Swarms of lice was the third plague with which God punished the
Egyptians, Exod. viii, 16. The Hebrew word בנים, which the LXX render
σκνίφες, some translate flies,” and think them the same as gnats. Origen
says that the _sciniphe_ is so small a fly, that it is scarcely
perceptible to the eye, but that it occasions a sharp stinging pain.
However, the original, according to the Syriac, and several good
interpreters, signifies lice.”
But Josephus, the Jewish rabbins, and most of the modern translators
render the Hebrew word at large _lice_; and Bochart and Bryant support
this interpretation. The former argues that _gnats_ could not be meant.
1. Because the creatures here mentioned sprang from the dust of the
earth, and not from the waters. 2. Because they were both on men and
cattle, which cannot be spoken of gnats. 3. Because their name comes
from the radix כון, which signifies _to make firm, fix, establish_,
which can never agree to gnats, flies, &c, which are ever changing their
place, and are almost constantly on the wing. 4. Because כנה is the term
by which the talmudists express the term louse, &c. To which may be
added, that if they were winged and stinging insects, as Jerom, Origen,
and others have supposed, the plague of flies is unduly anticipated; and
the next miracle will be only a repetition of the former. Mr. Bryant, in
illustrating the aptness of this miracle, has the following remarks:
“The Egyptians affected great external purity, and were very nice both
in their persons and clothing; bathing and making ablutions continually.
Uncommon care was taken not to harbour any vermin. They were
particularly solicitous on this head; thinking it would be a great
profanation of the temple which they entered, if any animalcule of this
sort were concealed in their garments.” The priests, says Herodotus, are
shaved, both as to their heads and bodies, every third day, to prevent
any louse, or any other detestable creature, being found upon them when
they are performing their duty to the gods. The same is mentioned by
another author, who adds, that all woollen was considered as foul, as
from a perishable animal; but flax is the product of the immortal earth,
affords a delicate and pure covering, and is not liable to harbour lice.
We may hence see what an abhorrence the Egyptians showed toward this
sort of vermin, and what care was taken by the priests to guard against
them. The judgments, therefore, inflicted by the hands of Moses, were
adapted to their prejudices. It was, consequently, not only most noisome
to the people in general, but was no small odium to the most sacred
order in Egypt, that they were overrun with these filthy and detestable
vermin.
Egyptians, Exod. viii, 16. The Hebrew word בנים, which the LXX render
σκνίφες, some translate flies,” and think them the same as gnats. Origen
says that the _sciniphe_ is so small a fly, that it is scarcely
perceptible to the eye, but that it occasions a sharp stinging pain.
However, the original, according to the Syriac, and several good
interpreters, signifies lice.”
But Josephus, the Jewish rabbins, and most of the modern translators
render the Hebrew word at large _lice_; and Bochart and Bryant support
this interpretation. The former argues that _gnats_ could not be meant.
1. Because the creatures here mentioned sprang from the dust of the
earth, and not from the waters. 2. Because they were both on men and
cattle, which cannot be spoken of gnats. 3. Because their name comes
from the radix כון, which signifies _to make firm, fix, establish_,
which can never agree to gnats, flies, &c, which are ever changing their
place, and are almost constantly on the wing. 4. Because כנה is the term
by which the talmudists express the term louse, &c. To which may be
added, that if they were winged and stinging insects, as Jerom, Origen,
and others have supposed, the plague of flies is unduly anticipated; and
the next miracle will be only a repetition of the former. Mr. Bryant, in
illustrating the aptness of this miracle, has the following remarks:
“The Egyptians affected great external purity, and were very nice both
in their persons and clothing; bathing and making ablutions continually.
Uncommon care was taken not to harbour any vermin. They were
particularly solicitous on this head; thinking it would be a great
profanation of the temple which they entered, if any animalcule of this
sort were concealed in their garments.” The priests, says Herodotus, are
shaved, both as to their heads and bodies, every third day, to prevent
any louse, or any other detestable creature, being found upon them when
they are performing their duty to the gods. The same is mentioned by
another author, who adds, that all woollen was considered as foul, as
from a perishable animal; but flax is the product of the immortal earth,
affords a delicate and pure covering, and is not liable to harbour lice.
We may hence see what an abhorrence the Egyptians showed toward this
sort of vermin, and what care was taken by the priests to guard against
them. The judgments, therefore, inflicted by the hands of Moses, were
adapted to their prejudices. It was, consequently, not only most noisome
to the people in general, but was no small odium to the most sacred
order in Egypt, that they were overrun with these filthy and detestable
vermin.