Joel 2:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The masses will be overwhelmed on their behalf. As I have mentioned, the onslaught of 'locusts' and 'mosses' is an overwhelming force that cannot be defeated by humanity. Every countenance reflects the anguish of an affliction. Often, the hue of the face fades from dread and grief, turning a distressing shade, as if revealing the inner turmoil of the mind.

Humanity will be devastated in his presence, referring to the Egyptians, Ethiopians, and their surrounding peoples. The countenance of all will grow dark like the burning heat of a furnace. The inhabitants of Judah and the Gentile nations, filled with dread of the Assyrians, will appear like a charred vessel. This imagery symbolizes profound terror, and a similar comparison is employed by the prophets Isaiah and Nahum.

The prophet declares that every countenance will bear the marks of intense suffering. The populace will experience such anguish that their features will resemble those charred by flames, and this devastation will arise from starvation and deprivation.