Joel
Verse 1. Planted. Septuagint “Bathuel.” He was born in the tribe of Gad, at Bethaven, the town which Herod styles Livias Joshua 13:27. Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
Joel 1
Historical chapter commentary
Joel
Verse 2. Men. Magistrates, and all who have children. Bible. He speaks to Juda, as the kingdom of Israel was ruined. Calmet. 3:2. 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. Calmet. 2:28 and 3:20. Calmet.
Joel
Verse 3. Generation. Prophecies relate to all future times, that people may see their accomplishment, ( Worthington.) and believe. Bible.
Joel
Verse 4. Left, and so forth 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 of destructive things shew. But we shall not enlarge upon these points, nor pursue the mystical sense of the prophets, which may be found in the fathers and Ribera. Worthington.—Others suppose that the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Greeks, (particularly Epiphanes) and Romans, are meant. We explain it simply of the devastation by insects. Calmet.—Four different species of locusts are denoted. Bochart, p. 2. b. iv. 1.—Mildew. Hebrew chasil, ( Bible.) is often rendered “a locust,” by Septuagint (Calmet. 2:25. and so forth) and most suppose this is here the sense. The mildew destroys corn chiefly in low damp situations. Calmet.
Joel
Verse 5. Sweet. Hebrew “wine, because of the sweet wine,” ( Bible.) or liquors extracted from fruit. The things which you have abused, are now taken away.
Joel
Verse 6. Nations. Some understand the Assyrians or Chaldeans. But locusts are here styled a nation. Proverbs 30:25.—Lion. Such locusts are described. Revelation 9:8. Calmet.—“In India they are said to be three feet long, and their legs and thighs are used for saws when dried.” Pliny xi. 29.—They were attacked by regular troops in Syria. Ib.
Joel
Verse 8. Youth, whom she espoused first. Such are more tenderly loved, particularly where polygamy prevails. Calmet.—So Dido speaks of Sichæus, Virg. Æn. iv.:
Ille meos primus qui se mihi junxit amores
Abstulit, ille habeat secum servetque sepulchro.
Joel
Verse 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.
Joel
Verse 12. Withered. The bite of locusts corrupts the juice of plants.
Joel
Verse 13. Go in to the temple, or sleep on sackcloth. Judith 4:9. Calmet.
Joel
Verse 14. Sanctify. Appoint ( Bible.) or proclaim a general fast, as was usual in such emergencies. 3 Kennicott. 21:9 and 2 Chronicles 20:3. Fasting and other good works are calculated to appease God’s wrath. Worthington.
Joel
Verse 15. Day. Hebrew ahah layom: ( Bible.) “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, (Saint Jerome) or to destroy by famine. verse 17.
Joel
Verse 16. God. None can bring the first-fruits. All appear in mourning.
Joel
Verse 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,” ( Bible.) finding no moisture. Septuagint “the cows have stamped in their stalls;” or Syr. “remain without food in their cribs.” Chal. “the pitchers of wine have been corrupted under their covers,” as there was no new wine. Calmet.—Houses. Hebrew mammeguroth. Prot. “barns, ( Bible.) or country houses;” which means cabins erected for the season, (Ruth 2:7) the Magaria ( Calmet.) or Mopalia of the Africans. Saint Jerome pref. Amos.—Septuagint “the wine presses.” Wine and corn were preserved in pits carefully covered over. Agg. 2:20. These fell to decay, as there was no use for them.
Joel
Verse 19. Places. Hebrew “dwellings,” or shepherds’ huts.—Wilderness, denoting all pasture land unploughed.
Joel
Verse 20. Up, as if to pray for rain. Jeremiah 14:6. Calmet.—Hebrew “cry,” ( Bible.) or “pant.”—As … rain is not in Hebrew or Septuagint Calmet.
Joel
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
Joel
The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).