Joel 1:4

Palmerworm. Heb. gazam, from a root meaning “to cut,” hence thought to represent a cutting locust (see RSV).

Locust. Heb. ’arbeh, thought to represent the swarming, or migratory, locust. The locusts that plagued the Egyptians are identified as the ’arbeh (Ex. 10:4-19).

Cankerworm. Heb. yeleq, thought to represent the creeping, unwinged stage of the locust.

Caterpillar. Heb. chasil. This insect cannot be positively identified. Chasil comes from a root meaning “to devour,” hence the RSV translation, “destroying locust.” Some scholars have held that gazam, ’arbeh, yeleq, chasil, are four terms that designate the four stages of the locust, from the worm to the mature insect. However, this cannot be established.

In general, two views have been held with regard to this description of the plague of locusts: (1) The literal view, which holds that Joel is describing a particularly devastating scourge of locusts, and that the prophet makes this disaster the occasion of a call to repentance; the deliverance from the natural scourge is then made an occasion for a discourse on the future day of the Lord, when God’s people will be delivered from all their enemies. (2) The allegorical view, which holds that the description of the plague was merely a figure of coming judgments. For example, in the time of Jerome the four destructive insects were taken as symbols of (a) the Babylonians and Assyrians, (b) the Medes and Persians, (c) the Macedonians and Antiochus Epiphanes, (d) the Romans. No serious Bible student accepts this view today.

Inasmuch as locust infestations were rather common occurrences in Palestine, it would be difficult to prove that one such plague may not have formed the occasion of Joel’s prophecy. The arguments that have been presented against this view, such as the fact that the habits of the locust are not accurately described, tend to fall down when it is remembered that the language is highly figurative and poetical. On the other hand, it is impossible to prove that Joel was not employing the description of the insect infestation merely as a figure to represent the invasion of hostile armies (see pp. 937, 938).

Whichever interpretation is adopted, the eschatological teachings of the book remain the same. Joel is focusing on the great day of the Lord, and on Israel’s deliverance in that day, if the nation had fully cooperated with God. But Israel failed to do so. Inspired writers show how the prophetic messages that failed of fulfillment because of Israel’s unbelief, are to be fulfilled in the Christian age (see pp. 35, 36).