Topical Bible: The Locust: One of the Plagues of Egypt

◄ The Locust: One of the Plagues of Egypt ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The locust is a significant figure in the biblical narrative, particularly as one of the ten plagues that God inflicted upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. This event is recorded in the Book of Exodus, specifically in Exodus 10:1-20.

Biblical Account

The plague of locusts is the eighth plague that God sends upon Egypt. In Exodus 10:4-6 , God commands Moses to warn Pharaoh: "If you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. They will cover the face of the land so that no one will be able to see the ground. They will devour the remainder left to you after the hail, including every tree that grows in your fields."

This plague was a direct assault on the Egyptian economy and sustenance, as locusts are known for their capacity to consume vast amounts of vegetation, leaving devastation in their wake. The locusts covered the land of Egypt, consuming every plant and fruit that the hail had left behind, as described in Exodus 10:15 : "They covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was black, and they consumed every plant in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in the field throughout the land of Egypt."

Theological Significance

The plague of locusts serves as a demonstration of God's supreme power over creation and His ability to use natural phenomena to achieve His divine purposes. It underscores the futility of resisting God's will, as Pharaoh's hardened heart led to the progressive destruction of Egypt's resources. The locusts, as agents of divine judgment, highlight the consequences of disobedience and the importance of heeding God's commands.

Symbolism and Imagery

In biblical literature, locusts often symbolize destruction and divine judgment. The imagery of locusts is used in other parts of the Bible to convey similar themes. For instance, in the Book of Joel, locusts are depicted as a metaphor for an invading army, emphasizing the totality of devastation they bring (Joel 1:4).

Historical and Cultural Context

In the ancient Near East, locust swarms were a well-known and feared natural disaster. The sudden appearance of locusts could lead to famine and economic ruin, as they would strip the land of all vegetation. The biblical account of the locust plague would have resonated deeply with contemporary audiences, who understood the severity of such an event.

Moral and Ethical Lessons

The plague of locusts serves as a moral lesson on the importance of obedience to God and the dangers of pride and stubbornness. Pharaoh's refusal to release the Israelites, despite witnessing the power of God through the plagues, illustrates the peril of hardening one's heart against divine instruction. The narrative encourages believers to remain humble and responsive to God's will, recognizing His authority over all creation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 10:4-15
Else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into your coast:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Plagues of Egypt
... it away, in spite of all and every one of the ... never seen before; the Lord of the
locust swarms"able ... You may say, These plagues of Egypt reveal God's mighty ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon x the plagues of.htm

On Psalm Lxxvii. Or Lxxviii.
... their fruits to the mildew, and their labours to the locust. 47. ... For to one who lives
without sin there is no ... or things of terror; just as the plagues of Egypt ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on psalm lxxvii or lxxviii.htm

The Second vision "On Earth"
... All is clear and simple and plain if we read this as one of a ... day of the Lord." As
literal and real as were the plagues of Egypt ... Arbah in Hebrew means a locust. ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision on earth.htm

The Oration of Moses at the Rehearsal of the Blessing and the ...
... the fruit of thy ground shall the locust possess. ... toward her daughter; and toward
her young one that cometh ... the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/i the oration of moses.htm

Psalm CV.
... it had spoken of before, that is, the locust and the ... These plagues are ten in number,
but they are not all ... giving is free from the law which bindeth one who is ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cv.htm

A Poor Man's Cry, and what came of It
... in the day of the plagues? When the locusts covered the land, Moses prayed, and
we read, "There remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt" (Exodus 10 ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/a poor mans cry and.htm

At the Well
... Half-green stubble, hail-mown and locust-eaten, showed where ... over Israel at Pa-Ramesu,
paused one noon with ... who had ridden once, before the plagues of murrain ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxvii at the well.htm

Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487.
... Egypt, ten plagues of, and meaning, [316]375; land of Ham, [317]523; emblem ... Christ
our Lord's death changed fear to love, [387]451; one of the ... Locust, [696]375 ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/aron brother of moses 486.htm

Of the Three Woe Trumpets.
... Roman world, together with the former one, of the ... which were not killed by these
plagues, repented not ... Indians, Persians, and Egyptians: "The locust, no doubt ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the three woe trumpets.htm

Letter Liii. To Paulinus.
... it does merely an account of the ten plagues, [1451] the ... by the palmerworm, the
canker-worm, the locust, and the ... upper chamber at Zion upon the one hundred and ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liii to paulinus.htm