Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Joel 1:19
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
O Lord, to thee will I cry, etc.] Or pray, as the Targum; with great vehemency and earnestness, commiserating the case of man and beast: these are the words of the prophet, resolving to use his interest at the through of grace in this time of distress, whatever others did: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness; or, “of the plain” F27 though in the wildernesses of Judea, there were pastures for cattle: Kimchi interprets them of the shepherds’ tents or cotes, as the word F28 is sometimes used; which were will not to be pitched where there were pastures for their flocks: and so the Targum renders it, “the habitations of the wilderness”; these, whether pastures or habitations, or both, were destroyed by fire, the pastures by the locusts, as Kimchi; which, as Pliny F29 says, by touching burn the trees, herbs, and fruits of the earth; (see <290203>Joel 2:3); or by the Assyrians or Chaldeans, who by fire and sword consumed all in their way; or by a dry burning blasting wind, as Lyra; and so the Targum interprets it of a strong east wind like fire: it seems rather to design extreme heat and excessive drought, which burn up all the produce of the earth: and the flame hath burnt all the trees of the field; which may be understood of flashes of lightning, which are common in times of great heat and drought; (see <198314>Psalm 83:14).
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
