B

B. Content of the book

1. The question of approach to the 1st two chapters.

See Freeman's discussion of the various approaches to the book, centering around the interpretation of the 1st two chapters (p. 150ff; cf., Bibliography, p. 14).

a. The view that Freeman adopts, and that seems to fit the book better than other suggested views, is what he calls an apocalyptic interpretation. Such an approach takes chapter 1 as a description of an actual locust plague that had recently devastated Palestine. Joel then uses this occurrence for the "apocalyptic" imagery of chapter 2 in which he describes a future invasion of Judah by her enemies in the latter days.

b. This view is contrasted with an allegorical view that takes both chapters figuratively and sees in them descriptions of a series of enemy attacks on Israel in her future history. In the 4 kinds of locusts mentioned in chapter 1 (vs. 4), E. B. Pusey and E. W. Hengstenberg find 4 invasions of Israel: Assyria, Babylonia, Greece and Rome. Chapter 2 then describes the end time and the establishment of the millennial kingdom.

c. This view is also to be contrasted with a completely literal view that interprets both chapter 1 and chapter 2 as descriptive of severe locust plagues, the one in chapter 2 more severe than that of chapter 1, and one that will usher in the day of the LORD in a yet future time.

There are some variations of this last category. J. Ridderbos sees both chapters as literal. Chapter 1, is the devastation of the country side, and chapter 2 the entrance of the plague into the city. But in chapter 2 he feels that there is a fusion of the locust plague and the Day of the LORD so that some of the references point beyond the present disaster to a great future judgment. This view is sort of mid-way between the "apocalyptic" view of Freeman and the completely literal view.

C. H. Bullock categorizes methods of interpreting Joel a bit differently (See pp. 330-331). He gives three answers to the question of whether the locusts in 1:1-2:17 are to be viewed as real and historical.

1) Historical literal - Joel describes a locust plague that occurred during his lifetime.

2) Allegorical - the locusts are an allegory of invading armies representing the four great powers at whose hands Israel successively suffered: the Assyro-Babylonian, The Medo-Persian, the Greek, and the Roman.

3) Apocalyptic - eschatological - represents not a natural pestilence but extraterrestrial invaders who usher in the Day of the Lord. [!] Not widely held. Cites no one who advocates the view (p. 331).

2. The question of chronological sequence.

What are the temporal relationships of the events referred to in the various sections of the book? Obscurity on this point is one of the factors that complicates understanding the structure of the book, and in turn may affect ones interpretation of it.

Many interpreters, including Bullock (p. 326), divide the book at 2:17 producing two major sections, i.e., 1:1-2:17 and 2:18-3:21. The first part of the book is seen as a lamentation over a locust plague sent as a divine judgment. The second part of the book is seen as descriptive of a change of fortune to future blessing that has resulted from repentance.

In my view, framing the structure of the book in this way obscures the relationship between three distinct units in the book.

In is my view that in analyzing the structure of the book it is important to notice that 2:10, 11; 2:31 and 3:15 give a similar sign for the "day of the Lord" that is referred to in 2:1 as coming .

This suggests that the day of the Lord referred to in these three places is to be understood as the same day historically. If this is true, then, there are 3 parallel accounts of this day in 3 different sections of the book. These three accounts of the coming Day of the Lord may be viewed as complimentary to each other, emphasizing different aspects of the same subject.

3. Outline of the book.

On this basis the book of Joel may be outlined as follows:

I. 1:1-20 DESCRIPTION OF A CONTEMPORARY LOCUST PLAGUE

II. 2:1-3:21 THREE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE COMING DAY OF THE LORD

A. 2:1-27 THE DAY OF THE LORD DESCRIBED IN THE IMAGERY OF THE PRESENT LOCUST PLAGUE AND DROUGHT

B. 2:28-32

(MT - 3) THE PROMISE OF THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH WILL PRECEDE THE DAY OF THE LORD

C. 3:1-21

(MT - 4) THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS AND THE SALVATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE

4. Some comments on the content.

a. Joel 1:1-20.

A description of a locust plague combined with drought (vss, 12, 20) and fire (vss. 19, 20).

It seems to me that here Joel is describing a real locust plague, contrary to some who see merely symbolism and allegory. He interprets this, however, as a judgment of God and, as such, a call to repentance. In this perspective it is a manifestation of the day of the Lord (vs. 15). It is this perspective that also enables Joel to move from the present historical situation to the eschatological message that in principle is the same. God will come in judgment on all who do not repent and call upon the name of the LORD.

Verse 4.

Four different Hebrew words are used for locust here. Some think that the various stages in the locust's growth are referred to. This may be, although in 2:25 the same terms are used, but in a different order. There are 9 possible words for locust in Hebrew. The terms here could simply be chosen for variety as a way of describing swarm after swarm of locusts coming in to devour the land. Hebrew has a rich vocabulary to describe the locust. There is no equivalent in English - thus the terms crawling, swarming, hopping, stripping (NASB, Berkely). There is no basis for the allegorical view of seeing here Assyria, Babylon, Greece, and Rome.

Verses 5, 9, 13.

The plague was so destructive that there was not sufficient vegetation left for carrying on the meal and drink offerings at the temple. There was to be no new wine. The land had been left desolate. The Dec. 1915 issue of The National Geographic describes such a plague in Palestine.

"One evening it was heard that the locusts had already reached the German colony and the railroad station and as we went out the next day to see them, scarcely had our carriage swung around from the Jaffa Gate than we found the white road was already black with them. Ever in the same direction they pushed up the 'Western Hill' still commonly called Zion, even entering the houses about the 'Tomb of David'. The roads now became so slippery from the masses of the little, greasy bodies crushed beneath the horses hoofs that the horses could scarcely keep a footing and had consequently to be driven slowly and with great care. Afterward it was heard that likewise trains throughout the country had been stopped for hours at a time, notably on the Damascus-Haiffa line near the Lake of Galilee.

Below the Lower Pool of Gihon old olive trees, yesterday green, were now nothing but bare trunks and twigs, and further up the valley a couple of beautiful mulberry trees had just been attacked, the leaves falling like rain, and already the ground was deeply strewn with them, and long before evening they, too, were leafless. This, however, proved to be but a sample of coming things.

The locusts, when advanced into the second or pupa stage, walk like ordinary insects, leaping only when frightened into a quicker pace, which they readily accomplish by the use of their two long and powerful posterior legs. However, while still in the first or larva stage, they seemed to hop much like fleas, so that when anything neared their thickened masses it seemed as if the entire surface of the ground moved, producing a most curious effect upon one's vision and causing dizziness, which in some was so severe as to produce a sensation not unlike seasickness. The same was also true when watching them undisturbed on tree or field.

One of our most interesting experiences, while noting the locusts methodical but stubborn moves, occurred when they first reached Jerusalem. Countless numbers of the young locusts poured into the broad, walled road leading into the city from the west, past the United States Consulate to the Jaffa Gate. For three or four days an incessant and unending stream filled the road from side to side, like numberless troops marching on parade, and in spite of the traffic at this junction, which to this city is like lower Broadway to New York, their ranks, although thinned, entered the ancient gateway and the New Breach, 'Though in among the weapons they fall they shall not stop' (Joel 2:8)."

See Laetsch (p. 114ff.) for additional quotations from the National Geographic article.

Verses 13,14.

Joel then summons the people to repent and cry unto God. He calls for prayer and fasting and a return to the Lord. He understands that this disaster is an act of God. God acts in Israel's history not only in blessing but also in judgment (cf. vs. 3: this act was to be recited to the children just as the acts of the Exodus were). Here was the actualization of the covenant curse of Deut 28:38, 42ff.

Verse 15.

In this plague Joel sees the day of the Lord as near. It seems that Joel sees the day of the Lord as consisting in a contemporary locust plague or perhaps a harbinger of its coming (see Payne, Theology of the Older Testament, p. 464 ff). Viewed in this way it is a provisional divine judgment that is intended to point forward to the great day of judgment that is to come.

b. Joel 2:1-3:21

Three descriptions of the coming Day of the Lord.

1) Joel 2:1-27

The Day of the Lord described in the imagery of the present locust plague and drought.

Verses 1-10.

In chapter 1 the locust plague and its results are described as something that has already occurred. In chapter 2 the description is of something in process. The perfect tenses of the verbs in chapter 1 are replaced for the most part (esp. 2:3-9) by imperfects in chapter 2. Chapter 2 thus speaks of either something that will happen or is happening.

In chapter 2 the locusts seem to have become eschatological symbols, representing human invaders. Freeman puts the expression "the invader from the north" of verse 20 in connection with this (p. 153).

Freeman:

"The 'north' is a technical term in the Old Testament which often appears in passages of an apocalyptic nature and in such contexts is always symbolic of the enemies of Israel. In this connection it is also used to indicate the direction from which calamity and misfortune came upon Palestine. Assyria and Babylon came out of the north against the Hebrew nation and appear in Scripture not only as contemporary enemies of Israel, but also as typical of her end-time foe who was to come out of the north, that is, the eschatological 'northerner.' (Cf. Zech. 6:8; Jer. 1:14-15; 16:1,22; Ezek. 38:6, 15; 39:2; Isa. 14:31; Zeph. 2:13)."