Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com
Joel 1:1
joe 1:1
Came to Joel - Probably in the latter end of Jeroboam the second's reign over Israel and in the days of Uzziah, over Judah.
Joel 1:2
joe 1:2
Old men - The oldest among you, who can remember things done many years ago.
Joel 1:4
joe 1:4
Palmer - worm - Four sorts of insects, are here mentioned, which succeeded each other, and devoured all that might be a support to the Jews, whence ensued a grievous famine.
Joel 1:5
joe 1:5
Is cut off - Suddenly cut off even when you are ready to drink it, and totally cut off by these devouring vermin.
Joel 1:6
joe 1:6
A nation - An innumerable multitude of locusts and caterpillars, called a nation here, as Solomon calls the conies and the ant, Pro 30:25-26, and perhaps a prognostick of a very numerous and mighty nation, that ere long will invade Judah. Strong - Mighty in power, and undaunted in courage, if you refer it to the Assyrian or Babylonians; if to those vermin, they are, though each weak by itself, yet in those multitudes, strong and irresistible. A great lion - Such waste as lions make, these the locusts do, and the Assyrians will make.
Joel 1:8
joe 1:8
The husband of her youth - Espoused to her, but snatched away by an untimely death.
Joel 1:9
joe 1:9
The drink - offering - By the destruction of the vines, all wine (out of which they ought to offer the drink - offering) failed.
Joel 1:10
joe 1:10
The corn - The wheat and barley, is eaten up in its greenness. Dried up - The drought was so great, that the vines were withered, and all their hopes of new wine cut off. The oil - The olive - trees. Languisheth - This is a plain account of the reason why the priests were called to mourn, and why the meal - offering and drink - offering were cut off.
Joel 1:11
joe 1:11
Be ye ashamed - This is a just cause why you should lament and enquire why God is so displeased with you.
Joel 1:14
joe 1:14
Sanctify ye - Ye priests, set apart a day wherein to afflict yourselves, confess your sins, and sue out your pardon. Into the house - The courts of the temple, where the people were wont to pray.
Joel 1:15
joe 1:15
The day of the Lord - A day of greater trouble than yet they felt, troubles which God will heap upon them. Shall it come - Unless fasting, prayers and amendment prevent.
Joel 1:16
joe 1:16
Cut off - Devoured by locusts, or withered with drought.
Joel 1:17
joe 1:17
Laid desolate - Run to ruin because the owners discouraged with the barrenness of the seasons, would not repair them.
Joel 1:19
joe 1:19
The fire - The immoderate heats. The wilderness - The world, only means places not ploughed, and less inhabited than others.
Joel 1:20
joe 1:20
Cry - They utter their complaints, their sad tones, they have a voice to cry, as well as an eye to look to God.