Joel 1:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Indeed, just as we regard the accounts of noble actions as deserving of recognition and that can occasionally provide enjoyment, so too should we give thought to the remarkable calamities and afflictions, as these events tend to overshadow ordinary reality and, due to their extreme and unyielding nature, warrant acknowledgment while vying for renown alongside the greatest occurrences. Furthermore, I believe that just as recalling the good serves a purpose, so too does reflecting on the negative and sorrowful; the former ignites a longing for virtue in the hearts of listeners, while the latter teaches them to preemptively shun impending evils, using the very issues that brought others to ruin to deter them from committing similar transgressions.

Both the Greek word ἐνωτίσασθε and the Hebrew word itssinu denote a kind of hearing that is more profound than just auditory recognition. The more sacred understanding of hearing, as opposed to simply perceiving sounds, is reflected in Isaiah's words: "Hear ye heaven, and perceive with the ear, O earth" (Isaiah 1:2). Elders and those who are referred to as heavenly possess spiritual discernment, while earthly inhabitants listen merely with their ears. This duality is evident throughout Scripture wherever these terms are connected.

An example is found in Lamech, who spoke to his wives, Ada and Sella, imploring them, "Hear my words, O wives of Lamech, perceive with your ears my words, for I have killed my husband with a pestilence, and a young man with a scab" (Genesis 4:23). He was aware of the gravity of his words and thus urged his wives to focus not just on the sounds but also on their profound implications. Therefore, a person who has matured in understanding and wisdom of the Lord, having grown beyond spiritual infancy, should heed these words. Conversely, those who still inhabit the earthly realm and cannot affirm their alien status, as reflected in the Scripture, "I am a stranger and an alien, as my fathers were" (Psalm 38:13), should listen carefully.

The prophetic voice questions if these events occurred in your lifetime or in that of your ancestors. With skilled rhetoric, the prophet captures attention by alluding to an extraordinary revelation, one that has not been known in any previous era—it was absent in your days or the days of your forefathers. By "fathers," we encompass grandfathers and great-grandfathers, with "children of children" referring to all generations to come, as echoed in Virgil's words: "And the children of children, and those who are born of them." The leaders and the denizens of the earth are therefore called to pass this knowledge on to their offspring and descendants; elders must impart sacred teachings while earthly inhabitants ought to provide straightforward historical recounting.

Thus, we who believe in Christ, alongside Moses, have had the veil lifted from our eyes and embody the wisdom of the aged, as reflected in the saying, "The grey hair is wisdom to men" (Prem. 4:9). We share the mysteries and miracles with our children. In contrast, those of the earthly mindset limit their discourse to matters of the earth, for as it is written, "He who is of the earth speaks from the earth; He who comes from heaven is over all" (John 3:31).

In a similar vein, the revered David proclaims: "Let the generation know the generation of the children, the sons who are born, and let them rise up and lead me to their sons" (Psalm 77:6), clearly indicating the purpose behind this: that they may place their confidence in God (Psalm 77:7).

It is therefore clear from these statements that the grace of the Holy Spirit alone inspired the sacred Prophets. With this in mind, the Prophet calls the elders and all others to heed the admonitions given. He paints a vivid picture of the multitude of trials, declaring: First, locusts will invade, and what remains unharmed will be consumed by subsequent pests; ultimately, the worms will come, leaving nothing intact. Some have interpreted this to symbolically refer to the kings of Assyria and Babylon, likening the locust to Theglath-Pileser, while Salmanasar is seen as the locust, Sennacherib as the broom, and Nebuchadnezzar as the snapper, who launched their final assaults, laying waste to all of Judah and taking the survivors captive. While I concede this interpretation holds merit, I believe the prophecy also holds a literal fulfillment; even the blessed Amos speaks of the locust swarms and the various plagues that ruin the rain, gold, fig trees, olive trees, and vineyards (Am. 4:9), alongside droughts and the absence of rain. He states, "The part of one shall wait, and the part on which I do not wait shall dry up" (Am. 4:7). The divine Jeremiah has similarly illustrated this truth. Hence, we should not view these proclamations merely as metaphors when the holy Prophets have indicated that these predictions have historical grounding. The Israelites were made to realize that as consequences of their wrongdoing and sinfulness, they were delivered into the hands of their adversaries; justly, they were subjected to heavenly judgments, learning that their afflictions came from God, who had seemingly abandoned them. Thus, having revealed the impending sorrows, the Prophet extends encouragement and counsel.

According to Blessed Theodoret, the prophet speaks not of past occurrences, but rather of what lies ahead, echoing the holy prophet’s words: "When ye shall hear the words of this prophecy, judge for yourselves whether there was anything like it before, or in your time, or in the time of your fathers; and all ye that dwell in the land of promise, take heed with diligence to that which shall be spoken." The prophet’s language also reflects the devastation brought on by locusts and droughts that have already taken place, for he does not make new predictions but rather describes calamities as if they have occurred (Joel 1:4, 6-7, 9-10, 16-20). Thus, some scholars agree that in this initial chapter, the holy prophet addresses the disasters that have already afflicted the Hebrew nation, while the subsequent chapters speak of impending trials and events.