Joel 2:9

9 They rush upon the city; they run upon the walls. They climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves.

Joel 2:9 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 2:9

They shall run to and fro in the city
Leap about from place to place, as locusts do; see ( Isaiah 33:4 ) ; and as the Chaldeans did when they became masters of the city of Jerusalem; they ran about from place to place to seize upon their spoil and plunder: they shall run upon the wall;
which before they climbed, now they shall run upon, and go from tower to tower, as the Chaldeans did, and broke clown the walls and fortifications: they shall climb up upon the houses, and enter in at the windows, like
a thief;
so the locusts entered into the houses of the Egyptians, ( Exodus 10:6 ) ; and Pliny says ^F19, they will eat through everything, and even the doors of houses. Theodoret on the place observes, that not only this may be done by enemies, what is here said,

``but even [we have often seen] it done by locusts; for not only flying, but even creeping up the walls, they enter into houses at the windows.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 29.

Joel 2:9 In-Context

7 Like warriors they charge; like soldiers they climb the wall. Each keeps to their own path; they didn't change their course.

8 They don't crowd each other; each keeps to their own path. Even if they fall among the weapons, they won't stop.

9 They rush upon the city; they run upon the walls. They climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves.

10 The earth quakes before them; the heavens shake. The sun and the moon are darkened; the stars have stopped shining,

11 because the LORD utters his voice at the head of his army. How numerous are his troops! Mighty are those who obey his word. The day of the LORD is great; it stirs up great fear—who can endure it?