Joel 2:25 | |
25. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. | 25. Et reddam vobis annos (pro aliis annis, subaudiendum est) quibus comedit locusta, bruchus, eruca ( |
The Prophet confirms what he had previously said, and states what is of an opposite character, -- that God can as easily restore a rich fruitfulness to the land as he had before rendered it barren by sending devouring insects.
Had not the Jews been made assured that the land had been sterile, because the locusts, and the chafers, and the cankerworms, were the army which the Lord had prepared they might have ever dreaded these spoilers: "Surely the locusts will spring up, the chafers and the cankerworms will come, to devour all the fruit." The Prophet shows that this happened not by chance: "Now then, when God shall be reconciled to you, the land will yield its increase, and nothing shall hinder you from enjoying its abundance."
By calling this army great, he shows that God has no need of strong forces to subdue men; for when he prepares locusts and insects, which are but little things, they snatch food from the mouths of men and leave them in want; though no one puts forth a sword against them, they yet pine away with hunger. The Prophet then derides here the arrogance of men, and shows that God needs not do much, when he intends to reduce them to nothing. Let us now proceed --
1 There are four sorts mentioned in Hebrew as in the first chapter: one of them is omitted here and in the Latin text.--Ed.