Why did JTB eat locusts?

[LittleLambofJesus]

Greetings. I was doing a word study on "locusts" in Revelation and for the life of me I cannot understand why John was eating locusts even though it was considered "Kosher" by YHWH in the OT.

Does anyone know of any instance of a prophet eating locusts in the OT?

Curiously Hebrews 5:4 mentions that word food and the greek word #1253 is similar to the word locust. Any thoughts on this from anyone.

http://www.olivetree.com/cgi-bin/EnglishBible.htm

Matthew 3:4 He yet the John had the apparel of him from hairs of a camel and a girdle purse leathern about the loin of him the yet food/trofh <5160> was of him locusts/akrideV <200> and honey wild

Mark 1:6 And was John having apparel hairs of a camel and girdle/purse leather about the loin of him and eating locusts/akridaV <200> and honey wild.

Hebrew 5:14 Of perfected ones yet is the solid food/trofh <5160> of the ones because the habit, the faculties exercised having toward thru-judging/di-akrisin <1253> of ideal besides also evil.

1253. diakrisis dee-ak'-ree-sis from 1252; judicial estimation:--discern(-ing), disputation.

1223. dia dee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act;

200. akris ak-rece' apparently from the same as 206; a locust (as pointed, or as lighting on the top of vegetation):--locust.

2919. krino kree'-no properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:--

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Here is one of the places locust is used. [I won't even attempt to guess the meaning of those other Hebrew words. Might ask the Jews]

Leviticus 11:22 These from them ye shall eat: the locust/0697 'arbeh to species of him, and the 05556 col`am to species of him, and the 02728 chargol to species of him, and the 02284 chagab to species of him.

697 'arbeh ar-beh' from 7235; a locust (from its rapid increase):-- grasshopper, locust.
4766 marbeh mar-beh' from 7235; properly, increasing; as noun, greatness, or (adverbially) greatly:--great, increase.

 

[sunlover1]

Good question. Are we sure he was eating what we
consider locusts? And didnt he dress oddly too? Maybe
he was just a visionary, living green before his time.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Good question. Are we sure he was eating what we
consider locusts? And didnt he dress oddly too? Maybe
he was just a visionary, living green before his time.

Probably. Reve 6:12 is interesting as it shows the sun being black as "hairy sackcloth" and the moon blood. The only thing I can really relate that to is Esau who I was hairy and red. So much symbolism and so little time

Mark 1:6 And was John having apparel hairs/tricaV <2359> of a camel and girdle/purse leather about the loin of him and eating locusts and honey wild.

Reve 6:12 And I saw when it opens up the seal, the sixth, and a quaking, great, became. And the sun became black as sackcloth, hairy/tricinoV <5155>. And the moon, [*whole], became as blood.

5155. trichinos trikh'-ee-nos from 2359; hairy, i.e. made of hair (mohair):--of hair.

 

[tansy]

Maybe it was just easier to catch locusts than other creatures!
Also, eating them would surely help prevent another plague of them, as in the time of Moses!

 

[Ormly]

But weren't they were chocolate covered? . . . . ))

 

[Celticflower]

Some scholars say he wasn't eating bugs, but the seed pods of the locust tree.

 

[tansy]

Some scholars say he wasn't eating bugs, but the seed pods of the locust tree.

But then, in some countries they do eat insects and grubs and things, don't they? But whether or not people eat locusts I don't know.

 

[Celticflower]

Maybe he ate both.

 

[Celticflower]

I think the why of the subject might be to show he was a simple man, living a simple life - he did not have the trappings and prestige of the temple priests. But he spoke with more power and authority than they did.

Besides, do you think as many people would have been drawn to him if he was just like every other "holy" man they knew of? He was a curiosity at first.

 

[Rhamiel]

he also ate honey, kinda sweet and rich for a guy in sackcloth? and wild locust, I read that locust were prized by the egyptians, could be a way of showing that he was an orthodox jew, but also not out of touch with other peoples/cultures?
and what I said before, it was not like he was living on bread and water.

 

[Ormly]

he also ate honey, kinda sweet and rich for a guy in sackcloth? and wild locust, I read that locust were prized by the egyptians, could be a way of showing that he was an orthodox jew, but also not out of touch with other peoples/cultures?
and what I said before, it was not like he was living on bread and water.

Thats it!! He dipped his lucust in honey!

 

[tansy]

Thats it!! He dipped his lucust in honey!

Of course! Problem solved!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

he also ate honey, kinda sweet and rich for a guy in sackcloth? and wild locust, I read that locust were prized by the egyptians, could be a way of showing that he was an orthodox jew, but also not out of touch with other peoples/cultures?
and what I said before, it was not like he was living on bread and water.

It didn't say the locust were wild, but the honey was.
The only other place "honey" is used is in the Jewish/Hebrew book of Revelation

Matthew 3:4 He yet the John had the apparel of him from hairs of a camel and a girdle purse leathern about the loin of him the yet food/trofh <5160> was of him locusts/akrideV <200> and honey, wild

Reve 10:9 And I came away toward the messenger saying to him "give to me the scrollet". And he is saying to me "Be thou getting it! and be thou devouring it! and it shall be making bitter of thee the bowel, but in the mouth of thee it shall be sweet as honey. [Ezekiel 3]
10 And I got the scrollet out of the hand of the messenger and I devoured it. And it was in the mouth of me as honey sweet. And when I ate it, was made bitter the bowel of me.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

It's just what was on hand in the desert to eat. There's no theological significance- it's just to point out his asceticism, ie, live in poverty consecrated to God. Lots of people in pre-industrial cultures eat insects. Haven't you seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

It's just what was on hand in the desert to eat. There's no theological significance- it's just to point out his asceticism, ie, live in poverty consecrated to God. Lots of people in pre-industrial cultures eat insects. Haven't you seen Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?

Can we please just stick to the Bible and use Scripture quotes only. Why was Locusts specifically mentioned instead of other insects.

 

[JayJay77]

I think Celticfower and GratiaCorpusChristi hit it on the head with their replies:
John the Baptist perhaps was reacting to the many priviledges the pharisees and priests were taking at that time.

John was living a simple life on purpose.
That's why Jesus talks about him the way He does in Matt. 11:7-19, and conlcludes that portion in verse 18 saying, "for John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'

It was O.K. to live with privileges, which is why Jesus came eating and drinking (v. 19). John was just reacting to the teaching style and lives of the current Biblical voices of his day.

Why the diet of specifically "locusts," and wild honey I don't know. But Celticflower and GratiaCorpusChristi got the heart of the "why."

 

[Ormly]

Can we please just stick to the Bible and use Scripture quotes only. Why was Locusts specifically mentioned instead of other insects.

They were crunchier . . . . .??

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

They were crunchier . . . . .??

I would like to keep this thread more serious, ok? Especially when it concerns the Divine Scriptures and translation/interpretation problems within Christiandom. If you or others want to make light of them, I am sure there are other threads for that.

 

[tansy]

Sorry for my earlier frivolity.

Well, I justb looked up locusts on the web Just a quick search, and apparently they're very nutritious. So maybe that was the reason JTB ate them - I think they may be quite plentiful as well.
Interesting - maybe I should look into it a bit more.