Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 30:27

The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

27. by bands ] Lit. divided, i.e. not jostling one another like an unorganised rabble, but arranged in well-ordered ranks. Comp. the description of the ordered march of the locusts: “They break not their ranks, neither doth one thrust another.” Joe 2:7-8.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Compare Joe 2:7-8; the most striking fact in the flight of the locust-swarms was their apparent order and discipline, sweeping over the land like the invasion of a great army.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Have no king to rule and order them.

By bands; in great numbers, and in several companies, and in exact order, as is observed in Scripture, as Jdg 6:5; 7:12; Joe 1:6; 2:7, and by other writers.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

24-31. These verses provide twoclasses of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world,which the reader is left to apply. By the first (Pr30:25-28), diligence and providence are commended; the success ofthese insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacityand activity, rather than strength. The other class (Pro 30:30;Pro 30:31) provides similes forwhatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

The locusts have no king,…. These are small creatures also, yet very devouring ones; and consume the fruits of the earth, wherever they come and light; see Ex 10:13; they are very numerous, and move in large bodies, and yet with great regularity and order; which shows the wisdom there is in them by natural instinct, though they have no king to command, guide, and direct them: in this the mystical locusts differ from them, who have a king, whose name is Abaddon, Re 9:11;

yet they go forth all of them by bands; the Targum is,

“they are all gathered together as one.”

They get together in one place; they associate and join themselves in bands, and keep together, though they have no ruler over them; an emblem of unity, concord, and harmony, let the form of government be what it will, as the best security to a people: and these creatures, when they move from place to place, they move in a body, in a very regular manner; “in precise order” u, as the words may be rendered, with great exactness, everyone in his proper place, all in rank and file; and though they have no general to marshal them, yet are in, and march in as good order as the most regular army does. So the Arabic version,

“yet in their army, their affairs and manner are in a beautiful disposition;”

indeed they are God’s army, as they are called, Joe 2:25; and it is he that gives them their wisdom, instructions, directions, and commission. It is rendered by some, “everyone cutting”; that is, as Kimchi w interprets it, cutting the green grass and trees; or, “every one dividing” x; that is, to himself, the prey or spoils, as kings do; see Isa 33:4.

u Vid. Hilier. Onomastic. Sacr. p. 187. w Sepher Shorash. rad. ; so Stockius, p. 377. “exeidens omnia, herbas, scil. et fruges”, Schindler. col. 633. so Ben Melech. x “unaquaeque sibi dividens”, Bochart; so Schultens.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Pro 30:27. Yet go they forth all of them by bands Yet go they forth sharing all amongst them. See Boch. tom. 1: Proverbs 15.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Pro 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

Ver. 27. The locusts have no king. ] They are all belly, which is joined to their mouths, and endeth at their tails; hence they make such havoc where they come in those Eastern countries. See Joe 2:11 , where they are called “God’s great army.” For though they have no king to command them, yet they go forth by bands, and march all in a company, to teach men concord and combination in lawful affairs and attempts. For,

“ Coniuncti pollent etiam vehementer inertes. ”

Those locusts in the Revelation (whereby is meant the Popish clergy), have their king Abaddon, the Pope, Rev 9:11 to whom they appeal from their lawful sovereign; yea, the rebellion of a clergyman against his prince is not treason, saith Sa the Jesuit, quia non est principi subiectus, because he is the Pope’s subject. And when the English clergy whipped King Henry II for a penance for Becket’s death, one of the Pope’s legates said unto him, Domine, noli minari, &c.: Sir, never threaten us, for we fear no menaces of men, as being of such a court as use to command kings and emperors. a

a Jacob. Revius, De Vit. Pontiff

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)