It is generally supposed, that the prophet Joel blends two subjects of affliction in one general consideration, or beautiful allegory; and that, under the devastation to be produced by locusts in the vegetable world, he portrays the more distant calamities to be inflicted by the armies of the Chaldeans in their invasion of Judea. These predictions are followed by a more general denunciation of God's vengeance, delivered in such language as to be in some measure descriptive of the final judgment of mankind. The prophet intermingles these declarations with earnest exhortations to repentance, and with promises of returning prosperity productive of Gospel blessings; foretelling, in the clearest terms, the general effusion of the Holy Spirit under the Christian dispensation, and the awful consequences of obstinately rejecting the sacred influence, especially to the Jews. The state of this nation at the present day, fully attests the Divine inspiration of the prophecy.
Joel 1
Overview
1:1 Joel, declaring sundry judgments of God, exhorts to observe them, v.8, and to mourn; v.14, He prescribes a solemn fast to deprecate those judgments.
Verse 1wordJeremiah 1:2; Ezekiel 1:3; Hosea 1:1; 2 Peter 1:21toActs 2:16
Verse 2HearPsalm 49:1; Isaiah 34:1; Jeremiah 5:21; Hosea 5:1; Amos 3:1, 4:1, 5:1; Micah 1:2; 3:1, 3:9; Matthew 13:9; Revelation 2:7ye oldJob 8:8, 12:12, 15:10, 21:7HathJoel 2:2; Deuteronomy 4:32-35; Isaiah 7:17; Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21ReciprocalExodus 10:14 - very grievous; Jeremiah 13:15 - and; 28:8 - prophesiedVerse 3Exodus 10:1, 10:2, 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:7; Joshua 4:6, 4:7, 4:21, 4:22; Psalm 44:1, 71:18, 78:3-8; 145:4; Isaiah 38:19ReciprocalPsalm 48:13 - that ye; 78:4 - We will; 78:6 - who; Jeremiah 2:3 - all that; Hosea 9:2 - floor; Joel 2:2 - thereVerse 4That which the palmerworm hath leftHeb. The residue of the palmer-worm, Joel 2:25; Amos 4:9 The learned Bochart, and others, are of the opinion that the four Hebrew words, gazam, yelek, arbeh, chasil, respectively rendered the palmer-worm, locust, canker-worm and caterpillar, denote four different species of locusts. See note on Exodus 10:4the locust eaten10:12-15; Deuteronomy 28:38, 28:42; 1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28, 7:13; Psalm 78:46, 105:34; Amos 7:1; Revelation 9:3-7the cankerworm eatenNahum 3:15-17the caterpillarIsaiah 33:4; Jeremiah 51:14, 51:27ReciprocalExodus 10:5 - the residue; Deuteronomy 28:16 - in the field; 28:39 - for the worms; 1 Samuel 6:5 - mice; Proverbs 30:27 - The locusts; Joel 2:3 - and behind; 2:20 - removeVerse 5AwakeIsaiah 24:7-11; Amos 6:3-7; Luke 21:34-36; Romans 13:11-14weepJoel 1:11, 1:13; Jeremiah 4:8; Ezekiel 30:2; James 5:1forIsaiah 32:10-12; Luke 16:19, 16:23-25ReciprocalProverbs 23:21 - the drunkard; 23:34 - thou; Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye; 17:11 - the harvest; Jeremiah 48:33 - caused; Joel 1:10 - the new; 1:16 - the meat; Amos 8:3 - the songs; Zephaniah 1:11 - Howl; 1 Corinthians 15:34 - AwakeVerse 6nationJoel 2:2-11, 2:25; Proverbs 30:25-27myPsalm 107:34; Isaiah 8:8, 32:13; Hosea 9:3whoseProverbs 30:14; Revelation 9:7-10ReciprocalExodus 10:15 - For they; Proverbs 30:27 - The locusts; Revelation 9:8 - and theirVerse 7laidJoel 1:12; Exodus 10:15; Psalm 105:33; Isaiah 5:6, 24:7; Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 2:12; Habakkuk 3:17barked my fig treeHeb. laid my fig-tree for a barkingReciprocalProverbs 30:27 - The locusts; Isaiah 32:10 - for; Jeremiah 2:3 - all that; Malachi 3:11 - neitherVerse 8LamentJoel 1:13-15, 2:12-14; Isaiah 22:12, 24:7-12, 32:11; Jeremiah 9:17-19; James 4:8, 4:9; 5:1the husbandProverbs 2:17; Jeremiah 3:4; Malachi 2:15ReciprocalDeuteronomy 28:16 - in the field; Psalm 69:11 - I made; Isaiah 3:24 - a girding; Jeremiah 2:3 - all that; Lamentations 1:4 - her priests; 2:10 - they have girded; Amos 5:16 - Wailing; Micah 2:4 - and lamentVerse 9meatJoel 1:13, 1:16, 2:14; Hosea 9:4the priestsJoel 2:17; Lamentations 1:4, 1:16the Lord'sExodus 28:1; 2 Chronicles 13:10; Isaiah 61:6ReciprocalExodus 29:40 - a drink; Leviticus 2:1 - fine flour; 23:13 - the drink; Numbers 6:15 - drink; 15:9 - a meat; 28:7 - to be poured; 29:22 - drink offering; 2 Samuel 1:21 - offerings; Hosea 9:2 - floor; Amos 1:2 - the habitations; 2 Corinthians 6:4 - asVerse 10fieldJoel 1:17-20; Leviticus 26:20; Isaiah 24:3, 24:4; Jeremiah 12:4, 12:11, 14:2-6; Hosea 4:3the newJoel 1:5, 1:12; Isaiah 24:11; Jeremiah 48:33; Hosea 9:2; Haggai 1:11dried upor, ashamedReciprocalGenesis 47:13 - fainted; Ruth 1:1 - a famine; Psalm 107:37 - which may; Isaiah 15:6 - the grass; 24:7 - General; Jeremiah 4:28 - the earth; 8:13 - there; 9:10 - because; 23:10 - the land; Joel 2:19 - I will send; Amos 4:7 - and the; Micah 6:15 - General; Habakkuk 3:17 - the fig tree; Haggai 1:6 - haveVerse 11ashamedJeremiah 14:3, 14:4; Romans 5:5becauseIsaiah 17:11; Jeremiah 9:12ReciprocalRuth 1:1 - a famine; 2 Chronicles 6:28 - locusts; Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye; Jeremiah 50:16 - the sower; Ezekiel 30:2 - Howl; Joel 1:5 - weep; Amos 5:16 - Wailing; 8:3 - the songs; James 5:1 - weepVerse 12The vineDr. Shaw observes, that in Barbary, in the month of June the locusts are no sooner hatched than they collect themselves into compact bodies, each a "furlong or more square; and marching directly after they are come to life, make their way towards the sea and let nothing escape them, eating up everything that is green or juicy; not only the lesser vegetables, but the vine likewise, the fig-tree, the pomegranate, the palm, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field." Joel 1:10; Habakkuk 3:17, 3:18the pomegranateNumbers 13:23; Psalm 92:12; Song of Songs 2:3, 4:13, 7:7-9joyJoel 1:16; Psalm 4:7; Isaiah 9:3, 16:10, 24:11; Jeremiah 48:3; Hosea 9:1, 9:2ReciprocalIsaiah 32:10 - for; Jeremiah 48:33 - joy; Joel 1:7 - laid; Jonah 4:7 - it withered; Malachi 3:11 - neitherVerse 13GirdJoel 1:8, 1:9, 2:17; Jeremiah 4:8, 9:10; Ezekiel 7:18ye ministers1 Corinthians 9:13; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1lie2 Samuel 12:16; 1 Kings 21:27; Jonah 3:5-8ye ministersIsaiah 61:6; 1 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 3:6, 6:4, 11:23forJoel 1:9; Leviticus 2:8-10; Numbers 29:6ReciprocalExodus 29:40 - a drink; Leviticus 23:13 - the drink; Numbers 6:15 - drink; 28:7 - to be poured; 29:22 - drink offering; 1 Kings 8:35 - confess; 2 Chronicles 6:26 - if they pray; Nehemiah 9:1 - children; Psalm 69:11 - I made; Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye; 22:12 - call; 37:2 - General; Jeremiah 36:9 - they; 48:33 - caused; Ezekiel 21:12 - howl; Daniel 9:3 - with; Hosea 9:4 - shall not; 9:5 - in; Joel 1:5 - weep; 1:16 - the meat; 2:14 - even; Amos 8:3 - the songs; Micah 2:4 - and lament; Zephaniah 1:11 - Howl; Zechariah 11:3 - a voice; Malachi 1:9 - beseech; James 5:1 - weepVerse 14SanctifyJoel 2:15, 2:16; 2 Chronicles 20:3, 20:4solemn assemblyor, day of restraint, Leviticus 23:36; Nehemiah 8:18the eldersDeuteronomy 29:10, 29:11; 2 Chronicles 20:13; Nehemiah 9:2, 9:3cryJonah 3:8ReciprocalLeviticus 23:2 - proclaim; Numbers 10:2 - the calling; Deuteronomy 16:8 - solemn assembly; Judges 20:18 - house of; 20:26 - wept; 2 Samuel 12:22 - I fasted; 2 Kings 10:20 - Proclaim; 2 Chronicles 7:9 - solemn assembly; Ezra 8:21 - I proclaimed; Nehemiah 9:1 - children; Esther 4:16 - fast; Isaiah 1:13 - the new; Amos 5:16 - Wailing; Jonah 3:5 - and proclaimed; Zephaniah 2:1 - gather together; Malachi 1:9 - beseechVerse 15AlasJoel 2:2; Jeremiah 30:7; Amos 5:16-18the day ofJoel 2:1; Psalm 37:13; Isaiah 13:6-9; Ezekiel 7:2-12, 12:22-28; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Luke 19:41-44; James 5:9; Revelation 6:17ReciprocalDeuteronomy 7:23 - shall destroy; 1 Kings 17:12 - that we may eat it; 18:2 - a sore; Esther 4:16 - fast; Job 23:16 - Almighty; 31:23 - destruction; Isaiah 24:11 - a crying; Jeremiah 4:20 - upon destruction; 46:10 - the day; Ezekiel 6:11 - Alas; 13:5 - the day; Amos 5:18 - the day of the Lord is; 2 Peter 3:10 - the day; Revelation 4:8 - Lord God Almighty; 18:10 - AlasVerse 16the meatJoel 1:5-9, 1:13; Amos 4:6, 4:7joyDeuteronomy 12:6, 12:7, 12:11, 12:12, 16:10-15; Psalm 43:4, 105:3; Isaiah 62:8, 62:9ReciprocalRuth 1:1 - a famine; 1 Kings 17:12 - that we may eat it; Jeremiah 3:3 - the showers; 48:33 - joy; Joel 1:9 - meat; 1:12 - joy; 2:14 - even; Amos 1:2 - the habitations; Habakkuk 3:17 - the fig treeVerse 17seedHeb. grains, Genesis 23:16Reciprocal7:21 - General; Isaiah 5:10 - one; 19:7 - every; Jeremiah 14:4 - the plowmen; Joel 1:10 - field; Malachi 2:3 - I willVerse 18Joel 1:20; 1 Kings 18:5; Jeremiah 12:4, 14:5, 14:6; Hosea 4:3; Romans 8:22ReciprocalDeuteronomy 11:15 - And I will; 2 Samuel 21:10 - took sackcloth; Job 6:5 - loweth; 36:33 - the cattle; Psalm 104:21 - seek; Isaiah 19:7 - every; Ezekiel 26:17 - How art; Joel 2:22 - afraid; Jonah 3:7 - herd; Haggai 1:10 - General; Romans 8:20 - the creatureVerse 19to theePsalm 50:15, 91:15; Micah 7:7; Habakkuk 3:17, 3:18; Luke 18:1, 18:7; Philippians 4:6, 4:7the fireJoel 2:3; Jeremiah 9:10; Amos 7:4pasturesor habitationsReciprocalJeremiah 14:4 - the ground; Joel 2:22 - for the pasturesVerse 20cryJob 38:41; Psalm 104:21, 145:15, 147:9the rivers1 Kings 17:7, 18:5ReciprocalPsalm 107:33 - turneth; Jeremiah 14:3 - pits; 14:4 - the ground; Joel 1:18 - General; 2:3 - fire
Verse 2HearPsalm 49:1; Isaiah 34:1; Jeremiah 5:21; Hosea 5:1; Amos 3:1, 4:1, 5:1; Micah 1:2; 3:1, 3:9; Matthew 13:9; Revelation 2:7 ye oldJob 8:8, 12:12, 15:10, 21:7 HathJoel 2:2; Deuteronomy 4:32-35; Isaiah 7:17; Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21ReciprocalExodus 10:14 - very grievous; Jeremiah 13:15 - and; 28:8 - prophesied Verse 3Exodus 10:1, 10:2, 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:7; Joshua 4:6, 4:7, 4:21, 4:22; Psalm 44:1, 71:18, 78:3-8; 145:4; Isaiah 38:19ReciprocalPsalm 48:13 - that ye; 78:4 - We will; 78:6 - who; Jeremiah 2:3 - all that; Hosea 9:2 - floor; Joel 2:2 - there Verse 4That which the palmerworm hath leftHeb. The residue of the palmer-worm, Joel 2:25; Amos 4:9
The learned Bochart, and others, are of the opinion that the four Hebrew words, gazam, yelek, arbeh, chasil, respectively rendered the palmer-worm, locust, canker-worm and caterpillar, denote four different species of locusts. See note on Exodus 10:4 the locust eaten10:12-15; Deuteronomy 28:38, 28:42; 1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28, 7:13; Psalm 78:46, 105:34; Amos 7:1; Revelation 9:3-7 the cankerworm eatenNahum 3:15-17 the caterpillarIsaiah 33:4; Jeremiah 51:14, 51:27ReciprocalExodus 10:5 - the residue; Deuteronomy 28:16 - in the field; 28:39 - for the worms; 1 Samuel 6:5 - mice; Proverbs 30:27 - The locusts; Joel 2:3 - and behind; 2:20 - remove Verse 5AwakeIsaiah 24:7-11; Amos 6:3-7; Luke 21:34-36; Romans 13:11-14 weepJoel 1:11, 1:13; Jeremiah 4:8; Ezekiel 30:2; James 5:1 forIsaiah 32:10-12; Luke 16:19, 16:23-25ReciprocalProverbs 23:21 - the drunkard; 23:34 - thou; Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye; 17:11 - the harvest; Jeremiah 48:33 - caused; Joel 1:10 - the new; 1:16 - the meat; Amos 8:3 - the songs; Zephaniah 1:11 - Howl; 1 Corinthians 15:34 - Awake Verse 6nationJoel 2:2-11, 2:25; Proverbs 30:25-27 myPsalm 107:34; Isaiah 8:8, 32:13; Hosea 9:3 whoseProverbs 30:14; Revelation 9:7-10ReciprocalExodus 10:15 - For they; Proverbs 30:27 - The locusts; Revelation 9:8 - and their Verse 7laidJoel 1:12; Exodus 10:15; Psalm 105:33; Isaiah 5:6, 24:7; Jeremiah 8:13; Hosea 2:12; Habakkuk 3:17 barked my fig treeHeb. laid my fig-tree for a barkingReciprocalProverbs 30:27 - The locusts; Isaiah 32:10 - for; Jeremiah 2:3 - all that; Malachi 3:11 - neither Verse 8LamentJoel 1:13-15, 2:12-14; Isaiah 22:12, 24:7-12, 32:11; Jeremiah 9:17-19; James 4:8, 4:9; 5:1 the husbandProverbs 2:17; Jeremiah 3:4; Malachi 2:15ReciprocalDeuteronomy 28:16 - in the field; Psalm 69:11 - I made; Isaiah 3:24 - a girding; Jeremiah 2:3 - all that; Lamentations 1:4 - her priests; 2:10 - they have girded; Amos 5:16 - Wailing; Micah 2:4 - and lament Verse 9meatJoel 1:13, 1:16, 2:14; Hosea 9:4 the priestsJoel 2:17; Lamentations 1:4, 1:16 the Lord'sExodus 28:1; 2 Chronicles 13:10; Isaiah 61:6ReciprocalExodus 29:40 - a drink; Leviticus 2:1 - fine flour; 23:13 - the drink; Numbers 6:15 - drink; 15:9 - a meat; 28:7 - to be poured; 29:22 - drink offering; 2 Samuel 1:21 - offerings; Hosea 9:2 - floor; Amos 1:2 - the habitations; 2 Corinthians 6:4 - as Verse 10fieldJoel 1:17-20; Leviticus 26:20; Isaiah 24:3, 24:4; Jeremiah 12:4, 12:11, 14:2-6; Hosea 4:3 the newJoel 1:5, 1:12; Isaiah 24:11; Jeremiah 48:33; Hosea 9:2; Haggai 1:11 dried upor, ashamedReciprocalGenesis 47:13 - fainted; Ruth 1:1 - a famine; Psalm 107:37 - which may; Isaiah 15:6 - the grass; 24:7 - General; Jeremiah 4:28 - the earth; 8:13 - there; 9:10 - because; 23:10 - the land; Joel 2:19 - I will send; Amos 4:7 - and the; Micah 6:15 - General; Habakkuk 3:17 - the fig tree; Haggai 1:6 - have Verse 11ashamedJeremiah 14:3, 14:4; Romans 5:5 becauseIsaiah 17:11; Jeremiah 9:12ReciprocalRuth 1:1 - a famine; 2 Chronicles 6:28 - locusts; Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye; Jeremiah 50:16 - the sower; Ezekiel 30:2 - Howl; Joel 1:5 - weep; Amos 5:16 - Wailing; 8:3 - the songs; James 5:1 - weep Verse 12The vineDr. Shaw observes, that in Barbary, in the month of June the locusts are no sooner hatched than they collect themselves into compact bodies, each a "furlong or more square; and marching directly after they are come to life, make their way towards the sea and let nothing escape them, eating up everything that is green or juicy; not only the lesser vegetables, but the vine likewise, the fig-tree, the pomegranate, the palm, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field." Joel 1:10; Habakkuk 3:17, 3:18 the pomegranateNumbers 13:23; Psalm 92:12; Song of Songs 2:3, 4:13, 7:7-9 joyJoel 1:16; Psalm 4:7; Isaiah 9:3, 16:10, 24:11; Jeremiah 48:3; Hosea 9:1, 9:2ReciprocalIsaiah 32:10 - for; Jeremiah 48:33 - joy; Joel 1:7 - laid; Jonah 4:7 - it withered; Malachi 3:11 - neither Verse 13GirdJoel 1:8, 1:9, 2:17; Jeremiah 4:8, 9:10; Ezekiel 7:18 ye ministers1 Corinthians 9:13; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1 lie2 Samuel 12:16; 1 Kings 21:27; Jonah 3:5-8 ye ministersIsaiah 61:6; 1 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 3:6, 6:4, 11:23 forJoel 1:9; Leviticus 2:8-10; Numbers 29:6ReciprocalExodus 29:40 - a drink; Leviticus 23:13 - the drink; Numbers 6:15 - drink; 28:7 - to be poured; 29:22 - drink offering; 1 Kings 8:35 - confess; 2 Chronicles 6:26 - if they pray; Nehemiah 9:1 - children; Psalm 69:11 - I made; Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye; 22:12 - call; 37:2 - General; Jeremiah 36:9 - they; 48:33 - caused; Ezekiel 21:12 - howl; Daniel 9:3 - with; Hosea 9:4 - shall not; 9:5 - in; Joel 1:5 - weep; 1:16 - the meat; 2:14 - even; Amos 8:3 - the songs; Micah 2:4 - and lament; Zephaniah 1:11 - Howl; Zechariah 11:3 - a voice; Malachi 1:9 - beseech; James 5:1 - weep Verse 14SanctifyJoel 2:15, 2:16; 2 Chronicles 20:3, 20:4 solemn assemblyor, day of restraint, Leviticus 23:36; Nehemiah 8:18 the eldersDeuteronomy 29:10, 29:11; 2 Chronicles 20:13; Nehemiah 9:2, 9:3 cryJonah 3:8ReciprocalLeviticus 23:2 - proclaim; Numbers 10:2 - the calling; Deuteronomy 16:8 - solemn assembly; Judges 20:18 - house of; 20:26 - wept; 2 Samuel 12:22 - I fasted; 2 Kings 10:20 - Proclaim; 2 Chronicles 7:9 - solemn assembly; Ezra 8:21 - I proclaimed; Nehemiah 9:1 - children; Esther 4:16 - fast; Isaiah 1:13 - the new; Amos 5:16 - Wailing; Jonah 3:5 - and proclaimed; Zephaniah 2:1 - gather together; Malachi 1:9 - beseech Verse 15AlasJoel 2:2; Jeremiah 30:7; Amos 5:16-18 the day ofJoel 2:1; Psalm 37:13; Isaiah 13:6-9; Ezekiel 7:2-12, 12:22-28; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Luke 19:41-44; James 5:9; Revelation 6:17ReciprocalDeuteronomy 7:23 - shall destroy; 1 Kings 17:12 - that we may eat it; 18:2 - a sore; Esther 4:16 - fast; Job 23:16 - Almighty; 31:23 - destruction; Isaiah 24:11 - a crying; Jeremiah 4:20 - upon destruction; 46:10 - the day; Ezekiel 6:11 - Alas; 13:5 - the day; Amos 5:18 - the day of the Lord is; 2 Peter 3:10 - the day; Revelation 4:8 - Lord God Almighty; 18:10 - Alas Verse 16the meatJoel 1:5-9, 1:13; Amos 4:6, 4:7 joyDeuteronomy 12:6, 12:7, 12:11, 12:12, 16:10-15; Psalm 43:4, 105:3; Isaiah 62:8, 62:9ReciprocalRuth 1:1 - a famine; 1 Kings 17:12 - that we may eat it; Jeremiah 3:3 - the showers; 48:33 - joy; Joel 1:9 - meat; 1:12 - joy; 2:14 - even; Amos 1:2 - the habitations; Habakkuk 3:17 - the fig tree Verse 17seedHeb. grains, Genesis 23:16Reciprocal7:21 - General; Isaiah 5:10 - one; 19:7 - every; Jeremiah 14:4 - the plowmen; Joel 1:10 - field; Malachi 2:3 - I will Verse 18Joel 1:20; 1 Kings 18:5; Jeremiah 12:4, 14:5, 14:6; Hosea 4:3; Romans 8:22ReciprocalDeuteronomy 11:15 - And I will; 2 Samuel 21:10 - took sackcloth; Job 6:5 - loweth; 36:33 - the cattle; Psalm 104:21 - seek; Isaiah 19:7 - every; Ezekiel 26:17 - How art; Joel 2:22 - afraid; Jonah 3:7 - herd; Haggai 1:10 - General; Romans 8:20 - the creature Verse 19to theePsalm 50:15, 91:15; Micah 7:7; Habakkuk 3:17, 3:18; Luke 18:1, 18:7; Philippians 4:6, 4:7 the fireJoel 2:3; Jeremiah 9:10; Amos 7:4 pasturesor habitationsReciprocalJeremiah 14:4 - the ground; Joel 2:22 - for the pastures Verse 20cryJob 38:41; Psalm 104:21, 145:15, 147:9 the rivers1 Kings 17:7, 18:5ReciprocalPsalm 107:33 - turneth; Jeremiah 14:3 - pits; 14:4 - the ground; Joel 1:18 - General; 2:3 - fire