Joel 1:12

“The vine is dried up, etc.] Withered away, stripped of its leaves and fruits, and its sap and moisture gone: or, “is ashamed” F19; to see itself in this condition, and not answer the expectation of its proprietor and dresser: and the fig tree languisheth; sickens and dies, through the bite of the locusts: the pomegranate tree: whose fruit is delicious, and of which wine was made: the palm tree also; which bears dates: and the apple tree; that looks so beautiful, when either in bloom, or laden with fruit, and whose fruit is very grateful to the palate; so that both what were for common use and necessary food, and what were for delight and pleasure, were destroyed by these noisome creatures:…”

“pomegranate--a tree straight in the stem growing twenty feet high; the fruit is of the size of an orange, with blood-red colored pulp. palm tree--The dates of Palestine were famous. The palm is the symbol of Judea on coins under the Roman emperor Vespasian. It often grows a hundred feet high. apple tree--The Hebrew is generic, including the orange, lemon, and pear tree. joy is withered away--such as is felt in the harvest and the vintage seasons (Psa 4:7; Isa 9:3).”

“Because joy is withered away - o: “There are four sorts of joy, a joy in iniquity, a joy in vanity, a joy of charity, a joy of felicity. Of the first we read, “Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the forwardness of the wicked Proverbs 2:14. Of the second, “They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ” Job 21:12. Of the third, “Let the saints be joyful in glory” Psalms 149:5. Of the fourth, “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; they will be still praising Thee” Psalms 84:4. The joy of charity and the joy of felicity “wither from the sons of men,” when the virtues aforesaid failing, there being neither knowledge of the truth nor love of virtue, no reward…”

“1:12 Drought had intensified the devastation of the locust plague; everything had withered and dried up (see also 1:19-20). Spiritually, the people’s joy had dried up along with the fruit trees.”

“The vine: Dr. Shaw observes, that in Barbary, in the month of June the locusts are no sooner hatched than they collect themselves into compact bodies, each a "furlong or more square; and marching directly after they are come to life, make their way towards the sea and let nothing escape them, eating up everything that is green or juicy; not only the lesser vegetables, but the vine likewise, the fig-tree, the pomegranate, the palm, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field." Joe 1:10; Hab 3:17, Hab 3:18 the pomegranate: Num 13:23; Psa 92:12; Sol 2:3, Sol 4:13, Sol 7:7-9 joy: Joe 1:16; Psa 4:7; Isa 9:3, Isa 16:10, Isa 24:11; Jer 48:3; Hos 9:1, Hos 9:2 Joel 1:13”