תהלים, פרק ע״ח, פסוק מ״ו

The plague of locusts struck at the very foundation of Egyptian survival, completely destroying the agricultural produce upon which the entire land depended [אבן עזרא]. In describing this devastation, parallel concepts are used to capture the full scope of the swarming insects. These descriptions either serve as synonyms for the exact same creature [מאירי, ביאור שטיינזלץ] or represent distinct species within the broader locust family [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

A similar pairing is used to describe what was destroyed, repeating the same core tragedy through different lenses [מצודת דוד]. One aspect focuses simply on the physical grain and produce of the land [מצודת ציון]. The other, however, emphasizes the human cost. It highlights that these crops did not simply sprout on their own; they were the direct result of intense physical labor, exhaustion, and the hard work of the Egyptian people [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This devastating swarm did not operate in isolation but was closely tied to the plague of hail. God carefully directed the destruction, ensuring the hail did not wipe out every last stalk of grain. He deliberately preserved a portion of the harvest so that the locusts would have food to consume later, making it seem as though the hail had intentionally saved the remaining crops for its companion plague [אלשיך].

Interestingly, the historical timeline is rearranged in this poetic recounting, placing the arrival of the locusts before the plague of hail. This shift from the original sequence in the Book of Exodus is meant to emphasize the overwhelming severity of the divine punishment. Practically speaking, the hail was almost unnecessary, as the locusts were entirely capable of consuming all the land's produce on their own. By presenting the locusts first, the narrative shows that God had already destined the crops for the swarm, yet He still chose to unleash the hail as an additional, deliberate, and distinct strike against the nation [מלבי״ם].