JOEL] see Intro. PETHUEL] entirely unknown. 4. The PALMERWORM, CANKERWORM, CATERPILLER, and LOCUST, are not different insects, but in the original four different names of the locust, possibly representing it in different stages of growth; yet here in a climactic description, i.e. 'swarm upon swarm.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMING OF THE LOCUSTS A HARBINGER OF THE DAY OF THE LORD After the title (Joel 1:1), the prophet announces an unheard of and long to be remembered ruin, wrought by locusts (Joel 1:2), and summons the users of wine to bewail the destruction of vineyards (Joel 1:5). He calls for lamentation, like... [ Continue Reading ]
NEW WINE] RV 'sweet wine,' primarily the freshly pressed juice of the grape or other fruit.... [ Continue Reading ]
A NATION] figurative of the locusts: cp. similar figure for ants and conies in Proverbs 30:25. MY LAND] i.e. of Jehovah since the prophet gives His message. THE TEETH OF A LION] in destructiveness. THE CHEEK TEETH] RV 'The jaw teeth.' The lion was common in ancient Palestine. 7. Locusts consume not... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEAT OFFERING (RV 'meal offering') AND THE DRINK OFFERING] Two daily offerings which went with the morning and evening sacrifice of a lamb, the one consisting of fine flour mingled with oil and the other of a libation of wine: cp. Exodus 29:38; Numbers 28:1; Leviticus 2:1. IS CUT OFF] i.e. canno... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND MOURNETH] Nature is represented in the OT. with the same feelings as those of man. Cp. for mourning Isaiah 33:9; Jeremiah 12:4; Jeremiah 12:11; Jeremiah 23:10; Amos 1:2. CORN, WINE, and oil, the three principal products of the soil of Palestine, frequently mentioned together as from Jehovah... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE ASHAMED, etc.] RM 'The husbandmen are ashamed, the vinedressers howl.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PALM TREE] Symbol of glory or beauty (Psalms 92:12; Song of Solomon 7:7.; Jeremiah 10:5), but here mentioned as a fruit tree. Its dates are very valuable. THE APPLE] sometimes rendered 'apricot,' although apples are found in Palestine: cp. Proverbs 25:11; Song of Solomon 2:3; Song of Solomon 2:5; So... [ Continue Reading ]
GIRD YOURSELVES] i.e. with sackcloth: cp. Isaiah 32:11. LIE ALL NIGHT] cp. David (2 Samuel 12:16), Ahab (1 Kings 21:27). Nothing was more terrible to the Jewish mind than the failure of the daily sacrifice.... [ Continue Reading ]
SANCTIFY.. A FAST] i.e. keep a holy fast unto Jehovah. As feasting is a natural expression of joy so fasting is of grief, and fasts were observed in times of distress along with confession of sin and prayer for divine favour (Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6; 2 Samuel 12:16; 1 Kings 21:27; Psalms 69:10.;... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF THE LORD] early in popular thought a time when Jehovah granted victory unto Israel (Amos 5:18), but in prophetic discourse a time of signal divine manifestation in judgment (as here in the locust plague, Joel 2:1; Joel 2:11, cp. Isaiah 2:12; Isaiah 13:6; Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:7; Zephania... [ Continue Reading ]
MEAT] i.e. food. Many of the celebrations at the Temple were occasions of rejoicing over abundant harvests and the like (Deuteronomy 16:10; Deuteronomy 16:13; Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 26:1; Deuteronomy 26:10.)... [ Continue Reading ]
RM 'The seeds shrivel,' from the drought, which seems to have accompanied the locust plague.... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRE.. FLAME] figurative of the drought.... [ Continue Reading ]