Joel 1:1-19

The hand of the LORD in the present 1:1-2:27

The destruction by locusts 1:2-2:11
Judah's repentance 2:12-17
The blessings of the LORD 3:18-21

Joel 1:1 (HBH) The name Joel means Yahweh is GOD. The heading (1:1) does not set the prophet's message in a historical context. The theme of the book is: "The day of the LORD is near" (1:15).

Joel 1:1 Hear this, ye old men (Commentary on the NT from the Talmud and the Hebraica; Lightfoot) By reason of their age they had known and heard much; they had heard from their fathers, and their father’s fathers, much which they had not known themselves. Among the people of the east, memories of past times were handed down from generation to generation, for periods, which to us would seem incredible. Israel was commanded, so to transmit the vivid memories of the miracles of God. The prophet appeals “to the old men, to hear,” and, (lest, anything should seem to have escaped them) to the whole people of the land, to give their whole attention to this thing, which he was about to tell them, and then, reviewing all the evils which each had ever heard to have been inflicted by God upon their forefathers, to say whether this thing had happened in their days or in the days of their fathers.

Joel 1:1-2:32 Day for Response (HBH) Chapter 1 pictures a terrible plague of locusts that signals GOD's devastating action against the land. Chapter 2 repeats the announcement for Zion and describes the movement of troops (presumably the locusts) across the land (2:1-11). At this time repentance was still appropriate (2:12-17).

There was hope beyond judgment on that day if the people repented (2:18-27). If this occurred, GOD could restore the land; and the people would know GOD was present in Israel, that He alone is GOD (2:27).

After repentance a great outpouring of GOD's spirit would bring a wonderful renewal "before the great and dreadful day of the LORD" (2:31). All who called on the LORD will be saved. Mount Zion and Jerusalem would be the site of that deliverance (2:32). Postexilic Jewish readers in Jerusalem would have thought these words had been fulfilled in them and in the newly rebuilt city. Later occasions of great spiritual renewal have also claimed these words (Acts 2:16-21). Ten forms of the restoration blessings in Joel 2:18-32 have influenced New Testament writers (Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25; Acts 21:9; 22:16; Rom. 10:13; Titus 3:6; Rev. 6:12). In that great time salvation will be available to all who seek GOD without distinction of age, gender, or social status.

Joel 1:2-20 Chapter 1 is a long call to Judah which laments the judgment decreed by GOD. The destruction happens unexpectantly through a plague of locusts (verses 4-7), a drought and a famine (verses 9-12, 16-18), a finally, a fire (verses 19,20).

Joel 1:2 This question, directed to the leaders, is formulated to suggest that they're not dealing with a natural calamity, but the LORD's judgment.

Joel 1:3 See section 3 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of Joel.

Joel 1:4 Palmerworm...locust...cankerworm...caterpillar: The locust is a flying insect similar to the grasshopper. It could be these four designations refer to its different stages of development from a larva to an adult insect, or that it's a poetic form to indicate the total devastation of the land. The best explanation, however, is that it deals with four separate waves of locusts, each one of which ate what the other had left, until the complete extermination of vegetation.

[The KJV uses 7 different names to refer to the same insect that one Hebrew word ('arbehP records - the locust, bald locust, beetle, cankerworm, caterpillar, grasshopper, and palmerworm.) These migratory locusts are 2-3 inches long and travel in large swarms, causing a lot of destruction. The difference between locusts and grasshoppers is that locusts can fly longer distances.]

Joel 1:6 Here the plague of locusts is described as a warrior nation, innumerable for its size; its teeth are like weapons that grind up and devour everything.

Joel 1:8 sackcloth: Rough and coarse fabric sewn in the shape of a sack. This vestment symbolizes profound sadness, contrition and repentance before GOD. The prophets used it sometimes as a sign of their grief faced with a message of calamity and judgment. For the husband of her youth: Sometimes the groom is spoken of as the husband of the promised woman. The loss of the husband caused the most painful griefs.

Joel 1:9,10 The absence of offerings was a great calamity for Israel, because when there was no wheat or grape juice for the sacrifices, the relationship with GOD stipulated in the covenant was suspended; it was a sign that GOD had abandoned his people.

LITERARY RICHES
Joel 1:9 mourning, 'abal; Strong #56: To weep, lament, afflict oneself, get depressed, languish, be weighed down. This word appears almost 40 times and describes the lament because of a death, sin or the tragedies of Jerusalem (Is. 66:10). In this reference, 'abal describes the reaction of the consecrated priests to the misfortune of the people of Jehovah.

Joel 1:13 See section 3 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of Joel.

Joel 1:14 See section 3 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of Joel.

Joel 1:14 Proclaiming a fast is setting a special occasion for the celebration of a national day of prayer accompanied by fasting. For this purpose, the priests should call a sacred assembly, a gathering of all the congregation of Judah, not just the priests.

Joel 1:15 Here the day refers to the devastating judgment of GOD which is near.

Joel 1:16 Because of the destruction of the harvests, there are no firstfruits or offerings that can be presented to express joy and pleasure to the LORD.

The Prophets of Israel and Judah (HBH)
From the Scriptures we know where some of the prophets' ministries were born or fulfilled.

Samuel, who served as prophet and judge, used Ramah, his birth city as a base for his yearly circuits to other places. Two other prophets of the ninth century BC, Elijah and Elisha, lived in the northern kingdom.

Among the prophets who wrote about their works, only Hosea and Jonah were from the north. The exact location of the place where Hosea lived and developed his ministry is unknown. Jonah was from Gath Hepher, but his ministry extended beyond his birthplace, to the city of Ninevah.

Some prophets came from the south, but prophesied in the north. Amos came from Tekoa, but preached against the Northern Kingdom's worship in Bethel. Micah's message was directed to Israel as well as Judah.

The ministries of many of the prophets were centered in Judah and in the capital city of Jerusalem. The messages of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi stretched out over a long period of time, but all had to do with the imminent destruction, fall, and later reconstruction of Jerusalem.

For some prophets, such as Joel, Obadiah and Habakkuk, no geographical information exists. Only an indication of the site of Nahum's birth is offered when he says he was "of Elkosh".

Joel 1:19 Fire: He uses a graphic image to describe how the land is seen after the locusts passed through. It's not unusual for fires to start in an area after the locusts passed through. It's also known that fire symbolizes GOD, just like divine judgment (see Exod. 24:17; Deut. 4:24; Amos 5:6). Therefore, it's an appropriate image to represent the union of a natural catastrophe and GOD's judgment.

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