Bible Commentaries
Joel 1

Introduction

Overview

Joel 1:1, Joel, declaring sundry judgments of God, exhorts to observe them, v.8, and to mourn; v.14, He prescribes a solemn fast to deprecate those judgments.

Verse 1

word: Jeremiah 1:2, Ezekiel 1:3, Hosea 1:1, 2 Peter 1:21

to: Acts 2:16

Verse 2

Hear: Psalms 49:1, Isaiah 34:1, Jeremiah 5:21, Hosea 5:1, Amos 3:1, Amos 4:1, Amos 5:1, Micah 1:2, Micah 3:1, Micah 3:9, Matthew 13:9, Revelation 2:7

ye old: Job 8:8, Job 12:12, Job 15:10, Job 21:7

Hath: Joel 2:2, Deuteronomy 4:32-35, Isaiah 7:17, Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 12:1, Matthew 24:21

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:14 - very grievous Jeremiah 13:15 - and Jeremiah 28:8 - prophesied

Verse 3

Exodus 10:1, Exodus 10:2, Exodus 13:14, Deuteronomy 6:7, Joshua 4:6, Joshua 4:7, Joshua 4:21, Joshua 4:22, Psalms 44:1, Psalms 71:18, Psalms 78:3-8, Psalms 145:4, Isaiah 38:19

Reciprocal: Psalms 48:13 - that ye Psalms 78:4 - We will Psalms 78:6 - who Jeremiah 2:3 - all that Hosea 9:2 - floor Joel 2:2 - there

Verse 4

That which the palmerworm hath left: Heb. The residue of the palmer-worm, Joel 2:25, Amos 4:9, The learned Bochart, and others, are of the opinion that the four Hebrew words, gazam, yelek, arbeh, chasil, respectively rendered the palmer-worm, locust, canker-worm and caterpillar, denote four different species of locusts. See note on Exodus 10:4

the locust eaten: Exodus 10:12-15, Deuteronomy 28:38, Deuteronomy 28:42, 1 Kings 8:37, 2 Chronicles 6:28, 2 Chronicles 7:13, Psalms 78:46, Psalms 105:34, Amos 7:1, Revelation 9:3-7

the cankerworm eaten: Nahum 3:15-17

the caterpillar: Isaiah 33:4, Jeremiah 51:14, Jeremiah 51:27

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:5 - the residue Deuteronomy 28:16 - in the field Deuteronomy 28:39 - for the worms 1 Samuel 6:5 - mice Proverbs 30:27 - The locusts Joel 2:3 - and behind Joel 2:20 - remove

Verse 5

Awake: Isaiah 24:7-11, Amos 6:3-7, Luke 21:34-36, Romans 13:11-14

weep: Joel 1:11, Joel 1:13, Jeremiah 4:8, Ezekiel 30:2, James 5:1

for: Isaiah 32:10-12, Luke 16:19, Luke 16:23-25

Reciprocal: Proverbs 23:21 - the drunkard Proverbs 23:34 - thou Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye Isaiah 17:11 - the harvest Jeremiah 48:33 - caused Joel 1:10 - the new Joel 1:16 - the meat Amos 8:3 - the songs Zephaniah 1:11 - Howl 1 Corinthians 15:34 - Awake

Verse 6

nation: Joel 2:2-11, Joel 2:25, Proverbs 30:25-27

my: Psalms 107:34, Isaiah 8:8, Isaiah 32:13, Hosea 9:3

whose: Proverbs 30:14, Revelation 9:7-10

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:15 - For they Proverbs 30:27 - The locusts Revelation 9:8 - and their

Verse 7

laid: Joel 1:12, Exodus 10:15, Psalms 105:33, Isaiah 5:6, Isaiah 24:7, Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 2:12, Habakkuk 3:17

barked my fig tree: Heb. laid my fig-tree for a barking

Reciprocal: Proverbs 30:27 - The locusts Isaiah 32:10 - for Jeremiah 2:3 - all that Malachi 3:11 - neither

Verse 8

Lament: Joel 1:13-15, Joel 2:12-14, Isaiah 22:12, Isaiah 24:7-12, Isaiah 32:11, Jeremiah 9:17-19, James 4:8, James 4:9, James 5:1

the husband: Proverbs 2:17, Jeremiah 3:4, Malachi 2:15

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:16 - in the field Psalms 69:11 - I made Isaiah 3:24 - a girding Jeremiah 2:3 - all that Lamentations 1:4 - her priests Lamentations 2:10 - they have girded Amos 5:16 - Wailing Micah 2:4 - and lament

Verse 9

meat: Joel 1:13, Joel 1:16, Joel 2:14, Hosea 9:4

the priests: Joel 2:17, Lamentations 1:4, Lamentations 1:16

the Lord's: Exodus 28:1, 2 Chronicles 13:10, Isaiah 61:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:40 - a drink Leviticus 2:1 - fine flour Leviticus 23:13 - the drink Numbers 6:15 - drink Numbers 15:9 - a meat Numbers 28:7 - to be poured Numbers 29:22 - drink offering 2 Samuel 1:21 - offerings Hosea 9:2 - floor Amos 1:2 - the habitations 2 Corinthians 6:4 - as

Verse 10

field: Joel 1:17-20, Leviticus 26:20, Isaiah 24:3, Isaiah 24:4, Jeremiah 12:4, Jeremiah 12:11, Jeremiah 14:2-6, Hosea 4:3

the new: Joel 1:5, Joel 1:12, Isaiah 24:11, Jeremiah 48:33, Hosea 9:2, Haggai 1:11

dried up: or, ashamed

Reciprocal: Genesis 47:13 - fainted Ruth 1:1 - a famine Psalms 107:37 - which may Isaiah 15:6 - the grass Isaiah 24:7 - General Jeremiah 4:28 - the earth Jeremiah 8:13 - there Jeremiah 9:10 - because Jeremiah 23:10 - the land Joel 2:19 - I will send Amos 4:7 - and the Micah 6:15 - General Habakkuk 3:17 - the fig tree Haggai 1:6 - have

Verse 11

ashamed: Jeremiah 14:3, Jeremiah 14:4, Romans 5:5

because: Isaiah 17:11, Jeremiah 9:12

Reciprocal: Ruth 1:1 - a famine 2 Chronicles 6:28 - locusts Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye Jeremiah 50:16 - the sower Ezekiel 30:2 - Howl Joel 1:5 - weep Amos 5:16 - Wailing Amos 8:3 - the songs James 5:1 - weep

Verse 12

The vine: Dr. Shaw observes, that in Barbary, in the month of June the locusts are no sooner hatched than they collect themselves into compact bodies, each a "furlong or more square; and marching directly after they are come to life, make their way towards the sea and let nothing escape them, eating up everything that is green or juicy; not only the lesser vegetables, but the vine likewise, the fig-tree, the pomegranate, the palm, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field." Joel 1:10, Habakkuk 3:17, Habakkuk 3:18

the pomegranate: Numbers 13:23, Psalms 92:12, Song of Solomon 2:3, Song of Solomon 4:13, Song of Solomon 7:7-9

joy: Joel 1:16, Psalms 4:7, Isaiah 9:3, Isaiah 16:10, Isaiah 24:11, Jeremiah 48:3, Hosea 9:1, Hosea 9:2

Reciprocal: Isaiah 32:10 - for Jeremiah 48:33 - joy Joel 1:7 - laid Jonah 4:7 - it withered Malachi 3:11 - neither

Verse 13

Gird: Joel 1:8, Joel 1:9, Joel 2:17, Jeremiah 4:8, Jeremiah 9:10, Ezekiel 7:18

ye ministers: 1 Corinthians 9:13, Hebrews 7:13, Hebrews 7:14

lie: 2 Samuel 12:16, 1 Kings 21:27, Jonah 3:5-8

ye ministers: Isaiah 61:6, 1 Corinthians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 3:6, 2 Corinthians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 11:23

for: Joel 1:9, Leviticus 2:8-10, Numbers 29:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:40 - a drink Leviticus 23:13 - the drink Numbers 6:15 - drink Numbers 28:7 - to be poured Numbers 29:22 - drink offering 1 Kings 8:35 - confess 2 Chronicles 6:26 - if they pray Nehemiah 9:1 - children Psalms 69:11 - I made Isaiah 13:6 - Howl ye Isaiah 22:12 - call Isaiah 37:2 - General Jeremiah 36:9 - they Jeremiah 48:33 - caused Ezekiel 21:12 - howl Daniel 9:3 - with Hosea 9:4 - shall not Hosea 9:5 - in Joel 1:5 - weep Joel 1:16 - the meat Joel 2:14 - even Amos 8:3 - the songs Micah 2:4 - and lament Zephaniah 1:11 - Howl Zechariah 11:3 - a voice Malachi 1:9 - beseech James 5:1 - weep

Verse 14

Sanctify: Joel 2:15, Joel 2:16, 2 Chronicles 20:3, 2 Chronicles 20:4

solemn assembly: or, day of restraint, Leviticus 23:36, Nehemiah 8:18

the elders: Deuteronomy 29:10, Deuteronomy 29:11, 2 Chronicles 20:13, Nehemiah 9:2, Nehemiah 9:3

cry: Jonah 3:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 23:2 - proclaim Numbers 10:2 - the calling Deuteronomy 16:8 - solemn assembly Judges 20:18 - house of Judges 20:26 - wept 2 Samuel 12:22 - I fasted 2 Kings 10:20 - Proclaim 2 Chronicles 7:9 - solemn assembly Ezra 8:21 - I proclaimed Nehemiah 9:1 - children Esther 4:16 - fast Isaiah 1:13 - the new Amos 5:16 - Wailing Jonah 3:5 - and proclaimed Zephaniah 2:1 - gather together Malachi 1:9 - beseech

Verse 15

Alas: Joel 2:2, Jeremiah 30:7, Amos 5:16-18

the day of: Joel 2:1, Psalms 37:13, Isaiah 13:6-9, Ezekiel 7:2-12, Ezekiel 12:22-28, Zephaniah 1:14-18, Luke 19:41-44, James 5:9, Revelation 6:17

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 7:23 - shall destroy 1 Kings 17:12 - that we may eat it 1 Kings 18:2 - a sore Esther 4:16 - fast Job 23:16 - Almighty Job 31:23 - destruction Isaiah 24:11 - a crying Jeremiah 4:20 - upon destruction Jeremiah 46:10 - the day Ezekiel 6:11 - Alas Ezekiel 13:5 - the day Amos 5:18 - the day of the Lord is 2 Peter 3:10 - the day Revelation 4:8 - Lord God Almighty Revelation 18:10 - Alas

Verse 16

the meat: Joel 1:5-9, Joel 1:13, Amos 4:6, Amos 4:7

joy: Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 12:11, Deuteronomy 12:12, Deuteronomy 16:10-15, Psalms 43:4, Psalms 105:3, Isaiah 62:8, Isaiah 62:9

Reciprocal: Ruth 1:1 - a famine 1 Kings 17:12 - that we may eat it Jeremiah 3:3 - the showers Jeremiah 48:33 - joy Joel 1:9 - meat Joel 1:12 - joy Joel 2:14 - even Amos 1:2 - the habitations Habakkuk 3:17 - the fig tree

Verse 17

seed: Heb. grains, Genesis 23:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 7:21 - General Isaiah 5:10 - one Isaiah 19:7 - every Jeremiah 14:4 - the plowmen Joel 1:10 - field Malachi 2:3 - I will

Verse 18

Joel 1:20, 1 Kings 18:5, Jeremiah 12:4, Jeremiah 14:5, Jeremiah 14:6, Hosea 4:3, Romans 8:22

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 11:15 - And I will 2 Samuel 21:10 - took sackcloth Job 6:5 - loweth Job 36:33 - the cattle Psalms 104:21 - seek Isaiah 19:7 - every Ezekiel 26:17 - How art Joel 2:22 - afraid Jonah 3:7 - herd Haggai 1:10 - General Romans 8:20 - the creature

Verse 19

to thee: Psalms 50:15, Psalms 91:15, Micah 7:7, Habakkuk 3:17, Habakkuk 3:18, Luke 18:1, Luke 18:7, Philippians 4:6, Philippians 4:7

the fire: Joel 2:3, Jeremiah 9:10, Amos 7:4

pastures: or habitations

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 14:4 - the ground Joel 2:22 - for the pastures

Verse 20

cry: Job 38:41, Psalms 104:21, Psalms 145:15, Psalms 147:9

the rivers: 1 Kings 17:7, 1 Kings 18:5

Reciprocal: Psalms 107:33 - turneth Jeremiah 14:3 - pits Jeremiah 14:4 - the ground Joel 1:18 - General Joel 2:3 - fire