2^0 THE CLOTHES MOTH. 



ungodly man, " He buildetli his house as a moth, 

 and as a booth that the keeper maketh" (Job 

 xxvii. 1 8). 



Both of these images point to the temporary 

 nature of the dwelling. A booth consists of a few 

 branches put together at the top of a pole where a 

 man can sit and scare away wild animals from the 

 Eastern fields of fruit and grain an erection easily 

 removed in a few moments ; it is appropriately 

 likened to the moth grub's tiny case which is cast 

 aside after a few weeks or months, when the perfect 

 insect has emerged. There are seven or eight 

 allusions in the Scriptures to the ravages of the 

 moth in destroying apparel, and remembering that 

 Eastern people are in the habit of hoarding im- 

 mense stores of richly embroidered clothing as an 

 evidence of great wealth, there can be no doubt 

 but that the many species of Tinea which are 

 found in Palestine were a very real danger to be 

 guarded against with the utmost solicitude. 



