Joe 2:1-17 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Joel 2:1-11: 2:1-11 Some regard this section as a second account of the locust plague described in ch 1 , but in ch 1 , the plague is in the past, whereas in this section, the verb tenses seem to depict it as a future event. Thus, others see it as a warning of yet another locust plague. Still other commentators have understood this passage as an apocalyptic description of the coming day of the Lord , using the language of a locust plague to describe an invading human army. 2:1 When an ancient city was attacked, the watchmen on the city wall would raise the alarm by blowing the trumpet , a ram’s horn instrument called a shofar (see also 2:15 ), to call all the defenders to repel the enemy.

Summary for Joel 2:1-11: 2:1-11 ^a Some regard this section as a second account of the locust plague described in ch 1 ^b, but in ch 1 ^c, the plague is in the past, whereas in this section, the verb tenses seem to depict it as a future event. Thus, others see it as a warning of yet another locust plague. Still other commentators have understood this passage as an apocalyptic description of the coming day of the Lord, using the language of a locust plague to describe an invading human army. 2:1 ^d When an ancient city was attacked, the watchmen on the city wall would raise the alarm by blowing the trumpet, a ram’s horn instrument called a shofar (see also 2:15 ^e), to call all the defenders to repel the enemy.
2:2 ^f Some religious leaders had taught the people of Jerusalem and Judah that the day of the Lord would be a time of blessing for God’s people. Echoing the prophet Zephaniah (Zeph 1:15 ^g), Joel proclaimed that it would instead be a day of darkness and gloom (see also Amos 5:18-20 ^h).
2:3 ⁱ The destruction wrought by the invading army would be like a raging wildfire. Before the attack, the land looked like the Garden of Eden, but afterwards, it would be nothing but desolation (a reversal of Isa 51:3 ^j and Ezek 36:35 ^k).
Summary for Joel 2:4-5: 2:4-5 ^l They look like horses: The resemblance between locusts and horses (see also Rev 9:7 ^m) heightens the image of the locusts as an army.

• Listen to the noise they make: The noise made by a locust swarm can be deafening.
2:6 ⁿ Fear grips all the people: Anticipating the invasion prepared the people for the call to repentance in 2:12-14 ^o.
Summary for Joel 2:7-9: 2:7-9 ^p The locusts would invade urban as well as agricultural areas, advancing like a disciplined, well-trained army to scale city walls and swarm over the city. Finding every means of entrance, they would even climb like thieves through the windows.
2:10 ^q The quaking of the earth and the heavens is a typical sign of theophany, an appearance of God (see Exod 19:16-19 ^r; Isa 13:13 ^s; Nah 1:5-6 ^t). The darkening of the sun and moon symbolizes divine judgment (Isa 13:9-11 ^u).
2:11 ^v The Lord is at the head of the column (literally the Lord utters his voice before his army): The coming destruction was not simply an act of nature or the result of human activity, but an act of God.

• This is his mighty army: God executed this judgment.

• Who can possibly survive? Apart from God’s grace and mercy, no one can.
Summary for Joel 2:12-17: 2:12-17 ^w Joel calls on the people to repent and throw themselves on the mercy of their compassionate God. 2:12 ^x This verse begins with the words the Lord says, a phrase that frequently accompanies divine speeches in the prophets. This is the only time that it occurs in Joel (“says the Lord” in 3:1 ^y is supplied by the translators), and it indicates that this gracious invitation came directly from God.

• Turn to me now, while there is time: The Lord implored his people to repent because the day of judgment was near. There was still opportunity to avoid the coming destruction if they returned to the Lord their God with true repentance.

• Unlike other prophets, Joel never catalogs the sins committed by the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Perhaps they were so obvious that he did not feel the need to list them.
2:13 ^z One means of showing grief in the ancient world was to tear one’s clothing (Gen 37:34 ^aa; 2 Sam 3:31 ^ab; 2 Kgs 19:1 ^ac).

• tear your hearts: In Hebrew, the heart is the center of thought, faith, and will. God’s people were to go beyond external demonstrations of repentance to repent inwardly—to change their orientation, priorities, and attitudes. This could only happen if they would return to the Lord.

• for he is merciful and compassionate ... and filled with unfailing love: The people’s only hope was in the merciful character of the Lord (see also Exod 34:6-7 ^ad; Num 14:18 ^ae; Neh 9:17 ^af; Pss 86:15 ^ag; 103:8 ^ah; 145:8 ^ai; Jon 4:2 ^aj). God’s desire is not to punish, but to forgive and restore his people.
2:14 ^ak Who knows? Joel’s simple question acknowledges God’s absolute sovereignty (see also Jon 3:9 ^al). God is not obligated to restore us merely because we perform certain rituals. Forgiveness comes only through divine grace, but Joel knew that God was inclined to forgive (Joel 2:13 ^am).
2:15 ^an Joel called for a time of fasting and a solemn meeting for the purpose of seeking God.
2:16 ^ao bridegroom ... and the bride: Newlyweds were exempt from most civic duties in ancient Israel (Deut 24:5 ^ap; Luke 14:20 ^aq), but in this emergency, everyone would be summoned to the Temple to cry out to God.
2:17 ^ar Spare your people, Lord! Assembled at the Temple, the religious leaders and all the people were to do the only thing possible in their desperate situation: seek the mercy and compassion of God.