THE LOUSE. 203 



hands.' The deceitful veil which he throws over the deformity of 

 his character, can remain only for a short time ; like the spider's 

 web it shall soon be swept away, and his loathsome form exposed 

 to every eye. He shall perish in the ruins of that habitation which 

 he constructed with so much care, and where he reposed in fatal 

 security. 



Our translators have found the spider in Prov. xxx. 28 ; but the 

 opinion of Bochart, that the newt, a species of small lizard, is meant 4 

 is more likely correct. 



THE FLEA. 



THIS contemptible and blood-thirsty little animal was well known 

 in every part of the world, and was chosen by the persecuted son 

 of Jesse, as an object of comparison for the purpose of reproving 

 the folly of the incensed king of Israel, 1 Sam. xxiv. 14 ; ch. xxvi. 

 20. The idea seems to be, that while it would cost Saul much to 

 catch the object of his pursuit, his success would afford him but 

 little advantage. 



THE LOUSE. 



ONE of the plagues brought upon the land of Egypt, by Pharaoh's 

 obstinate and iniquitous oppression of the children of Israel, was 

 produced by a swarm of cerwn, rendered ' lice ' by Josephus, the 

 Rabbins, and most modern commentators, in whose defence Bochart 

 and Bryant have adduced many arguments, supported by consider- 

 able learning and ability. On the other hand, the LXX, who dwelt 

 in Egypt, arid who, it must be supposed, knew better than we can 

 pretend to, what was intended by the Hebrew name, render it gnats ; 

 and their interpretation is confirmed Philo, himself also an Alexan- 

 drian Jew, and by Origen, a Christian father, who likewise lived at 

 Alexandria. The latter describes them as winged insects, but so 

 small as to escape any but the acutest sight, and he adds, that when 

 settled on the body, they wound it with a most sharp or painful 

 piercer. Dr. Geddes, who maintains this opinion, remarks that Bo- 

 chart and Bryant ought not to have so confidently appealed to the 

 Syriac and Chaldee versions, as being in their favor ; for the word 

 they use, is without sufficient authority translated pediculus, in the 

 Polyglott and by Buxtorf. From Bar Bahlul, the prince of Syriac 

 lexicographers, we learn that the corresponding Syriac word de- 

 notes an animalcule hurtful to the eyebrows, animalcula palpebirs 



