The Lord revealed that an army of human beings rather than locusts would soon assail Jerusalem. He described this army at length to stress the danger that His people faced and to motivate them to repent.
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. Jer. 4:5-6; Ezek. 33:2-6).18This 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 (Exod. 10). Darkness and clouds are a common figure for judgment and destruction in the Old Testament (e.g., Jer. 13:16; Ezek. 30:3, 18; 32:7-8; 34:12; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 1:15). They are often associated with Yahweh in His role of mighty, victorious warrior (cf. Deut. 4:11; 5:22-23; Ps. 18:9, 11; 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 Pet. 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.19In favor of this view is the reference to the invasion being near (v. 1). Against it is the statement of its uniqueness in all of history (v. 2). Others view 2:1-11 as a further description of the locust plague that Joel described in chapter 1.20This seems unlikely since the locust plague of chapter 1 was past, but the attack in 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.
2:3 This huge army advanced like a forest fire consuming everything in its path (cf. 1:19). Before the devastation conditions were idyllic, but after it there was nothing but a scorched earth wilderness. Nothing escaped the advancing judgment (cf. Exod. 10:5, 15).
2:4-5 Joel compared this advancing army to war horses and chariots, the war machines of his day. He heard the familiar sound of chariots in battle, which he likened to the crackling of fire as it rages up a mountainside swiftly consuming everything in its path. The huge army that Joel saw appeared unstoppable.
It is interesting that locusts look like tiny armored horses, and they behave like them as well (cf. Job 39:19-20; Rev. 9:7). The Italian word for locust means "little horse,"and the German word means "hay horse."21Thus the correspondence between the army of locusts that had recently swept through the land swiftly and this future invading army is unmistakable. Even their sounds were similar.
2:6 As this army advanced, all the people in and around Jerusalem felt terrified and turned pale with fear (cf. Isa. 26:17; Jer. 4:31; Mic. 4:10).
2:7-9 The enemy soldiers ran with great stamina and climbed over walls, as locusts do. They were very disciplined in their attack, each one staying in his proper position and not crowding his fellow soldiers (cf. Josh. 6:5). Even when they broke through an obstacle they did not break ranks. They rushed on the city of Jerusalem, ran along its walls, climbed into its houses like so many thieves. Again the comparison with locusts is striking.
2:10 The earth trembles as this army advances. The heavens also tremble. The sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars fade from view. Cosmic disturbances like these are common in biblical descriptions of Yahweh waging war (cf. 3:16; Judg. 5:4; Ps. 18:7; 77:18; Isa. 13:10, 13; Ezek. 32:7; Zech. 14:6-7; Rev. 6-18).
2:11 It now becomes clear that Yahweh is leading this army against Jerusalem. Normally the Lord fought forHis people, but here Joel saw Him leading an army againstthem. He is the one who is directing the soldiers with His voice. His host is both numerous and strong. The day of this attack, the day of the Lord, is great and awesome, and no one can withstand it (cf. Mal. 3:2; 4:5).
