Joel 2:10

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

Joel 2:10 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 2:10

The earth shall quake before them
The inhabitants of it, because of the desolating judgments they bring with them, and those enemies that are signified by them: the heavens shall tremble;
being obscured by them: the sun and moon shall be dark;
the locusts sometimes come in such large numbers as to intercept the rays of the sun. Pliny ^F20 says they sometimes darken it; and though some thought they did not fly in the night, because of the cold; this he observes is owing to their ignorance, not considering that they pass over wide seas to distant countries; and this will account for it how the moon also may be darkened by them, and the stars, as follows: and the stars shall withdraw their shining;
though all this may be understood in a figurative sense of the great consternation that all sorts of persons should be in at such calamities coming upon the land, either by locusts, or by enemies; as the king, queen, nobles, and the common people of the land, signified by sun, moon, and stars, heaven and earth.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Ibid. (Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 29.)

Joel 2:10 In-Context

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?

12 Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow;