Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joel 2

Introduction

1	He shews unto Zion the terribleness of God's judgment.
12	He exhorts to repentance;
15	prescribes a fast;
18	promises a blessing thereon.
21	He comforts Zion with present,
28	and future blessings.

Verse 1

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

Blow: 15, Numbers 10:3,8, Jeremiah 4:5, Hosea 8:1
trumpet: or, cornet.; 1 Chronicles 15:28, Hosea 5:8
and sound: Numbers 10:5-7,9, Ezekiel 33:3,6, Amos 3:6, Zephaniah 1:16
in my: 3:17, Psalms 87:1, Daniel 9:16,20, Zephaniah 3:11, Zechariah 8:3
let: Ezra 9:3,4, Psalms 119:120, Isaiah 66:2,5, Jeremiah 5:22, 16:7,10, Daniel 6:26, Philippians 2:12
for the: 1:15, Isaiah 2:12, Ezekiel 7:5-7,10,12, 12:23, Amos 8:2, Obadiah 1:15, Malachi 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, James 5:8, 1 Peter 4:7

Verse 2

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

A day of darkness: "The quantity of these insects," says a French author,"is incredible to all who have not themselves witnessed their astonishing numbers; the whole earth is covered with them for the space of several leagues. The noise they make in browsing on the trees and herbage may be heard at a great distance, and resembles that of an army in secret. Wherever their myriads spread, the verdure of the country disappears; trees and plants, stripped of their leaves and reduced to their naked boughs and stems, cause the dreary image of winter to succeed in an instant to the rich scenery of spring. When these clouds of locusts take their flight, to surmount any obstacles or to traverse more rapidly a desert soil, the heavens may literally be said to be obscured by them."; 10,31, 3:14,15, Exodus 20:21, Psalms 97:2, Isaiah 5:30, 8:22, Jeremiah 13:16, Amos 5:18-20, Zephaniah 1:14,15, Hebrews 12:18, Jude 1:13
as: Amos 4:13
a great: 5,11,25, 1:6
there: 1:2,3, Exodus 10:6,14, Daniel 12:1, Mark 13:19
many generations: Heb. generation and generation.; Deuteronomy 32:7, Psalms 10:6; *margins

Verse 3

A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

fire: 1:19,20, Psalms 50:3, Amos 7:4
the land: Genesis 2:8, 13:10, Isaiah 51:3, Ezekiel 31:8,9
and behind: 1:4-7, Exodus 10:5,15, Jeremiah 5:17, Zechariah 7:14

Verse 4

The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

Revelation 9:7

Verse 5

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

the noise: Nahum 2:3,4, 3:2,3, Revelation 9:9
like the noise of a: Isaiah 5:24, 30:30, Matthew 3:12
a strong

Verse 6

Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

all: Psalms 119:83, Isaiah 13:8, Jeremiah 8:21, 30:6, Lamentations 4:8, Nahum 2:10
blackness: Heb. pot.

Verse 7

They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

They shall run: In their progress, says Dr. Shaw, "they kept their ranks like men of war; climbing over every tree or wall that was in their way. Nay, they entered into our very houses and bedchambers, like so many thieves. Every effort of the inhabitants to stop them was unavailing; the trenches they had dug were quickly filled up, and the fires they had kindled extinguished, by infinite swarms succeeding each other."; 2 Samuel 1:23, 2:18,19, Psalms 19:5, Isaiah 5:26-29
climb: 9, 2 Samuel 5:8, Jeremiah 5:10
they shall march: Proverbs 30:27

Verse 8

Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

sword: or, dart.; 2 Chronicles 23:10, 32:5; *marg:; Nehemiah 4:17,23, Job 33:18, 36:12, Song of Solomon 4:13

Verse 9

They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

enter: Exodus 10:6, Jeremiah 9:21, John 10:1

Verse 10

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

earth: Psalms 18:7, 114:7, Nahum 1:5, Matthew 27:51, Revelation 6:12, 20:11
the sun: 2,31, 3:15, Isaiah 13:10, 34:4, Jeremiah 4:23, Ezekiel 32:7, Amos 5:8, Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24,25, Luke 21:25,26, Acts 2:20, Revelation 8:12

Verse 11

And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

utter: 3:16, 2 Samuel 22:14,15, Psalms 46:6, Isaiah 7:18, 13:4, 42:13, Jeremiah 25:30, Amos 1:2
his army
he is: Jeremiah 50:34, Revelation 18:8
the day: Jeremiah 30:7, Amos 5:18,20, Zephaniah 1:15
who: Numbers 24:23, Nahum 1:6, Malachi 3:2, Revelation 6:17

Verse 12

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

turn: Deuteronomy 4:29,30, 1 Samuel 7:3, 1 Kings 8:47-49, 2 Chronicles 6:38,39, 7:13,14, Isaiah 55:6,7, Jeremiah 4:1, 29:12,13, Lamentations 3:40,41, Hosea 6:1, 12:6, 14:1, Zechariah 1:3,4, Acts 26:20
with fasting: Judges 20:26, 1 Samuel 7:6, 2 Chronicles 20:3,4, Nehemiah 9:1,2, Isaiah 22:12, Jonah 3:5-8, Zechariah 7:3,5, 12:10-14, James 4:8,9

Verse 13

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

rend: Here the word "rend" is used only once, but with two significations; in the former sentence it is used figuratively; in the latter literally--the heart not being rent in the same sense in which garments are rent.; 2 Kings 22:19, Psalms 34:18, 51:17, Isaiah 57:15, 66:2, Ezekiel 9:4, Matthew 5:3,4
your garments: Genesis 37:29,34, 2 Samuel 1:11, 1 Kings 21:27, 2 Kings 5:7, 6:30, 22:11, Job 1:20, Isaiah 58:5, Matthew 6:16-18, 1 Timothy 4:8
for: Exodus 34:6,7, Numbers 14:18, Psalms 86:5,15, 145:7-9, Jonah 4:2, Micah 7:18, Romans 2:4, Romans 5:20,21, Ephesians 2:4
slow: Nehemiah 9:17, Psalms 103:8, Nahum 1:3, James 1:19,20
and repenteth: Psalms 106:45, Jeremiah 18:7,8, Amos 7:2-6, Jonah 4:2

Verse 14

Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

Who: Exodus 32:30, Joshua 14:12, 1 Samuel 6:5, 2 Samuel 12:22, 2 Kings 19:4, Amos 5:15, Jonah 1:6, Jonah 3:9, Zephaniah 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:25
and leave: Isaiah 65:8, Haggai 2:19, 2 Corinthians 9:5-11; *marg:
even: 1:9,13,16

Verse 15

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

Blow: 1, Numbers 10:3
sanctify: 1:14, 1 Kings 21:9,12, 2 Kings 10:20, Jeremiah 36:9

Verse 16

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

sanctify: Exodus 19:10,15,22, Joshua 7:13, 1 Samuel 16:5, 2 Chronicles 29:5,23,24, 30:17,19, 35:6, Job 1:5
assemble: 1:14, Deuteronomy 29:10,11, 2 Chronicles 20:13, Jonah 3:7,8
let: Zechariah 12:11-14, Matthew 9:15, 1 Corinthians 7:5

Verse 17

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

the priests: 1:9,13
between: 1 Kings 6:3, 2 Chronicles 8:12, Ezekiel 8:16, Matthew 23:35
and let: Hosea 14:2
Spare: Exodus 32:11-13, 34:9, Deuteronomy 9:16-29, Isaiah 37:20, 64:9-12, Daniel 9:18,19, Amos 7:2,5, Malachi 1:9
and give: Psalms 44:10-14, 74:10,18-23, 79:4, 89:41,51, Ezekiel 36:4-7
that: Nehemiah 9:36, Isaiah 63:17-19
rule over them: or, use a byword against them.; Deuteronomy 28:37, 1 Kings 9:7, 2 Chronicles 7:20, Psalms 44:14
wherefore: Numbers 14:14-16, Deuteronomy 32:27, Psalms 42:10, 79:10, 115:2, Ezekiel 20:9, Micah 7:10, Matthew 27:43

Verse 18

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

be: Isaiah 42:13, Zechariah 1:14, 8:2
and pity: Deuteronomy 32:16,36,43, Judges 10:16, Psalms 103:13,17, Isaiah 60:10, 63:9,15, Jeremiah 31:20, Lamentations 3:22, Hosea 11:8,9, Luke 15:20, James 5:11

Verse 19

Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

I will send: 24, 1:10, Isaiah 62:8,9, 65:21-24, Hosea 2:15, Amos 9:13,14, Haggai 2:16-19, Malachi 3:10-12, Matthew 6:33
and ye
and I: Ezekiel 34:29, 36:15, 39:29

Verse 20

But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

remove: 2-11, 1:4-6, Exodus 10:19
the northern: Jeremiah 1:14
the east: Ezekiel 47:7,8,18, Zechariah 14:8
utmost: Deuteronomy 11:24
his stink: Ezekiel 39:12-16
because: 2 Kings 8:13
done: Heb. magnified to do.

Verse 21

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Fear: Genesis 15:1, Isaiah 41:10, 54:4, Jeremiah 30:9,10, Zephaniah 3:16,17, Zechariah 8:15
be glad: Psalms 65:12,13, 96:11,12, 98:8, Isaiah 35:1, 44:23, 55:12, Hosea 2:21
for: 20, Deuteronomy 4:32, 1 Samuel 12:16,24, Psalms 71:19, 126:1-3, Jeremiah 33:3

Verse 22

Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

afraid: 1:18-20, Psalms 36:6, 104:11-14,27-29, 145:15,16, 147:8,9, Isaiah 30:23,24, Jonah 4:11
for the pastures: 1:19, Psalms 65:12, Isaiah 51:3
for the tree: Leviticus 26:4,5, Psalms 67:6, 107:35-38, Ezekiel 34:26,27, 36:8,30,35, Hosea 14:5-7, Amos 9:14,15, Haggai 2:16, Zechariah 8:12, Malachi 3:10-12
yield: Genesis 4:12, 1 Corinthians 3:7

Verse 23

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

ye children: Psalms 149:2, Lamentations 4:2, Zechariah 9:13, Galatians 4:26,27
rejoice: Psalms 28:7, 32:11, 33:1, 95:1-3, 104:34, Isaiah 12:2-6, 41:16, 61:10, Habakkuk 3:17,18, Zephaniah 3:14-17, Zechariah 9:9, 10:7, Luke 1:46,47, Philippians 3:1,3, 4:4
the former, etc: or, a teacher of righteousness.; 28,29, Deuteronomy 32:2, Job 33:23, Psalms 72:6,7, Isaiah 30:21,23, Ephesians 4:8-11
moderately: Heb. according to righteousness. he will.; Leviticus 26:4, Deuteronomy 11:14, 28:12, Proverbs 16:15, Jeremiah 3:3, Hosea 6:3, Zechariah 10:1, James 5:7,8
in: Amos 4:7

Verse 24

And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

3:13,18, Leviticus 26:10, Proverbs 3:9,10, Amos 9:13, Malachi 3:10

Verse 25

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

that: 2-11, 1:4-7, Zechariah 10:6

Verse 26

And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

ye shall: Leviticus 26:5,26, Deuteronomy 6:11,12, 8:10, Nehemiah 9:25, Psalms 22:26, 103:5, Proverbs 13:25, Song of Solomon 5:1, Isaiah 55:2, 62:8,9, Micah 6:14, Zechariah 9:15,17, 1 Timothy 6:17
and praise: Deuteronomy 12:7,12,18, 26:10,11, 1 Timothy 4:3-5
that: 20,21, Genesis 33:11, Psalms 13:6, 72:18, 116:7, 126:2,3, Isaiah 25:1
and my: Psalms 25:2,3, 37:19, Isaiah 29:22, 45:17, 49:23, 54:4, Zephaniah 3:11, Romans 5:5, Romans 9:33, 10:11, 1 John 2:28

Verse 27

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

I am: 3:17, Leviticus 26:11,12, Deuteronomy 23:14, Psalms 46:5, 68:18, Isaiah 12:6, Ezekiel 37:26-28, Zephaniah 3:17, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Revelation 21:3
that I: Isaiah 45:5,18,21,22, 53:6, Ezekiel 39:22,28
and my: 26, 1 Peter 2:6

Verse 28

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

that I: Proverbs 1:23, Isaiah 32:15, 44:3, Ezekiel 39:29, John 7:39, Acts 2:16-18
upon: Isaiah 40:5, 49:6, Zechariah 12:10, Luke 3:6, Acts 2:2-4,33,39, 10:44-47, Acts 11:15-18, 15:7,8
your daughters: Isaiah 54:13, Acts 21:9, Galatians 3:28
dream: Genesis 37:5-10, Numbers 12:6, Jeremiah 23:28

Verse 29

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11

Verse 30

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

I will: Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24, Luke 21:11,25,26, Acts 2:19,20, Revelation 6:12-17
pillars: Genesis 19:28, Joshua 8:20, Judges 20:38,40, Song of Solomon 3:6, Revelation 18:9,18

Verse 31

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

sun: 10, 3:1,15, Isaiah 13:9,10, 34:4,5, Matthew 24:29, 27:45, Mark 13:24,25, Luke 21:25, Revelation 6:12,13
the great: Zephaniah 1:14-16, Malachi 4:1,5

Verse 32

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Psalms 50:15, Jeremiah 33:3, Zechariah 13:9, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:11-14, 1 Corinthians 1:2
for: Isaiah 46:13, 59:20,21, Obadiah 1:17,21, John 4:22, Romans 11:26, Hebrews 12:22
and in: Isaiah 10:22, 11:11,16, Jeremiah 31:7, Micah 4:6,7, 5:3,7,8, John 10:16, Acts 2:39, 15:17, Romans 8:28-30, 9:24,27, 11:5,7, 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first!

Latest Additions

Video / Audio

Books

Conditional Immortality

Death

Everlasting Destruction

Eternal Punishment

Hell or Gehenna

Immortality

Perish

Sheol and Hades

Universalim Refuted

Unquenchable Fire

Misc. Articles

Videos by Topic

Videos

Articles

Video / Audio

Books

Articles

Church Life

Social Issues

Video / Audio

Eschatology

Church History

Video / Audio

Doctrine & Theology

Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joel 2

Comments

Add Comment