The Book of Joel: Chapter 1

This chapter describes the prophets warning voice of imenent judgements but also a sincere desire for Judah to repenet.

Verse 4

Joel used the following imagery of a famine to describe Judah's future. The following terms are used to describe the different stages of development in the life of a locust.

• Palmerworm in Hebrew for gazam, which means "gnawer"
  
• Locust in Hebrew is arbeth, which means "many"
  
• Cankerworm in Hebrew is yeleq, which means "licker"
  
• Caterpillar in Hebrew is chasil, which means "consumer"

The LDS Institute Old Testament Manual says...

"Many scholars believe that the palmerworm was a metaphor for the Assyrian-Babylonian invasions. What these two empires left, the Medes and Persians "ate" during their invasions (Locust)...Then the cankerworm would represent the invasion and suppression by Greece (Macedonia) under Alexander the Great, which leaves the caterpillar to represent the invasion and destruction of Judah by Rome. These references seem also to apply to the coming battle of Armageddon."

Verses 5-6

The Israelites were referred to as "drunkards". In fact, being drunken is the only sin mentioned in the book of Joel. However, in it's use, drunken means sin and drunkard means sinner. Or in other words, they were drunken with their own iniquities, which were many. This includes all forms of self indulgence. Telling them to "weep" and "howl" was Joel's way of telling them to show remorse, repent and cry unto the Lord for forgiveness. Joel also told them that a strong nation, without number (many people), will come upon them. He told them that their "teeth are the teeth of a lion" which means they were vicious and fearsome.

Verses 7-8

Vines and fig trees were considered symbols of goodness and choiceness. This verse says that this great nation will lay his vines waste (or lay his people waste). When the bark is pulled off of a tree, the tree usually dies. Saying the nation had "barked my fig tree" is saying it will kill many in Israel and verse 8 describes the lament because of the death, destruction and desolation.

Verse 10

Saying the "field is wasted" means that Israel is no longer fruitful, or at least fruitful to anything that is satisfactory to God.

Verse 11

The husbandmen and vinedressers are those who care for the fields. He is saying they should be ashamed for not taking care of them properly. This can apply to us when we are stewards over offices or people. How well are we taking care of the things and people the Lord puts in our charge.

Verse 14

Joel tries to convince them to not only repent and pray for forgiveness, but also to fast. Not just prayer and fasting, but a time of national prayer and fasting.

Verse 16

This verse describes the loss of temple worship. This is a loss of "meat", which is spiritual sustenance and a loss of "joy" and "gladness".