrasts the
grandeur and power of God, and every thing reputed great in this world,
by a very expressive reference to this insect: Yahweh sitteth on the
circle of the earth, and the inhabitants are to him as grasshoppers,
Isaiah xl, 22. What atoms and inanities are they all before him, who
sitteth on the circle of the immense heavens, and views the potentates
of the earth in the light of grasshoppers, those poor insects that
wander over the barren heath for sustenance, spend the day in
insignificant chirpings, and take up their contemptible lodging at night
on a blade of grass! See LOCUST.