Joel 1:1

_Planted. Septuagint, "Bathuel." He was born in the tribe of Gad, at Bethaven, the town which Herod styles Livias, Josue xiii. 27. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:2

_Men. Magistrates, and all who have children. (Haydock) He speaks to Juda, as the kingdom of Israel was ruined, chap. iii. 2. His principal object is to describe the ravages of locusts, and to exhort the people to repent, promising them better times after the captivity, and under the Messias, chap.... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:3

_Generation. Prophecies relate to all future times, that people may see their accomplishment, (Worthington) and believe. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:4

_Left, &c. Some understand this literally of the desolation of the land by these insects: others understand it of the different invasions of the Chaldeans, or other enemies. (Challoner) --- Jerusalem was four times plundered by the Babylonians, and every time worse than before, as these four sorts o... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:5

_Sweet. Hebrew, "wine, because of the sweet wine," (Haydock) or liquors extracted from fruit. The things which you have abused, are now taken away._... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:6

_Nations. Some understand the Assyrians or Chaldeans. But locusts are here styled a nation, Proverbs xxx. 25. --- Lion. Such locusts are described, Apocalypse ix. 8. (Calmet) --- "In India they are said to be three feet long, and their legs and thighs are used for saws when dried." (Pliny, [Natural... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:8

_Youth, whom she espoused first. Such are more tenderly loved, particularly where polygamy prevails. (Calmet) --- So Dido speaks of Sichæus, Virgil, \'c6neid iv.: Ille meos primus qui se mihi junxit amores_ Abstulit, ille habeat secum servetque sepulchro.... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:9

_Lord. No harvest being reaped, the fruits could not be paid. Yet it is thought that what was requisite for sacrifice, would be procured from other countries. (Calmet) --- When Jerusalem was destroyed, sacrifices ceased. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:14

_Sanctify. Appoint (Haydock) or proclaim a general fast, as was usual in such emergencies, 3 Kings xxi. 9., and 2 Paralipomenon xx. 3. Fasting and other good works are calculated to appease God's wrath. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:15

_Day. Hebrew ahah layom: (Haydock) "Ah, what a day!" --- Mighty. Septuagint, "destruction." They have read in a different manner. God is about to give sentence, (Calmet) and to send Nabuchodonosor, (St. Jerome) or to destroy by famine, ver. 17._... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:17

_Dung. Horse-dung dried for bedding, was used in the East instead of straw, (Busb. 3.) as it is still by the Arabs. (Darvieux 11.) --- Hebrew, "the seeds are rotten under their clods," (Haydock) finding no moisture. Septuagint, "the cows have stamped in their stalls;" or Syriac, "remain without food... [ Continue Reading ]

Joel 1:20

_Up, as if to pray for rain, Jeremias xiv. 6. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "cry," (Haydock) or "pant." --- As....rain is not in Hebrew or Septuagint. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]

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