Joel 2:10-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joel 2:1-11

Here we have God contending with his own professing people for their sins and executing upon them the judgment written in the law (Deut. 28:42), The fruit of thy land shall the locust consume, which was one of those diseases of Egypt that God would bring upon them, Deut. 28:60. I. Here is the war proclaimed (Joel 2:1): Blow the trumpet in Zion, either to call the invading army together, and then the trumpet sounds a charge, or rather to give notice to Judah and Jerusalem of the approach of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:10

The earth shall quake before them ,.... The inhabitants of it, because of the desolating judgments they bring with them, and those enemies that are signified by them: the heavens shall tremble ; being obscured by them: the sun and moon shall be dark ; the locusts sometimes come in such large numbers as to intercept the rays of the sun. Pliny F20 Ibid. (Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 29.) says they sometimes darken it; and though some thought they did not fly in the night, because of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:11

And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army ,.... Either the army of the locusts, whom Pliny F21 Ibid. (Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 29.) calls "pestis deorum", "the plague of the gods"; and the Arabians frequently style them the army of God. It is a tradition of theirs that locusts fell into the hands of Mahomet, with this inscription on their backs and wings, "we are the army of the most high God;' and because they were, for that reason Mahomet made a law that none should kill... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:10

The earth shall quake - the heavens shall tremble - Poetical expressions, to point out universal consternation and distress. The earth quaked to see itself deprived of its verdure; the heavens trembled to find themselves deprived of their light. The sun and the moon shall be dark - Bochart relates that "their multitude is sometimes so immense as to obscure the heavens for the space of twelve miles!" - Ibid. p. 479. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:11

The Lord shall utter his voice - Such a mighty force seems as if summoned by the Almighty, and the noise they make in coming announces their approach, while yet afar off. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:10

Verse 10 Then he adds, Before their face shall the earth tremble, and in anguish shall be the heavens; the sun and the moon shall become dark, and the stars shall withdraw their brightness. The Prophet speaks here more hyperbolically; but we must ever remember that he addressed men extremely stupid: it then behaved him to speak in an unusual manner, that he might touch their feelings; for it avails nothing to speak in all ordinary way to perverse men, especially to those who have divested... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:11

Verse 11 He at last adds, And Jehovah will utter his voice before his army. The Prophet seems in this verse to anticipate whatever objection men might adduce. “O! thou denounces on us great terrors, and as if the Assyrians were not to be counted as men, as if no other people were in the world, as if there was no other army, as if there were no other forces, as if none else had courage; but if the Assyrians are at this day formidable, they have yet neighbors who can gather a force sufficient... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 2:1-11

These verses contain a further description of the calamity occasioned by the locusts and the appearance presented by them; the calling of a congregational meeting for penitence and prayer; the reason assigned in the coming of the day of the Lord. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 2:1-11

The ministry of alarm. "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion," etc. Zion was the meeting-place for the people of God, and may be fairly taken as a type of the true Church in all ages. We may take these verses as setting forth one aspect of the Church's ministry, namely, the ministry of alarm. I. IT HAS TO ANNOUNCE A JUDGMENT THAT IS TERRIBLE . How graphically and appallingly does the prophet set forth the tremendousness of the calamity that was about being inflicted on Judah! It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 2:4-11

The way in which God executes his judgments. In these verses we are taught many important and solemn lessons in connection with the Divine judgments and their execution. I. THE AGENTS EMPLOYED . 1 . These may appear to us in themselves very insignificant; but when executing his commission and armed with his wrath they are truly terrible. To the eye and to the ear that terror made its appeal; the sight of them was awe-inspiring, the sound of them frightful. Both on the march... read more

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