Scripture Notes | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 3, 1867

Scripture Notes.

LOCUSTS.

Ex. x, 14: And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.

[Locusts.] Of all animals calamitous to mankind, by destroying vegetation, the gryllus migratorius (migratory locust) seems to possess the most formidable powers of destruction. In Syria, Egypt, and almost all the south of Asia, they appear in desolating legions, in a few hours changing the most fertile provinces into barren deserts, and by their numbers darkening the air, [or as verse 5 expresses it, covering the (face, Heb.) eye of the earth, i. e., the sun]. Happily, this calamity is not frequent, for it is the inevitable precursor of famine and its horrible consequences. The annals of most of the south Asiatic climates are filled with accounts of such devastations. We are told that nearly as much damage is occasioned by what they touch, as by what they devour. Their bite is thought to contaminate the plants, and either to destroy or greatly weaken their vegetation. When dead, their putrefaction is justly regarded as the cause of desolating pestilences. The swarms are said to have a leader, whose flight they observe, and whose motions they strictly regard. Scarce an adequate conception can be formed of their multitude. Barrow states that in South Africa, the whole surface of the ground might literally be said to be covered with them for an area of 2,000 square miles. The water of a very wide river was scarcely visible on account of the floating carcasses. When the larvæ (for these are much more voracious than the perfect insects) are on a march during the day, it is utterly impossible to turn the direction of the troop, which is generally with the wind.—Encyc. Americana.

THE ISRAELITES BORROWING OF THE EGYPTIANS.

Ex. xi, 2: Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.

The original does not in the least imply that the Israelites asked the Egyptians to lend them the jewels, or vessels, of gold and silver, as promising to return them; but rather that they requested, or even required them; and the Lord engaged to dispose the Egyptians to comply with their requirement; for the words may be rendered, And the Lord will give the people favor, &c.—Scott.

THE 430 YEARS' SOJOURN.

Ex. xii, 40: Now the sojourning of the children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

430 years]. Gen. xv, 13, the time is stated at only 400 years; but the texts are thus reconciled: It was 400 years from Ishmael's mocking Isaac, the beginning of their affliction; but from Abraham's entering Canaan, the commencement of their sojourning, was 430 years. Comp. Gen. xv, 30. In the text of Genesis, the Samaritan after “children of Israel,” adds, “they and their fathers, in the land of Canaan, and in the land of Egypt, was 430 years.” The Alexandrine copy of the Sept. has the same reading; and the same statement is made by Paul, Gal. iii, 17, who reckons from the promise to Abraham to the giving of the law. That these three witnesses have the truth, the chronology itself proves; for it is evident that the descendants of Israel did not dwell 430 years in Egypt; while it is equally evident, that the period from Abraham's entrance into the promised land to the birth of Isaac was 25 years; Isaac was 60 at the birth of Jacob; Jacob was 130 at his going into Egypt, where he and his children continued 215 years more; making in the whole 430 years. See Kennicott's Diss. Greenfield, after Dr. A. Clarke. It is to be remarked, too, that the sacred text says, The sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt,” not their sojourning in Egypt, but their sojourning simply, was 430 years, as above.—Jenks.