Locusts

Just for fun…comment and let me know which one sounds tastier to you!

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. -Matthew 3:4

When I think of locusts, I picture grasshoppers.  While this doesn’t seem appealing to me, it is a delicacy in some cultures, was allowed in the dietary law of the Old Testament, and is filled with protein.

Did you know there is also a locust tree in Israel?  It produces seed pods containing fruit which can also be eaten.

Most scholars believe John was eating the protein filled grasshoppers, but some believe he ate the fruit of the locust tree.

This isn’t important theologically, but I found it an interesting reminder of how understanding the culture of the original biblical authors helps us get a better grasp of what they were talking about.