18 How do the beasts H929 groan! H584 the herds H5739 of cattle H1241 are perplexed, H943 because they have no pasture; H4829 yea, the flocks H5739 of sheep H6629 are made desolate. H816
How long shall the land H776 mourn, H56 and the herbs H6212 of every field H7704 wither, H3001 for the wickedness H7451 of them that dwell H3427 therein? the beasts H929 are consumed, H5595 and the birds; H5775 because they said, H559 He shall not see H7200 our last end. H319
Therefore shall the land H776 mourn, H56 and every one that dwelleth H3427 therein shall languish, H535 with the beasts H2416 of the field, H7704 and with the fowls H5775 of heaven; H8064 yea, the fishes H1709 of the sea H3220 also shall be taken away. H622
Yea, the hind H365 also calved H3205 in the field, H7704 and forsook H5800 it, because there was no grass. H1877 And the wild asses H6501 did stand H5975 in the high places, H8205 they snuffed up H7602 the wind H7307 like dragons; H8577 their eyes H5869 did fail, H3615 because there was no grass. H6212
And Ahab H256 said H559 unto Obadiah, H5662 Go H3212 into the land, H776 unto all fountains H4599 of water, H4325 and unto all brooks: H5158 peradventure H194 we may find H4672 grass H2682 to save H2421 the horses H5483 and mules H6505 alive, H2421 that we lose H3772 not all the beasts. H929
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Joel 1
Commentary on Joel 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of
The Book of the Prophet Joel
Chapter 1
This chapter is the description of a lamentable devastation made of the country of Judah by locusts and caterpillars. Some think that the prophet speaks of it as a thing to come and gives warning of it beforehand, as usually the prophets did of judgments coming. Others think that it was now present, and that his business was to affect the people with it and awaken them by it to repentance.
Joe 1:1-7
It is a foolish fancy which some of the Jews have, that this Joel the prophet was the same with that Joel who was the son of Samuel (1 Sa. 8:2); yet one of their rabbin very gravely undertakes to show why Samuel is here called Pethuel. This Joel was long after that. He here speaks of a sad and sore judgment which was now brought, or to be brought, upon Judah, for their sins. Observe,
Joe 1:8-13
The judgment is here described as very lamentable, and such as all sorts of people should share in; it shall not only rob the drunkards of their pleasure (if that were the worst of it, it might be the better borne), but it shall deprive others of their necessary subsistence, who are therefore called to lament (v. 8), as a virgin laments the death of her lover to whom she was espoused, but not completely married, yet so that he was in effect her husband, or as a young woman lately married, from whom the husband of her youth, her young husband, or the husband to whom she was married when she was young, is suddenly taken away by death. Between a new-married couple that are young, that married for love, and that are every way amiable and agreeable to each other, there is great fondness, and consequently great grief if either be taken away. Such lamentation shall there be for the loss of their corn and wine. Note, The more we are wedded to our creature-comforts that harder it is to part with them. See that parallel place, Isa. 32:10-12. Two sorts of people are here brought in, as concerned to lament this devastation, countrymen and clergymen.
Joe 1:14-20
We have observed abundance of tears shed for the destruction of the fruits of the earth by the locusts; now here we have those tears turned into the right channel, that of repentance and humiliation before God. The judgment was very heavy, and here they are directed to own the hand of God in it, his mighty hand, and to humble themselves under it. Here is,