BEETLE. (חַרְגֹּל, H3005, beetle [KJV]; cricket [ASV, RSV] Lev 11:22). The context is a list of edible insects: this alone makes the RSV tr. preferable, though still uncertain. No identifiable reference can thus be found to the Coleoptera, which includes nearly half the known kinds of insects and are characterized by having the forewings thick and leathery. Palestine has a wide variety, including the scarab dung beetle sacred to the ancient Egyptians and many species capable of becoming farm pests. No kinds are known to be eaten there, though many are relished, esp. in grub form, in parts of Africa and Australia. See Cricket.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

(the Revised Version (British and American) CRICKET; chargol; See Locust): This name occurs only in Le 11:22 as one of four winged Jumping insects (sherets ha-`oph) which may be eaten. It certainly is not a beetle and is probably not a cricket. Probably all four are names of locusts, of which more than 30 species have been described from Syria and Palestine, and for which there are at least 8 Arabic names in use, though with little distinction of species. Closely allied to chargol are the Arabic charjalet, a troop of horses or a flight of locusts, from charjal, "to gallop," and harjawan, "a wingless locust."

See also