THE HORNET. 805

that of the East continues to this day, is so highly meta-
phorical, that there is no improbability in the suggestion.
If, however, the more literal reading be preferred, there
is still a question as to the insect intended. The original
word is ¢zirah, expressive, probably, of a loud buzzing noise :
this may refer to the hornet, but the zimd, or dog-fly of
Abyssinis, offers so many analogies to the terrible insect
which is mentioned in Scripture under the particular name
of ézirak, and the general one of zebud, that, although we
may not be able to say positively that they are the same, the
statement concerning the zim). may at least be taken to
furnish the best analogous illustration which it is now pos-
sible to obtain. One fact, which gives the greater weight
and probability to the identification, is the certainty that the
zimb was known to the Israelites, for it is difficult to sup-
pose that Isaiah (ch. vii.) could have had any other insect in
view, when he says, “The Lord shall hiss for the fly that is
in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt.” Bruce does
not fail to cite this passage. The original word, there ren-
dered “fly,” is zebub, and, as he observes, “the Chaldee
version is content with calling this animal simply zebud,
which signifies the fly in general, as we express it in English.
The Arabs call it zimd in their translation, which has the
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