'Creeping things' or 'crawling things' are one of the three main categories of 'living creatures' formed from the earth. All were created according to their kind, and God saw that they were good. This ethnozoological category likely encompasses terrestrial reptiles, invertebrates, and small mammals that 'creep' along the ground.

This is translated as either spider, or lizard, depending on the version. Either fits the verse, as each can be caught in the hand, and can be found within a palace's walls. The Mediterranean gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) probably best represents the intended illustration.

Spider webs are used a few times in Scripture figuratively to illustrate the problems of relying on anything other than God.

There are at least 21 species of scorpions in Israel, several of which are medically significant. A ridge with a pass between the south of the Dead Sea and Zin, es-Sufah, was apparently named after the abundant scorpions found there, Akrabbim (noted in Numbers 34:4).

A number of 'creeping things' are noted in the dietary laws. Some can be identified, others may be more difficult. Any 'creeping thing' that moves 'on its belly,' 'on all fours,' 'that has many feet,' or that 'swarms on the ground,' (v. 42) was to be considered unclean.

The last critter mentioned in this verse listing unclean animals is usually translated as 'large lizard.' While the Hebrew tzav is sometimes used today for 'tortoise,' at this time it likely referred to the dhab, the Uromastyx (Curwin 2015). This is a large desert agamid (not uncommonly seen in the pet reptile trade) that has been traditionally eaten by Bedouins.

This is an interesting case where the same word is used in two different lists, apparently representing two very different animals. Here (Lev. 11:30), it denotes a 'creeping thing,' while in Deut. 14:16 it denotes a 'flying creature.' So, it is likely a homonym, but possibly a polyseme. The Israelites would have recognized what animal was intended through context.

Locusts are certain species of grasshoppers which swarm and can cause devastation on crops. The locust principally noted in the Bible is likely the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) which while typically timid, solitary grasshoppers, turn into swarming feeding machines when food becomes scarce while population density increases. Serotonin induces both physical and behavioral changes (Harmon 2009). Different words are sometimes translated as 'locust' in the Bible (depending on version); some of these certainly don't refer to actual locusts. Locusts are considered to be the only kosher insect, and I plan to explore this in more detail later.

Two separate proverbs use the ant to illustrate industry, prudence, and foresight in occupation.

A subspecies of the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is found in Israel. God promised the Israelites while they were in captivity in Egypt, that he would bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). While the honeybee itself is unclean, honey produced from flowers was considered kosher (rabbinic teachings suggest either because honey is not itself a secretion of the bee, or because God specifically promised it to the Israelites). Honey based on aphid secretions (forest honey), or from other types of bees, would not be considered kosher.

God tells Israel that he will use hornets as part of His plan to slowly remove the Canaanites from the land He is giving to Israel, so that they know it isn't being done by human hands. Deut. 7:20 also notes this, and Joshua 24:12 declared that this had happened. Scholars who try to associate this word with Egypt simply ignore the context. Probably refers to one or more species of Vespa.

Scale insect (Order Hemiptera) secretions are responsible for the scarlet and crimson dyes used for fabric in the Bible. These include cochineal insects (such as Porphyrophora species) or Kermes species.

There are many terrestrial gastropods native to Israel.

This is another Hebrew word of uncertain translation, but the context fits the leech. Because leeches have both an anterior and posterior suction disc (sucker), some scholars think that the 'daughters' in this proverb refer to those suckers. (Of course, only the anterior disc is connected to the mouth; the posterior disc is primarily used for attachment, positioning, and locomotion.)

Some amphibians were likely included within the 'swimming things.' Further research would be necessary to determine the actual status of frogs. (The primary issue would be to determine whether frogs would have been on the Ark or not.) There are at least two ranid frog species, Rana bedriagae and Ptychadena mascareniensis, that inhabit Egypt's Nile River and were likely included in the plagues of Egypt.

Snakes, especially venomous ones, are mentioned in quite a few places in the Bible, both literally and figuratively. There are some 40+ species in Israel, with nine being medically significant. I'll look a bit closer at some of these in the future.