M]; and Lament, v. 8: "Servants rule over
us," [Hebrew: Mwlv bnv]. That it is from prejudice alone that the
selection of the signification "to mock" can be accounted for, appears
also from the circumstance that all the old Translators (the LXX.,
_Jonath._, _Syr._, _Vulg._) render it by "to rule."

More than one proof is offered by ver. 20: "And I will remove from you
the Northman, and will drive him into the land dry and desolate; his
van into the fore sea, and his rear into the hinder sea; and his stench
shall come up, and his ill-savour shall arise, for he has magnified to
do."

1. If we understand this literally, and refer it to real locusts, then
the designation by [Hebrew: hcpvni], _i.e._, "one from the North," "a
Northman," is inexplicable. It is true that there is no foundation for
the common assertion, that locusts move only from the South to the
North (compare _Credner_, S. 284); but in all history there is not one
instance known of locusts having come [Pg 318] to Palestine from the
North--from Syria. But even although occasionally single swarms, after
having come to Syria from their native country, the hot and dry South,
may have strayed thence to Palestine, such is not conceivable of so
enormous a swarm as is here described, which, with youthful strength,
devastated the whole of Palestine from one end to the other. Is it,
moreover, probable that the prophet, who, as we have already seen,
prophesies things future, would mention a circumstance so accidental
as the transient abode of a swarm of locusts in Syria? Such a
residence, _besides_, would not justify the assertion. The termination
[Hebrew: -i]--added to common names, indicates origin and descent. An
inhabitant of a town, for example, who should reside for a short
time in a village, could not for that reason be called a [Hebrew:
przi].--_Finally_--The native country of the real locusts is plainly
enough indicated by the words: "And I will drive him into the land dry
and desolate." Who does not see that, by these words, the hot and dry
southern countries are marked out, and that the prophet expresses the
thought, "The enemies will be driven back to the place whence they
came," by mentioning the country from which the real locusts used to
come? Our opponents are here greatly embarrassed. Some explain: "The
locusts marching northward,"--_Hezel_ and _Justi_, without the
slightest countenance from the _usus loquendi_: "The dark and fearful
host." This opinio