The Locusts Eaten by John the Baptist
By J. O. C.
A CORRESPONDENT asks: “Will you please explain in the SIGNS what kind of locusts were eaten by John the Baptist?” The Old Testament law that distinguished between clean and unclean meats gave permission to eat locusts, which the record (Lev. 11: 21–23) says were “flying creeping things.” At the present time the locust is still eaten by the poorer classes in the East, no doubt on account of the Levitical law originally pronouncing them “clean.” Reference to locusts is made but four times in the New Testament; twice it is said they were a part of the food of John the Baptist, and twice they are alluded to in Rev. 9, as symbols of a devastating power. In these last references to them, they are represented as having wings and flying. The same Greek word is used in describing the food of John the Baptist as is used in the symbolical references, showing that the same thing is meant. In the markets of Bagdad dried locusts are now found on sale, which are deemed delicious food in that country. There is no doubt that these insects constituted part of the Baptist’s food. J. O. C.