גום, Joel i, 4; Amos iv, 9. Bochart says that it is a kind
of locust, furnished with very sharp teeth, with which it gnaws off
grass, corn, leaves of trees, and even their bark. The Jews support this
idea by deriving the word from גוז or גזן, _to cut_, _to shear_, or
_mince_. Notwithstanding the unanimous sentiments of the Jews that this
is a locust, yet the LXX. read κάμπη, and the Vulgate _eruca_, a
caterpillar;” which rendering is supported by Fuller. Michaëlis agrees
with this opinion, and thinks that the sharp cutting teeth of the
caterpillar, which, like a sickle, clear away all before them, might
give name to this insect. Caterpillars also begin their ravages before
the locust, which seems to coincide with the nature of the creature here
intended.
of locust, furnished with very sharp teeth, with which it gnaws off
grass, corn, leaves of trees, and even their bark. The Jews support this
idea by deriving the word from גוז or גזן, _to cut_, _to shear_, or
_mince_. Notwithstanding the unanimous sentiments of the Jews that this
is a locust, yet the LXX. read κάμπη, and the Vulgate _eruca_, a
caterpillar;” which rendering is supported by Fuller. Michaëlis agrees
with this opinion, and thinks that the sharp cutting teeth of the
caterpillar, which, like a sickle, clear away all before them, might
give name to this insect. Caterpillars also begin their ravages before
the locust, which seems to coincide with the nature of the creature here
intended.