Joel 2:9

9 They rush into the city. They run along the wall. They climb into houses. They enter through 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 They run like warriors. They climb walls like soldiers. They march straight ahead. They do not leave their places.

8 They do not crowd one another. They keep in their own lines. Even when they break through the defenses, they do not break their ranks.

9 They rush into the city. They run along the wall. They climb into houses. They enter through windows like thieves.

10 The earth quakes in their presence, and the sky shakes. The sun and the moon turn dark, and the stars no longer shine.

11 The LORD shouts out orders to his army. His forces are very large. The troops that carry out his commands are mighty. The day of the LORD is extremely terrifying. Who can endure it?