CHAPTER II _The prophet sounds the alarm of a dreadful calamity, the_ _description of which is most terribly worked up_, 1-11. _Exhortation to repentance, fasting, and prayer, that the Divine_ _judgments may be averted_, 12-17. _God will in due time take vengeance on all the enemies of pure_ _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joel 2:2. _A DAY OF DARKNESS, C._] The depredations of the locusts are described from the _second_ to the _eleventh_ verse, and their destruction in the _twentieth_. Dr. _Shaw_, who saw locusts in Barbary in 1724 and 1725, thus describes them: - "I never observed the _mantes_, bald _locusts_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joel 2:3. _A FIRE DEVOURETH BEFORE THEM_] They consume like a general conflagration. "They destroy the ground, not only for the time, but burn trees for two years after." Sir _Hans Sloane_, Nat. Hist. of Jamaica, vol. i., p. 29. _BEHIND THEM A FLAME BURNETH_] "Wherever they feed," says _Ludol... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 4. _THE APPEARANCE OF HORSES_] The _head_ of the locust is remarkably like that of the _horse_; and so _Ray_ on Insects describes them: _Caput oblongum, equi instar, prona spectans_ - "They have an oblong head, like to that of a horse, bending downward." On this account the _Italians_ call the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _LIKE THE NOISE OF CHARIOTS_] _Bochart_ also remarks: - "The locusts fly with a _great noise_, so as to be heard _six miles off_, and while they are eating the fruits of the earth, the _sound_ of them is like that of a _flame driven by the wind_." - _Ibid_., p. 478.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _ALL FACES SHALL GATHER BLACKNESS._] Universal mourning shall take place, because they know that such a plague is irresistible.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _LIKE MIGHTY MEN-LIKE MEN OF WAR_ (_and as horsemen_, Joel 2:4)] The prophet does not say _they are such_, but they _resemble_. They are _locusts_; but in their operations they are LIKE the above. _THEY SHALL NOT BREAK THEIR RANKS_] See the account on Joel 2:2, from Dr. _Shaw_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _THEY SHALL NOT BE WOUNDED._] They have hard scales like a coat of mail; but the expression refers to the _utter uselessness_ of all means to prevent their depredations. _See Shaw's_ account above.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _THE EARTH SHALL QUAKE - THE HEAVENS SHALL TREMBLE_] Poetical expressions, to point out _universal consternation_ and _distress_. The _earth quaked_ to see itself deprived of its _verdure_; the _heavens trembled_ to find themselves deprived of their _light_. _THE SUN AND THE MOON SHALL BE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _THE LORD SHALL UTTER HIS VOICE_] Such a _mighty force_ seems as if summoned by the Almighty, and the noise they make in coming announces their approach, while yet afar off.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _TURN YE_ EVEN _TO ME_] _Three means_ of turning are recommended: _Fasting, weeping, mourning_, i.e., _continued sorrow_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _REND YOUR HEART_] Let it not be merely a rending of your _garments_, but let your _hearts_ be truly contrite. Merely _external_ worship and _hypocritical pretensions_ will only increase the evil, and cause God to meet you with heavier judgments. _FOR HE_ IS _GRACIOUS_] Good and benevolen... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _WHO KNOWETH_ IF _HE WILL RETURN_] He may yet interpose and turn aside the calamity threatened, and so far preserve the land from these ravagers, that there will be food for _men_ and _cattle_, and a sufficiency of _offerings_ for the temple service. Therefore --... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _BLOW THE TRUMPET_] Let no time be lost, let the alarm be sounded.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _GATHER THE CHILDREN_] Let all share in the humiliation, for all must feel the judgment, should it come. Let no _state_ nor _condition_ among the people be exempted. The _elders_, the _young_ _persons_, the _infants_, the _bridegroom_, and the _bride_; let all leave their houses, and go to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _LET THE PRIESTS - WEEP BETWEEN THE PORCH AND THE ALTAR_] The altar of burnt-offerings stood before the porch of the temple, 2 Chronicles 8:12, and between them there was an open space of _fifteen_ or _twenty_ cubits. It was there that the priests prostrated themselves on such occasions. I... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _YEA, THE LORD WILL ANSWER_] It is not a _peradventure_; it will _surely_ be done; if ye seek God as _commanded_, ye will find him as _promised_. _I WILL SEND YOU CORN AND WINE_] He will either prevent the _total_ ravaging of the land, or so bless it with extraordinary _vegetable_ _streng... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _I WILL REMOVE FAR OFF FROM YOU THE NORTHERN_ ARMY] "That is, the _locusts_; which might enter Judea by the _north_, as Circassia and Mingrelia abound with them. Or the locusts may be thus called, because they spread terror like the _Assyrian_ armies, which entered Judea by the _north_. Se... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _FEAR NOT - FOR THE LORD WILL DO GREAT THINGS._] The words are _repeated_ from the preceding verse; Jehovah will do great things in _driving them away_, and supernaturally restoring the land to fertility.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _THE FORMER RAIN MODERATELY_] המורה לצדקה _hammoreh_ _litsedakah_, "the former rain in righteousness," that is, in _due_ _time_ and in _just proportion_. This rain fell after _autumn_, the other in _spring_. See Hosea 6:3. _IN THE FIRST_ MONTH.] בראשון _barishon_, "as aforetime." So Bp. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _I WILL RESTORE - THE YEARS_] It has already been remarked that the _locusts_ not only destroyed the produce of _that year_, but so completely ate up all _buds_, and _barked the trees_, that they did not recover for _some years_. Here God promises that he would either _prevent_ or _remedy_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, THAT HATH DEALT_ _WONDROUSLY WITH YOU_] In so destroying this formidable enemy; and so _miraculously_ restoring the land to _fertility_, after so great a devastation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _SHALL COME TO PASS AFTERWARD_] אחרי כן _acharey ken_, "after this;" the same, says _Kimchi_, as _in the latter days_, which always refers to the _days of the Messiah_; and thus this prophecy is to be interpreted: and we have the testimony of St. Peter, Acts 2:17, that this prophecy relat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _AND ALSO UPON THE SERVANTS AND UPON THE HANDMAIDS_] The gifts of teaching and instructing men shall not be _restricted_ to any one _class_ or _order_ of people. He shall call and qualify the men of his own choice; and shall take such out of all _ranks,_ _orders, degrees_, and offices in s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joel 2:30. _WONDERS IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH_] This refers to those dreadful sights, dreadful portents, and destructive commotion, by which the Jewish polity was finally overthrown, and the Christian religion established in the Roman empire. See how our Lord applies this prophecy, Matth... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joel 2:31. _THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS_] The Jewish polity, civil and ecclesiastical, shall be entirely destroyed. _BEFORE THE GREAT AND THE TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD COME._] In the taking and sacking of Jerusalem, and burning of the temple, by the Romans, under _Titus_, the son of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joel 2:32. _WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD_] כל אשר יקרא בשם יהוה _col asher yikra beshem Yehovah_, "All who shall _invoke_ in the name of Jehovah." That CHRIST is the _Jehovah_ here mentioned appears plain from Romans 10:13, where the reader had better consult the notes. "This... [ Continue Reading ]