Joel 2:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In addition, the Babylonians, situated in the northeast, also faced destruction during Hezekiah's rule (see 2 Kings 19), resulting in a repugnant odor of decaying bodies that lingered for seven months, as recorded by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 39:12-14). The geographic location of Babylon to the north is affirmed in God's pronouncement, where the voices of the saints call to the Israelite captives: “Oh, oh, flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord... to Zion ye that dwell in the daughter of Babylon” (Zechariah 2:6-7). In a similar manner, Christ expelled from us those spiritual locusts, representing the devastating forces of demons, confining them in hell and concealing them in the abyss's depths, as if casting them into the sea's depths. The foul odors that arose were burdensome and repulsive to us, though previously they seemed inconspicuous, as we did not perceive the vile nature of Satan. Now, however, we have come to recognize it: when we were ensnared by the chains of sin and fell under his dominion, he appeared to us as appealing and honorable. Yet, when Immanuel revealed Himself to us, proclaiming, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys” (Song of Songs 2:1), we began to perceive His divine fragrance and finally discerned the repugnance of our former state.

When the priests began to intercede for the people, pleading, "Have mercy, O Lord, on Your people, and do not abandon Your heritage to destruction," the people responded by observing the commands: they sanctified the fast, proclaimed healing, gathered together, consecrated the Church, appointed elders, and welcomed the young. The bridegroom emerged from his chamber, and the bride from her private quarters, serving not their physical desires but embracing the spirit and sorrow.

The Lord was protective of His land, once forsaken as if it were foreign, ravaged by locusts. His mercy toward the repentant was profound, as He affirmed His commitment, saying, "Although the locusts, caterpillars, and worms have devoured your harvest, I will restore you with wheat and other blessings, and I will not subject you to captivity. I will remove the Assyrians and Chaldeans from the north, of whom it is said, ‘A great and mighty people, like consuming fire, and their path is as swift as horses.’ I will cast them out into a wilderness, causing their front to perish in the eastern sea and their rear in the western sea, resulting in an offensive odor due to their arrogance."

It is important to grasp that the locusts symbolize the devastation brought upon Judea by the Chaldeans. This metaphor aligns with the ruins of the land, portrayed not in terms of enemies but as locusts. In our time, swarms of locusts once besieged Judea, but by the Lord's grace and through the prayers of the priests and people, who entreated between the narthex and the altar—that is, between His crucifixion and His resurrection—a powerful wind arose, dispersing the locusts into the first and last seas.

The first sea, located near the wilderness, is where Sodom, Gomorrah, Adam, and Sheboim once stood, now known as the Dead Sea, devoid of life. The last sea lies to the west, leading to Egypt, bordered by cities like Gaza, Ascalon, Azotus, Joppa, and others. When both shores are filled with heaps of dead locusts cast ashore, an unbearable odor arises, permeating the air, leading to sickness among cattle and people.

A discerning reader may ponder when this was literally enacted against the Chaldeans. Shortly after this prophecy, as noted in Isaiah, one hundred eighty-five thousand Chaldeans were struck down in one night under King Hezekiah by a divine messenger. While historical context is essential, it also serves an allegorical purpose: each soul is like the Lord's ground, in which the farmer sows his seeds. When filled with tares—wild grass and thorns—rather than wheat, a soul may repent and plead, "Spare, O Lord, Your people." The Lord, once disdaining this ground, will now regard it with compassion, promising, "I will send you wheat," for it is said, "Amen, amen, I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much fruit."

He will also provide wine, which brings joy to the heart, and oil, which brings radiance to the face, transforming former sorrows into joy through the abundance of virtues. Thus, they will be filled with all blessings and no longer subjected to derision from the nations, as stated by the Apostle: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers of darkness, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavens."

As for the one from the north, Jeremiah remarks, "From the north, disaster will be unleashed upon all who dwell on the earth," while Solomon notes that "the north wind brings forth the harshest storms." I shall remove him from you and cast him into a desolate, impenetrable land, devoid of knowledge of God, where the Holy Spirit does not abide. His image will be in the first and last seas, found in those who open themselves to sin, remaining captive until their last breath; the foul odor will also rise from those who are ambitious and fall due to pride, for human frailty is never secure. The more virtues one attains, the greater the need to be wary of potential downfall.

In reality, swarms of locusts typically emerge from the south rather than the north; they originate in warmer climates. The prophet likened the Assyrians to locusts, choosing the north to illustrate their destructive nature. Thus, we should not interpret locusts solely as insects but recognize they represent the Assyrians and Chaldeans.

The foremost part will be cast into the Dead Sea, while the latter part, shifting with the change of wind, will rush toward the Mediterranean Sea and meet its demise in those waters. The remains of the deceased locusts will be washed ashore by the waves, resulting in decay that spreads a foul odor across a wide area. This display of the Lord’s grace, marked by the removal of the locust plague, will serve to exalt His name. The people will witness the magnificence of the Lord’s deeds, revealing both His immense power and boundless goodness.