Joel 2:1-2

1. The nearness of the army 2:1-2

The prophet ordered a trumpet (Heb. shophar, ram’s horn) to be blown in Zion (Jerusalem), specifically on the temple mount, to sound an alarm (cf. Jeremiah 4:5-6; Ezekiel 33:2-6). Sometimes "Zion" refers to Jerusalem in the eschaton, but other times it is simply a poetic synonym for Jerusalem. Joel used it in the latter sense here. This shophar was the ancient equivalent of an air raid siren. The day of the Lord was coming, and all the inhabitants of the city should tremble. That day would be a time of foreboding evil, symbolized by a very overcast sky. It is interesting that a plague of darkness followed a locust plague in Egypt (Exodus 10). Darkness and clouds are common figures for judgment and destruction in the Old Testament (e.g., Jeremiah 13:16; Ezekiel 30:3; Ezekiel 30:18; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Ezekiel 34:12; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:15). They are often associated with Yahweh in His role of mighty, victorious warrior (cf. Deuteronomy 4:11; Deuteronomy 5:22-23; Psalms 18:9; Psalms 18:11; Psalms 97:2). Joel could see a gigantic army spread over the horizon like the dawn. (Was the attack coming from the East, the direction of the dawn?). He said there never had been anything like this day nor would there be after it, even the plagues in Egypt. This may be hyperbole, or this day may refer to the Great Tribulation, when the Jews will experience their worst ever attack. Joel said this attack was near, either in the near future in his day or relatively near from his perspective as a prophet (cf. 2 Peter 3:8).

Many scholars take this passage as predicting an invasion of Jerusalem by some ancient enemy of Israel such as Assyria or Babylonia in the relatively near future. [Note: E.g., Wolff, p. 42; Chisholm, "Joel," pp. 1411-12.] Patterson argued for the army being that of Assyria. [Note: Patterson, pp. 245-46.] In favor of such a view is the reference to the invasion being near (Joel 2:1). Against it is the statement of its uniqueness in all of history (Joel 2:2). Other interpreters view Joel 2:1-11 as a further description of the locust plague that Joel described in chapter 1. [Note: E.g., Allen, pp. 29, 64-76; and Driver, p. 28.] This seems unlikely since the locust plague of chapter 1 was past, but the attack in Joel 2:1-11 was future. I think it probably refers to an attack by some enemy in Joel’s day in view of what follows.