Joel 2

The prophet describes the locusts, and other noxious insects, which were the cause of the famine mentioned chap. i. as if they were a mighty army, sent by God’ to destroy the fruits of the earth; and continues to exhort the people to repentance, promising the removal of these calamities, and a return of God’s blessings upon their reformation. scmbling the people at the solemn times of public worship. (See Numb. x.3. 9, 10.) Sanctify a fast, &c] See i. 14. Vcr. 27. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel.’] God’s giving tokens of his especial blessing and protection to his people is expressed by his dwelling among thenx, or in the midst of them; see iii. 17. Lev. xxvi. 11, 12. Ezek. xxxviii. 26. This is a favour he never promises but upon their sincere and steady obedience, as appears in the forecited places; and then the promises contained in this and the foregoing verse, will punctually be fulfilled. And that I am the Lord your God, and none else:’] You will then be convinced that I am always ready to protect you, and you need not apply yourselves to any other gods in your wants or troubles. (Compare Isa. xlv. 5. 21.) And my people shall never be ashamed.] Shall not be any more disappointed of the trust they place in me; nor be reproached by the heathen, as if I had forsaken them. (See ver. 19. compare Isa. li. 22. Nahum i. 15.) Psalms, and elder prophets, relating to the church, under the names of Zion and Jerusalem (see particularly Psal. xiv.,7. and several texts in Isaiah); for we cannot certainly conclude in what time Joel lived. And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.] Or, Among the remnant: this may partly be understood of those who were converted by the preaching of Christ and the apostles, and thereby escaped the vengeance which.involvedthe rest of the nation. (See Acts ii. 40. 1 Thess. ii. 16.) These are called The 2w?o/x£vot, such as should be saved,- or delivered, Acts ii. 47. But there is another remnant of the Jews included in this promise, who shall be converted at the end of the world (when the obstinate and incorrigible shall be destroyed), and return home from their several dispersions. In this sense the remnant is often understood. (See Isu. xi. 11. 16. Jer. xxxi. 7. Micah iv. 7. v. 3. 7.) This conversion of the Jewish nation is frequently mentioned in the prophets. (See Jer. xxx. 3, &c. xxxvi. 25, &c. Ezek. xx. 34. 40. xxviii. 25. Amos ix. 9. and the notes upon these texts.) This sense agrees with what follows in the next chapter.

Joel 2:1

JlSlOW the trumpet inZion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain. The prophet describes the locusts and the caterpillars as God’s army, ver. 11. in pursuance of which metaphor he cxhoTts the people to prepare to meet them, in the same terms as if they were alarmed to encounter an enemy, which was by sounding of a trumpet. (See Jer! iv. 5, 6. 19.) This ceremony was not only used to give notice of an approaching enemy, but likewise to publish the times of the solemn assemblies for the worship of God. (See Numb. x. 3. 9, 10.) And “this is the chief use they were to make of it upon this occasion: (see ver. 15.) for there was no other way to avert the impending judgment, but humbling themselves before God with fasting and prayer. (See ver. 15.) Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:for the day of the Lord cometh, &c] Let them be seized with as terrible an apprehension of this approaching judgment, as if they saw an enemy invading their country. (See ver. 11.)

Joel 2:2

A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains. A day wherein every thing will look dark and dismal. (See Amos v. 18. 20.) The locusts will intercept the light of the sun, and diffuse a darkness over the land, in as swift a manner as the light spreads itself in the morning. Travellers inform us, that these insects will of a sudden cover the sky like a cloud. (See Bochart, de Animal. lib. iv. cap. 4, 5. compare ver. 10.) The XXX. and Chaldee paraphrase join this sentence to the following words: As the morning spread upon the mountains, a people great and strong. A people great and strong.] See i. G. Tliere has not been ever the like, &c] The locusts which plagued Egypt are described after the same manner, Exod. x. 14. Before them there were no such locusts, neither after them shall be such. In both places we are to take it for a proverbial expression, to set forth the extraordinary greatness of the judgment, and not understand it too strictly according to the grammatical sense of the word. So we read of Hezekiah, that after him there was none like him, among all the kings of Judah, nor any that went before him, 2 Kings xviii. 5. and yet the same character is given to Josiah, 2 Kings xxiii. 25.

Joel 2:3

A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The locusts and the drought which ushered them in, (see i. 19.) have in a manner devoured every thing that comes in their way; and leave sad tokens of destruction wherever they have been. Those that have travelled in the eastern countries inform us, that wherever the swarms of locusts light, they make such a destruction, that there remains not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of Microsoft ® [chap, it. the field, as Moses speaks concerning the locusts in Egypt, Exod.x. 15. Tlie land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness.] The land of Judca, so famous for its fertility and pleasantness before this calamity, is now turned into a desolate wilderness, by the ravages they have made. The garden of Eden is a proverbial expression for a place of pleasure and fruitfulncss, as we commonly use the word paradise. (Sec Gen.xiii. 10. Isa. li.3.)

Joel 2:4

Tlie appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, &c. See the same comparison, Rev. ix. 7. Bochart observes that locusts resemble horses, not only in their swiftness, but also in the shape of their heads. (See his Hierozoicon, par. ii. p. 474.)

Joel 2:5

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap. Compare Rev. ix. 9. Chariots anciently were a part of warlike preparations, as appears by many passages in Scripture. The text says, that these locusts shall resemble them in their swiftness, noise, and terror. “Tanto volant pennarum stridore, ut aliae alites credantur:” Their wings make such a noise, as if they tvere winged fowls, saith Pliny, Nat. Hist. lib. xi. cap. 29. Like the noise of a flame of fire that devour eth the stubble.’] “\Vhich burns up combustible matter without resistance. As a strong people set in battle-array.] See ver. 2. and i.6. Ver. G. Before their face the people shall be much pained; all faces shall gather blackness.] The inhabitants of the land shall be in great pain and anguish under jthe apprehension ■of their coming; they shall be seized with such a dread and fear, as shall make their visage look black and ghastly, like persons who are dying. (Compare Jer. viii. 21. Nahum ii. 10.)

Joel 2:7

They shall run like mighty men, &c. They shall march in such a swift and orderly manner, that no placo shall be inaccessible to them, nor any force be able to withstand them.

Joel 2:8

Neither shall they thrust one another; they shall walk every one in his path, &c. Of the regular and orderly motion of these insects, St. Jerome gives this account from his own experience, in his notes upon the place: “Hoc nuper in hac provincia vidimus: cumenim locustarum agmina venirent, ct aerem inter coelum et terram occuparent, tanto ordine ex disposito Dei judicio volitant, ut instar tesserularum, quae in pavimentis artificum figuntur manu, suum locum teneant, et ne puncto quidem, ut ita dicam, aut ungnc transverso, dcclinent ad altcrum.” TItis we lately saw in our part of the country! for when sivarms of locusts came and filled the lower region of the air, they flew in such order, by the Divine appointment, and kept their places as exactly, as when several tiles or party-coloured stones are skilfully placed in a pavement, so as not to be a hairs-breadth out of their several ranks. And when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.] By reason of their niinbleness, and the outward coat of their skin being so hard and smooth, no offensive weapon can touch them.

Joel 2:9

Tliey shall run to and fro in the city; they shall runtipon the wall, &c. We may have recourse to St. Jerome again for explaining this passage: “Nihil locustis invium est, cum ct aspros, et sata, et arbores, et urbes, ct domos, et cubiculorum sccrcta penetrent.” Everyplace (saith he) lies open to them; for they infect not only the fields and the fruits of the earth,but creep into cities, houses, and the most secret recesses^ i

Joel 2:10

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and moon shall be dark, &c. Tlie inhabitants of the earth shall be seized with a horrible dread at their approach. (See ver. 6. and compare Amos ix. 5.) The heavens shall put on the appearance of fear by looking dark and dismal, because these noxious creatures shall come in such swarms as to intercept the rays of the sun, and the light of the moon and stars. (See ver. 2.) % Pliny saith of them, that they sometimes darken the sun: xtbi supra. And Moses saith of the locusts in Egypt, that the land was darkened by them, Exod. x. 15. It is likewise to be observed, that* God’s particular judgments being an earnest and forerunner of the general judgment, the same expressions are common to both. (Compare ver. 31. and iii. 15. Matt. xxiv. 29. and see the note upon Isa. xiii. 10.)

Joel 2:11

And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army. Like a leader or general, he shall command or encourage this his army, and can make the meanest parts of the creation the instruments of his vengeance. God’s voice sometimes denotes his anger: the most terrible way of declaring his will is when he speaks to us by his judgments. (Compare iii. 1G. Jer. xxv. 30. Amos i. 2.) For his camp is very great.] See ver. 25. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, &c] The time of God’s particular judgments, as w r ell as that of his general one, is commonly expressed by the day of the Lord, the former being an earnest and imperfect representation of the latter.

Joel 2:12

Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. Testify your inward repentance by outward expressions of true sorrow.

Joel 2:13

And rend your hearts, and not your garments. Rending of the garments was customary in times of great sorrow and affliction. (Gen. xxxvii. 34. Job i. 20. 2 Sam. i. 11.) The prophet does not forbid men using this outward sign of mourning, but puts them in mind to add an inward contrition to it. The Hebrew writers sometimes signify the preference that is due to one thing above another, in terms which express the rejecting of that which is less worthy: thus we read, Hos. vi. G. / will have mercy, and not sacrifice: i. e. rather than sacrifice. To the same sense we are to understand the text before us. For he is gracious and merciful, &c] The words allude to God’s own declaration of himself, Exod. xxxiv. 0. compared with Jonah iv. 2.

Joel 2:14

JVho knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him? &c. God’s own nature, and the former instances we have found of his merciful disposition, encourage us to hope, that our sincere repentance may avail to avert God’s wrath, and engage him to restore his blessings upon us and our land. (Compare 2 Sam. xii. 22. Jonah iii. 9.) Even a meat-offering and a drink-offering unto the Lord your God.] At least sufficient provision to supply the necessary parts of God’s public worship; which, since the dearth, have been necessarily omitted. (See i. 9. 13.)

Joel 2:15

Blow the trumpet in Zion. The signal for as-

Joel 2:16

Sanctify the congregation. Take care that they be purified from Ihosc legal pollutions which render persons unqualified to approach God’s temple or worship. (See Lev. xv. 31. Numb. xix. 13. 20.) Assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts.] Compare 2 Chron. xx. 13. Let both young and old join in this general humiliation: all ages joining in it adds much to the solemnity of it, and is very proper to work in men’s minds that sincere contrition, which may avert those judgments which threaten the whole nation, and wherein their posterity may suffer. Let the bridegroom go out of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.’] Let them prepare themselves for this solemn humiliation, by retiring into separate apartments, and abstaining from the enjoyment of each other. (Compare 1 Cor. vii. 15. Zech. xii. 14.)

Joel 2:17

Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar. A principal part of* the priests’ office was to attend upon the altar, and offer the sacrifices there. For which reason the open court just before the porch of the temple, where the brazen altar stood, (see 2 Chron. viii. 12.) was called the priests* court, where the greatest part of those whose course it was gave their attendance. Hereupon this is mentioned as the most proper place for the priests to make their prayers and intercessions to God in behalf of the people, where they might best be heard of all the assembly, and where they had before offered the sacrifices proper for such an occasion, which were the most solemn way of calling upon the Lord, (see Gen. xii. 4. 1 Sam. vii. 8, 9.) and being joined to their prayers, were the most effectual means to make an atonement for sin, and avert the Divine displeasure. And let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, &c] It w r as usual to prescribe certain forms of prayer, or praise, to the priests in their public ministrations. (See 1 Chron. xvi. 3G. Hos. xiv. 2.) Such was this herein mentioned, wherein they beseech God to deliver his people, not for any merit of theirs, but for the glory of his own name, lest the heathen round about them should take occasion to blaspheme his name, as if he were not able to protect his people. (Compare Psal. xlii. 20. Ixxix. 10. cxv. 2.) That the heathen should rule over them.] This translation of the Hebrew verb mashal favours their interpretation, who expound the army described at the beginning of the chapter of a hostile invasion: but if we understand those expressions only as a metaphorical description of that grievous destruction the locusts and other venomous insects should make in the laud (which I take to be the truer exposition), then this sentence is to be translated, That the heathen should use a by-word against them, as our margin reads; should make them the subject of their scorn and derision, as if they were forsaken by the God whom they worshipped: and the verb mashalis indifferently taken in cither signification. (Sec Dcut. xxviii. 37.)

Joel 2:18

Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. He will be concerned for. the honour of that land, which he hath made the lot of his own inheritance,. and have so much pity for it, as not to suffer it or its inhabitants to.be the subject of reproach to the heathen. (See ver. 17. 19. and compare Zech. i. 14.)

Joel 2:19

Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, &c. I will restore your former plenty, and the nations about you shall have no more occasion to reproach your desolate condition: (ver. 17.)

Joel 2:20

But I will remove from you the northern army, &c. The locusts are described like an army in the former part of the chapter, (see ver. 11.) and here they are called the northern army, because they entered into the land at Hamath, one of the northern borders of it, and passed quite through it, till they came to the southern parts about the lake Asphaltites, which was barren and desolate ever since the overthrow of Sodom. and Gomorrah; and there they were either famished or devoured in the lake, as the Egyptians were in the, Red Sea. (See Exod. x. 19.) With his face towards the east sea, and his hinder part towards the xttmost sea J] In the Hebrew language all lakes or confluences of water are expressed by the name of seas. Here the lake Asphaltites, or the Sea of Sodom, is called the east sea, (compare Ezck. xlvii. 8. 18. Zech. xiv. 8.) and opposed to the utmost, or western sea, which is the Mediterranean. (See Deut. xi. 24.) And his stink shall come up.] St. Jerome, upon the place, relates, that in his own time the heaps of locusts which were drove by theiwinds into the sea, afterward putrefied ypon the shore, and so corrupted the air as to bring a pestilence. - Because he hath done great things.] Or rather, Although he hath done great things: though this army of insects by God’s appointment has made such destruction in the land, yet it shall come to this shameful end. -Ver. 21. The Lord will do great things.] God will magnify himself as much in acts of mercy, as he did before in the strokes of his justice.

Joel 2:22

Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field, &c. As the cattle had their share in the dearth,- i. 18. 20. so now they shall receive comfort in the return of plenty.,

Joel 2:23

For he hath given you the former rain moderately. The season for the former rain was about the middle of our October. (See Dr. Lightfoot’s Horce Hcbr. upon Luke iii. 25.) The Hebrew word rendered moderately literally signifies, according to righteousness, and is equivalent with according to judgment, Jer. x. 23. or in measure, Jer. xxx. 11. But some interpreters translate it here plentifully. Our margin reads a teacher of righteousness, which sense is followed by the Chaldee paraphrast, and the Vulgar Latin, and may be a proper introduction to the promise which follows, (ver. 28.) of pouring God’s Spirit upon all flesh. And the latter rain in the first month.] Which was Nisan, partly answering to our March: the regular season for this rain was three months before harvest, (Amos iv. 7.) i. e. before wheat-harvest, which was later than barley-harvest in Judca. (See lluth ii. 23. 2 Sam. xxi. 9.)

Joel 2:25

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, &c. The fruit of those years which the venomous insects have devoured. (Sec i. 4.) My great army.] See ver. 11.

Joel 2:26

And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied. Ye shall eat bread to the full, as it is expressed, Lev. xxiv. 5. Deut. vi. 11. viii. 10. Times of scarcity aro expressed by eating and not being satisfied, Lev. xxvi. 26. Amos iv. 8. Micah vi. 14… vol. iv.

Joel 2:28

And it shall come to pass afterward. Or, In the last days, as St. Peter explains the phrase, Acts ii. 17. by which expression Manasseh ben Israel tells us, that all their wise men understood the times of the Messias. (See the Bishop of Litchfield’s Def. of the, ancient Prophecies, p. 123;) So afterward and in the latter days are equivalent, Dan. ii. 28. 45. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.] The plentiful effusion of the Holy Spirit is mentioned by the prophets as the peculiar character of the gospel state: and it is elsewhere compared to the pouring waters upon thirsty land, whereby it becomes fruitful. (See Isa. xliv. 3. liv. 13. Jer. xxxi. 34. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. compared with John vii. 39.) So this text, in analogy to other parallel places, is very fitly applied by St. Peter to the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the first believers, Acts ii. 17. Alt flesh comprehends the gentiles as well as the Jews: which promise we see was punctually fulfilled, Acts x. 44. xi. 17. The expression of the last days is another indication that this prophecy belongs to the times of the Messias: for the Jews agree that prophecy was sealed up with Malachi, and not to be restored till the days of the Messias. (See the forementioned discourse.) But we need not confine this prophecy to those early times; but since many prophecies have gradual completions, we may suppose this prophecy to imply, that there shall be another remarkable effusion of the Spirit bestowed upon the Jews in order to their conversion in the latter times of the world. (See the note upon Isa. liv. 13. Ezek. xxxix. 29.) This exposition agrees very well with some expressions in this prophecy, and makes a clearer connexion with the following chapter. Your sotis and your daughters shall prophesy.] The gift of prophecy was bestowed upon some women under the Old Testament, as upon Miriam, (Exod. xv. 20.) Deborah,(Judg. iv. 14.) and Huldah, (2 Kings xxii. 14.) But this gift was more frequently conferred upon them in the times of the New. Thus we read of four daughters of Philip the evangelist, who did prophesy, Acts xxi. 9. and church-history affords us several other instances; such as Perpetua and Fclicitas, who were martyrs for the Christian faith, Potamiena mentioned by Eusebius, lib. iv. cap. 5. and others. Your young men shall see visions.] In visions the inspired person was awake, but his external senses being bound up, and as it were laid in a trance, (sec Numb. xxiv. 4.) ho had a distinct knowledge of the things revealed to him, and that sometimes accompanied with external representations: such was that vision of St. Peter’s, mentioned Acts x. 11. From visions being applied to’young men, and dreams to old, some have observed that the imagination is stronger in those that are young than in the old; so that their senses need not be bound up with sleep, in order to make them capable of receiving heavenly visions. Vcr. 29. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days tvill I pour out my Spirit.] As every age and condition are made partakers of the common benefits of the gospel, so they shall not be excluded from the privilege of the extraordinary gifts of it. (See Coloss.iii. 11. James ii. 5.)

Joel 2:30

And I will shew wonders in heaven, and in the earth, &c. This and the following verse principally point out the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem by the Romans, a judgment justly inflicted upon the Jewish nation for their resisting the Holy Spirit, and contempt of the means of grace. So Malachi, after he had foretold the coming of the Messias, (iii. 1.) immediately adds, that his coming should be attended with terrible judgments upon the disobedient, iii. 2, 3. 5. iv. 1. The prophet here takes notice of the extraordinary signs which will be forerunners of that destruction: such were the great slaughters of men, and burning of the towns and cities of Judea, which preceded that last and finishing stroke of the Divine vengeance; and chiefly the comet which hung over their city, and the fearful sights seen in the air some time before; which are mentioned by Josephus, De Bell. Jud. lib. vi. cap. 31. and foretold by Christ, Luke xxi. 11.

Joel 2:31

Tlie sun shall he turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord shall come. Compare Mal.iv. 5. Particular judgments upon kingdoms and nations, are often described in such terms as properly belong to the general judgment; as hath been observed upon the tenth verse of this chapter. The expressions here used, in the literal sense, import the failing of light in the sun and moon, whether by eclipses (when the moon looks of a bloody colour), or any other cause: and here they denote the dark and melancholy state of public affairs at the destruction of the Jewish nation by the Romans; and the utter overthrow of that state and government. (Sec the note upon Isa. xiii. 10.)

Joel 2:32

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall b$ delivered. This St. Paul, Rom. x. 13. explains of those who give themselves up to Christ, and profess themselves his disciples; that being the most effectual means of escaping the judgments coming upon the unbelieving Jews, and likewise of being delivered from the wrath to come. (See Luke xxi. 22. 1 Thcss. ii. 1G.) For in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, shall be deliverance.] The gospel is described as taking its rise from Jerusalem, and being from thence spread abroad into the world. (See Psal. ex. 2. Isa. ii. 3.) Accordingly Christ commanded his disciples to preach the gospel to all’nations, beginning at Jerusalem, Luke xxiv. 47. The words may also imply, that the Christian church, often denoted by Mount Zion and Jerusalem, is the only place of salvation. (Sec likewise Obad. ver. 17.) As the Lord hath said.] By me his’prophet. Or the words may relate to the several promises made in the