Topical Encyclopedia The term "bald locust" appears in the context of dietary laws given to the Israelites in the Old Testament. In Leviticus 11:22, the Berean Standard Bible lists the bald locust among the insects that are permissible for consumption: "Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper." The bald locust is mentioned alongside other locusts and similar insects, indicating its acceptance as a clean food according to Mosaic Law.The bald locust, like other locusts, is a type of grasshopper known for its swarming behavior. Locusts are part of the order Orthoptera, which includes grasshoppers and crickets. The specific identification of the "bald locust" in modern taxonomy is uncertain, as ancient Hebrew classifications do not always correspond directly to contemporary scientific categories. However, it is generally understood to be a variety of locust that was familiar to the Israelites. In the ancient Near East, locusts were both a source of sustenance and a symbol of devastation. While they were permissible to eat, as noted in Leviticus, locusts also appear in the Bible as instruments of divine judgment. For example, in the book of Joel, a locust plague is described as a harbinger of the "day of the LORD" (Joel 1:4). This dual role highlights the locust's significance in biblical literature as both a provision and a potential curse. The inclusion of the bald locust in the dietary laws underscores the practical and symbolic aspects of these regulations. On a practical level, locusts were a readily available food source in the arid regions of the Middle East. Symbolically, the distinction between clean and unclean animals served to set the Israelites apart from other nations, reinforcing their identity as God's chosen people. In summary, the bald locust is one of the insects deemed clean for consumption in the Old Testament, reflecting both the practical realities of life in ancient Israel and the broader theological themes of purity and divine provision. Torrey's Topical Textbook Leviticus 11:22Even these of them you may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Clean and the Unclean Resources What does it mean that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills? | GotQuestions.orgHow does the fact that there are gay/homosexual animals impact the idea that homosexuality is a sin? | GotQuestions.org Is The Divine Comedy / Dante's Inferno a biblically accurate description of Heaven and Hell? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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