A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Joel
Kuruvilla Thomas
Bangalore
Published on 30 September 2025 *
Introduction
This study treats Joel as a cryptochiasmus in order to arrive at a coherent reconfiguration of the text ( see definition of cryptochiasmus in [1] ). If you wish to skip the technicalities of a chiastic parse, you may read starting from Section 4 of the Discussion section, which has the reconfigured text.
We will show that this prophecy in the book of Joel, which appears to be about a swarm of locusts in Joel 1 & 2, is regarding 4 different types of attacks that occur in 3 distinct Periods. This book specifies the three "Days of the Lord" that are mentioned in several other prophecies.
Discussion
1. Presuppositions
We base our parse of Joel on the assumption that it refers to 3 periods:
- The First Half (66AD-70AD) of The First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–73AD). The Roman army executes a ruthless campaign of devastation against Judea before attacking Jerusalem.
- Israel's enemies are defeated before Christ's Millennial Reign (c. 2027AD). God defeats Israel's enemies at the start of Christ's Millennial Reign. The nation is restored after attacks by locusts.
- The Fifth Trumpet of the End-Times Tribulation (c. 2964AD). At the 5th trumpet, creatures from the Abyss afflict the wicked of the earth.
2. Parsing the chiasmus
We will use the NIV Bible for this parse.
Parsing this chiasmus involves dividing portions of the text into three categories as above. We will call the period of The First Jewish–Roman War Period 1, The Start of Christ's Millennial Reign Period 2 and End-Times Tribulation Period 3.
Categorizing Joel
Ch 1 Vs 2-7 belong to Period 2. In the land of the Israelites, great locust swarms destroy all vegetation in their path shortly before the start of Christ's Millennial Reign.Ch 1 Vs 8 - Ch 2 Vs 3 belong to Period 1. The Romans destroy the crops and end sacrifices at Jerusalem. The priests in Judea lament this cessation of sacrifices. Although this section appears to be an extension of the tale of loss inflicted by the locusts, the character of the damage here is different - for instance, locusts do not destroy granaries. We propose that vs 1:8 is a part of this subunit, because the destruction by locusts, while serious, does not call for the great lament of a young bride grieving for her husband. We treat 2:3, the closing boundary, as a part of this subunit, because it mentions the Romans' destruction of the vegetation by fire - the creatures of Period 3 (the next subunit) do not harm vegetation (see Rev. 9:4).
Ch 2 Vs 4-14 belong to Period 3. While this passage can also be interpreted as a locust attack, some of the characteristics of this swarm indicate otherwise; for example, this swarm storms cities instead of fields. We believe they are the creatures of the 5th trumpet of the End-Times Tribulation (Rev. 9:1-11) that torture people but do not harm vegetation [6]. Joel attempts to describe the creatures - they look like horses, etc. - something that would be unnecessary if they were the ordinary locusts his audience knew well.
Ch 2 Vs 15-17 belongs to Period 1. The people of Judah fast and pray, seeking God's mercy. ( The last verses of the previous subunit, 2:12-14, may appear to be regarding this Period because of the mention of grain and drink offerings, but we treat those verses as figurative - see commentary below. After the death of Christ, these offerings are no longer required of the people of Judah.)
Ch 2 Vs 18-27 belong to Period 2. At the start of Christ's Millennial Reign, God takes control of the earth and makes His people prosperous. He defeats the Beast army that attacks the New Israel (the "Northern Horde"). He remedies the destruction wrought by the locusts, and His people will never again be shamed.
Ch 2 Vs 28-32 belong to Period 1. This passage is quoted in Acts 2:17-21 as being about the time after Jesus' First Coming. Christian Judahites were given the gift of prophecy through the Holy Spirit. They escaped the Roman massacre.
Ch 3 belongs to Period 2. The Beast army and its allies are defeated and punished. Christ begins his Millennial Reign over a prosperous Israel.
Original text
We color-code the chiastic units of the original text (NIV) below for easy visual identification using: red for Period 1, blue for Period 2 and green for Period 3. We have retranslated parts of the text.
Joel 1 2 Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? 3 Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. 4 What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten.
5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips. 6 A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness. 7 It has laid waste my vines and ruined my fig trees. It has stripped off their bark and thrown it away, leaving their branches white.
8 Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving for the betrothed of her youth. 9 Grain offerings and drink offerings are cut off from the house of the Lord. The priests are in mourning, those who minister before the Lord. 10 The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the olive oil fails.
11 Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed. 12 The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered, also the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree. All the trees of the field are dried up, because joy is withdrawn from the people. [a]
13 Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. 14 Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.
15 Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
16 Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes— joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17 The seeds are shriveled beneath the clods. The storehouses are in ruins, the granaries have been broken down, indeed [b] the grain has dried up. 18 How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering.
19 To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the open pastures [c] and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. 20 Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures [d].
Retranslation notes for Joel 1
[a] vs 12 "withered, also the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree. All the trees of the field are dried up, because joy is withdrawn from the people" instead of "withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree— all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the people’s joy is withered away". Based on the Douay-Rheims Bible.
[b] vs 17 "indeed" instead of "for".
[c] vs 19 "open pastures" instead of "pastures in the wilderness".
[d] vs 20 "open pastures" instead of "pastures in the wilderness".
Joel 2 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was before [a] nor ever will be in ages to come.
3 Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste— nothing escapes them.
4 They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. 5 With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, with a sound like a crackling fire consuming stubble, they are as a mighty army deployed for battle. [b]
6 Before them the peoples are in anguish, every face is contorted. [c] 7 They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. 8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. 9 They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.
10 Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. 11 The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the one [d] that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from doing harm [e]. 14 Who knows? It may turn and repent and leave behind a gift [f] — grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. 16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. 17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, one that is ruled by other nations [g]. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
18 The Lord was zealous [h] for his land and took pity on his people.
19 The Lord announced [i] to them:
“I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations."
20 "I will keep the northern horde away from you. I will drive it into a barren and desolate land, with its vanguard at the eastern river, and its rearguard at the western river. Its stench will rise, its foul odour will ascend, for it has done monstrous things.” [j] 21 Do not be distressed, O land; be glad and rejoice, for [k] the Lord has done great things! 22 Do not be distressed [l], you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.
23 Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the teacher unto righteousness, and he sends you abundant showers, both the early and the latter rain, as before. [m] 24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you. 26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full. You [n] will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. 27 You [o] will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.
28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth—blood and fire and billows of smoke, 31 the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood—before [p] the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said; the remnant will be those whom the LORD calls [q].
Retranslation notes for Joel 2
[a] vs 2 "before" instead of "in ancient times".
[b] vs 5 "with a sound like a crackling fire consuming stubble, they are as a mighty army deployed for battle" instead of "like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle".
[c] vs 6 "Before them the peoples are in anguish, every face is contorted" instead of "At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale".
[d] vs 11 "one" instead of "army".
[e] vs 13 "doing harm" instead of "sending calamity".
[f] vs 14 "It may turn and repent and leave behind a gift" instead of "He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing".
[g] vs 17 "one that is ruled by other nations" instead of "a byword among the nations".
[h] vs 18 "zealous" instead of "jealous".
[i] vs 19 "announced" instead of "replied".
[j] vs 20 "I will keep the northern horde away from you. I will drive it into a barren and desolate land, with its vanguard at the eastern river, and its rearguard at the western river. Its stench will rise, its foul odour will ascend, for it has done monstrous things." instead of 'I will drive the northern horde far from you, pushing it into a parched and barren land; its eastern ranks will drown in the Dead Sea and its western ranks in the Mediterranean Sea. And its stench will go up; its smell will rise." Surely he has done great things!'.
[k] vs 21 "Do not be distressed, O land; be glad and rejoice, for" instead of "Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely".
[l] vs 22 "distressed" instead of "afraid".
[m] vs 23 "the teacher unto righteousness, and he sends you abundant showers, both the early and the latter rain, as before" instead of "the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before".
[n] vs 26 "full. You" instead of "full, and you". For the chiasmus.
[o] vs 27 "You" instead of "Then you".
[p] vs 30,31 "earth—blood and fire and billows of smoke, 31 the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood—before" instead of "earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before".
[q] vs 32 "said; the remnant will be those whom the LORD calls" instead of "said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls".
Joel 3 “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. At that time, I will bring charges against them [a] for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up the people of my land [b]. 3 They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.
4 “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5 For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Javans, that you might send them away from their homes [c].
7 “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. 8 Your sons and daughters will be sold to the people of Judah; they will be sold to the Sabeans, a nation out of reach [d].” The Lord has spoken.
9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!” 11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there.
Bring down your warriors, Lord!
12 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. 13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!”
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. 16 The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. The [e] Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
17 “You [f] will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.
18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All [g] the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the wadi [h] of acacias. 19 Egypt [i] will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because they have attacked the people of Judah, and because they have shed innocent blood in their land [j]. 20 But Judah [k] will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations. 21 And I will avenge their blood which I have not avenged, For the LORD dwells in Zion.[l]
Retranslation notes for Joel 3
[a] vs 2 "At that time, I will bring charges against them" instead of "There I will put them on trial".
[b] vs 2 "the people of my land" instead of "my land".
[c] vs 6 "Javans, that you might send them away from their homes" instead of "Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland".
[d] vs 8 "Your sons and daughters will be sold to the people of Judah; they will be sold to the Sabeans, a nation out of reach" instead of "I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away".
[e] vs 16 "The" instead of "But the". For the regular chiasmus.
[f] vs 17 "You" instead of "Then you". For the regular chiasmus.
[g] vs 18 "milk. All" instead of "milk; all". For the regular chiasmus.
[h] vs 18 "wadi" instead of "valley".
[i] vs 19 "Egypt" instead of "But Egypt". For the regular chiasmus.
[j] vs 19 "because they have attacked the people of Judah, and because they have shed innocent blood in their land " instead of "because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood".
[k] vs 20 "But Judah" instead of "Judah".
[l] vs 21 "And I will avenge their blood which I have not avenged, For the LORD dwells in Zion." instead of 'Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not.” The LORD dwells in Zion!'. Based on the NASB.
3. Building the reconfigured text
From this parse, it appears that Joel 1-3 form a cryptochiasmus as below:
A1 Ch 1 Vs 2-7 Period 2. Locust swarms destroy the vegetation
B1 Ch 1 Vs 8 - Ch 2 Vs 3 Period 1. The Romans devastate Judea and Jerusalem
X Ch 2 Vs 4-14 Period 3. End-Times pestilence
B2 Ch 2 Vs 15-17 Period 1. Judah seeks God's mercy
A2 Ch 2 Vs 18-27 Period 2. The land that was destroyed by the locusts is restored
We now reconstruct the passages in the right order based on the chiastic structure above and based on the ordering rules of a cryptochiasmus [1].
We usually lead with the pivot point but in this case, we place the central pivot point 'X' at the end, as allowed by the rules of cryptochiasmi [1] . The corresponding subunits (for example; subunit A1 corresponds to A2) are placed contiguously to form units (for example, A1,A2 is a unit ) so that we get a list of such units.
The sequence selected for rearrangement is:
[A1,A2] [B1,B2] X (1)
We have the following sequence when we include the rest of the prophecy:
[A1,A2] - Period 2
[B1,B2] - Period 1
X - Period 3
Ch 2 Vs 28-32 - Period 1. Signs and wonders before the destruction of Jerusalem
Ch 3 - Period 2. The Beast alliance is destroyed before the Millennial Reign
We still have text for the periods in a non-contiguous form. We treat this as a doubly applied cryptochiasmus as below.
M1 [A1,A2] - Period 2
N1 [B1,B2] - Period 1
XX X- Period 3
N2 Ch 2 Vs 28-32 - Period 1
M2 Ch 3 - Period 2
The sequence selected for rearrangement is:
XX [M1,M2] [N1,N2] (2)
Translating this sequence (2) into the subunits of the first chiasmus, we get:
X, [[A1,A2] , Ch 3] [[B1,B2], Ch 2 Vs 28-32] (3)
Further translating (3) into verse numbers, we get:
[Ch 2 Vs 4-14] [[Ch 1 Vs 2-7, Ch 2 Vs 18-27], Ch 3] [[Ch 1 Vs 8 - Ch 2 Vs 3, Ch 2 Vs 15-17], Ch 2 Vs 28-32] (4)
We arrive at the reconfigured passage in the next section by rearranging the verses so they are in sequence (4).
4. Joel Reconfigured
The Fifth Trumpet of the End-Times Tribulation (c. 2964AD) (Ch 2 Vs 4-14)Chiasmus 1: The creatures from the Abyss bring agony to the people of earth (2:4-8)
Chiasmus 2: The Lord sends creatures from the Abyss to reform the wicked of earth (2:9-14)
Israel's enemies are defeated before Christ's Millennial Reign (circa 2027AD) (Ch 1 Vs 2-7, Ch 2 Vs 18-27, Ch 3)
Chiasmus 1: The great plague of locusts (1:2-7, 2:18-19)
Chiasmus 2: Israel is restored after the Beast army is defeated (2:20-27)
Chiasmus 3: The wicked people that enslaved the Israelites are punished (3:1-10)
Chiasmus 4: The Beast army is punished and destroyed (3:11-16a)
Chiasmus 5: Satan's empires are defeated and God's nation is blessed (3:16b-21)
The First Half (66AD-70AD) of The First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–73AD) (Ch 1 Vs 8 - Ch 2 Vs 3, Ch 2 Vs 15-17, Ch 2 Vs 28-32)
Chiasmus 1: The Judahites are punished with famine (1:8-13)
Chiasmus 2: Judea is devastated as the "Day of the Lord" approaches (1:14-20, 2:1-2a)
Chiasmus 3: Jerusalem prays for deliverance from the rampaging Romans (2:2b-3, 2:15-17)
Chiasmus 4: Righteous Judahites are saved (2:28-32)
5. A Commentary on the Reconfigured Text
5.0 Introductory verse
Chapter 1 1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel.
The name "Joel" means "Yehovah is God" or "one to whom YHWH is God". Joel was from the southern nation of Judah and he was the son of Pethuel, but not much else is known about the prophet, not even the dates of his ministry.
5.1 The Fifth Trumpet of the End-Times Tribulation (c. 2964AD) (Ch 2 Vs 4-14)
The creatures of this Period are those loosed at the 5th trumpet (the 1st Woe) during the End-Times Tribulation (see Rev. 9:1-11 [6]). These infernal creatures from the Abyss, or Bottomless Pit, appear to be spiritual beings that take on a physical form, and they are sent by God to torture the wicked humans remaining on earth (Rev. 9:2-3) (by this time, the faithful either have been raptured out or are protected by the seal of God - Rev. 7). Although many of the characteristics of this swarm are similar to those of locusts, some features do not fit those insects, for instance: these creatures march in line like soldiers, and they attack cities and people and not fields (note that in Rev. 9:4, the creatures are ordered not to harm vegetation).
This Period is structured as a series of 2 chiasmi.
Chiasmus 1: The creatures from the Abyss bring agony to the people of earth (2:4-8)
A1 2:4-5 The army of creatures from the Abyss: It marches towards cities
X 2:6 The creatures bring anguish to the people of earth
A2 2:7-8 The army of creatures from the Abyss: It breaches the cities' defences
Subunit A1: The army of creatures from the Abyss: It marches towards cities (2:4-5)
Chapter 2 4 They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. 5 With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, with a sound like a crackling fire consuming stubble, they are as a mighty army deployed for battle.
As they march to attack the cities of the world, these creatures from the Abyss are like a mighty army. They look and move like horses (Rev. 9:7) and they effortlessly cross mountains. They are noisy and make harsh, mechanical sounds ("like chariots", "like crackling fire"), as opposed to the more organic buzzing of locusts (Rev. 9:9).
Pivot X: The creatures bring anguish to the people of earth (2:6)
Chapter 2 6 Before them the peoples are in anguish, every face is contorted.
The creatures induce intense pain in the people of earth. Over a period of 5 months, they cause so much pain that the people long to die, but do not (see Rev 9:5,6,10).
Subunit A2: The army of creatures from the Abyss: It breaches the cities' defences (2:7-8)
Chapter 2 7 They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. 8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.
When these creatures arrive at a city, they effortlessly breach its defences, like a well-trained army ("charge like warriors", "scale walls like soldiers"). They are terrifyingly disciplined and persistent, like a dystopian army that cannot be stopped - they remain in formation, even as they plunge through defences.
Chiasmus 2: The Lord sends creatures from the Abyss to reform the wicked of earth (2:9-14)
A1 2:9 The army of creatures from the Abyss: It attacks people in the cities
B1 2:10-11a God sends this army to reform the wicked
X 2:11b The great tribulation of the "Day of the Lord"
B2 2:12-13 God sends this army to reform the wicked
A2 2:14 The army of creatures from the Abyss: Some of those attacked may turn to God
Subunit A1: The army of creatures from the Abyss: It attacks people in the cities (2:9)
Chapter 2 9 They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.
After they breach the defences of a city (see Chiasmus 1 above), these creatures enter all the houses in the city to torment the people in them (see Rev 9:4,5,10).
Subunit B1: God sends this army to reform the wicked (2:10-11a)
Chapter 2 10 Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
This plague from the Abyss is a worldwide event (see Rev 9:2,3). This great army simultaneously marches across the world so that the whole earth is affected. The creatures also blanket the sky like locusts so that the sky appears to tremble, and so that they block the light from heavenly bodies ("sun and moon are darkened..."). ( Typically, the "sun, moon, stars and heavens" together represent the fallen angels that control the nations of the world, but the fallen angels had already lost their power at the beginning of the End-Time Tribulation - see Rev 6:12-14. So here we treat the "sun, moon, stars" as literal heavenly bodies.)
Chapter 2 11a The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the one that obeys his command.
It is God that calls out this mighty army to torment the wicked of the earth, so that they may be reformed (see corresponding Subunit A2 below). The army is led by God's powerful angel Abaddon/Apollyon (the "mighty one") (see Rev. 9:11).
Pivot X: The great tribulation of the "Day of the Lord" (2:11b)
Chapter 2 11b The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?
The "Day of the Lord" of this Period refers to the dreadful time of the great End-Times Tribulation from God, the period between the rapture and the judgement [6] (see also 1:15 and 3:14 for the other two "Days of the Lord"). This torment from the creature of the Abyss is a part of this period of tribulation.
Subunit B2: God sends this army to reform the wicked (2:12-13)
Chapter 2 12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from doing harm.
Even at this late date, after the Rapture and near the End of the World, God, in His great love, sends this tribulation to reform the remaining wicked of the earth - He is willing to forgive and deliver those who sincerely repent (cf. Rev. 9:20,21). The people of earth may tear their garments from the pain inflicted by these creatures from the Abyss, but if they repent instead ("rend their heart"), they will be spared further harm.
Subunit A2: The army of creatures from the Abyss: Some of those attacked may turn to God (2:14)
Chapter 2 14 Who knows? It may turn and repent and leave behind a gift— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.
The prophet speculates that some of the wicked that are attacked may turn from their sins and repent (we take "It" in this passage to refer to the households of 2:9 in the corresponding Subunit A1 above). Those that turn to God and remain faithful through this time of tribulation are gifts to God; the repentant sinner is compared to grain and drink offerings - offerings that are pleasing to God (note that the 144,000 of Revelation are similarly considered firstfruit offerings to God - Rev 14:4).
5.2 Israel's enemies are defeated before Christ's Millennial Reign (circa 2027AD) (Ch 1 Vs 2-7, Ch 2 Vs 18-27, Ch 3)
This Period is structured as a series of 5 chiasmi.We take "Judah", "Zion, and "Jerusalem" (the prophet's land and capital) to represent all of Israel in this Period.
Chiasmus 1: The great plague of locusts (1:2-7, 2:18-19)
A1 1:2-3 The aftermath of the plague: It is spoken of through generations
B1 1:4 Waves of locusts attack the Israelites
X 1:5 The Israelites are informed of the loss of their crops
B2 1:6-7 Waves of locusts attack the Israelites
A2 2:18-19 The aftermath of the plague: God restores the land
We propose that this chiasmus is read in the sequence X, B1, B2, A1, A2.
Subunit A1: The aftermath of the plague: It is spoken of through generations (1:2-3)
Chapter 1 2 Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors? 3 Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.
The Israelites pass on this account of the devastating waves of locust attacks (of Unit B below) and of God's restoration of the land (Subunit A2 below) to succeeding generations (cf. Psalm 78:5-7).
Subunit B1: Waves of locusts attack the Israelites (1:4)
Chapter 1 4 What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten.
Extraordinarily large swarms of locusts devastate the land of the Israelites before the start of the Millennial Reign, with each succeeding generation of locust devouring whatever remains from the previous attack. ( Note the parallel poetic structure - the generations of people of subunit A1 above pass on the story of the generations of locusts of this subunit.)
Pivot X: The Israelites are informed of the loss of their crops (1:5)
Chapter 1 5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you drinkers of wine; wail because of the new wine, for it has been snatched from your lips.
The people of Israel, represented here by the drunkards, are informed of the great destruction of their crops.
Note that throughout this book, Joel uses the literary technique of focussing on a few particulars of an event to create a vivid picture of the whole. So the destruction of vines in this passage represents the destruction of all the crops of the land; and the drunkards represent all the Israelites.
Subunit B2: Waves of locusts attack the Israelites (1:6-7)
Chapter 1 6 A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness. 7 It has laid waste my vines and ruined my fig trees. It has stripped off their bark and thrown it away, leaving their branches white.
All the vegetation of the land, particularly the crops, are ruined by the locust swarms ("nation", "mighty army"). With its strong teeth, the locusts even strip the barks of plants and trees.
Subunit A2: The aftermath of the plague: God restores the land (2:18-19)
Chapter 2 18 The Lord was zealous for his land and took pity on his people.
19 The Lord announced to them: “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy you fully; never again will I make you an object of scorn to the nations."
God restores the Israelites to prosperity after the devastating locust attack. The New Israel will remain prosperous and blessed throughout the Millennial Reign, and it will never suffer such calamities again (see also Jer. 31:12).
Chiasmus 2: Israel is restored after the Beast army is defeated (2:20-27)
A1 2:20 The Beast army is defeated
B1 2:21-22 Israel is restored after the locust attack
X 2:23 Israel is spiritually blessed through the Messiah
B2 2:24-26a Israel is restored after the locust attack
A2 2:26b-27 The Beast army is defeated
Subunit A1: The Beast army is defeated (2:20)
Chapter 2 20a "I will keep the northern horde away from you. I will drive it into a barren and desolate land, with its vanguard at the eastern river, and its rearguard at the western river.
Before the Millennial Reign, Satan's Beast Empire ruled the world for 42 months (Rev. 13:5), after which God took away its power over the world. Shortly after this, God lures its huge army into an assault on the New Israel (Ezekiel 39:2) - this is the Gog and Magog war of Ezekiel 39 (see also Rev 19:17-21, 14:14-20, Joel 3:1-2a). The Beast army is presumably called the Northern Horde because most of the nations that make up this empire are located in the northern regions of the world.
We believe that this assault will take place over the Karakoram highway that connects China to Kashmir (see our commentary on Ezekiel 39 [8]). The vanguard of this army will be at the "eastern river", which we speculate to be the Indus River that runs along parts of the eastern end of the Karakoram highway (see commentary on Eze. 39:11 in [8]). The rearguard will be at the "western river", and the closest significant river we can find west along this highway is the Aksu river by Aksu city in Xinjiang, China. This stretch of highway runs through a cold, dangerous, inhospitable, desert region ("barren and desolate land").
Chapter 2 20b Its stench will rise, its foul odour will ascend, for it has done monstrous things.”
God miraculously defeats this army and kills all its soldiers (Ezekiel 39:3, Rev 14:19-20). The corpses remain unburied for a while (Ezekiel 39:4-5), and later the bodies are thrown into an open pit, resulting in an intense stench in the region (this stink is also implied in Eze. 39:11 [8], cf. Rev. 14:20). So this mighty army, that once tyrannically ruled the world and intensely tormented and killed the righteous around the word ("done monstrous things"), comes to an humiliating end.
Subunit B1: Israel is restored after the locust attack (2:21-22)
Chapter 2 21 Do not be distressed, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! 22 Do not be distressed, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.
After the devastating locust attack (see Chiasmus 1 above and the corresponding Subunit B2 below), God restores the land of the New Israel.
Pivot X: Israel is spiritually blessed through the Messiah (2:23)
Chapter 2 23 Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the teacher unto righteousness, and he sends you abundant showers, both the early and the latter rain, as before.
The Israelites ("people of Zion") are to rejoice, for God has sent them the Messiah to teach them to live righteously ("teacher unto righteousness") (see also John 14:26, John 16:7-13). The Messiah will pass on abundant spiritual wisdom from God ("abundant showers, both the early and the latter rain"), as prophets like Moses have done in the past ("as before") (see also Isaiah 35:5-7).
Subunit B2: Israel is restored after the locust attack (2:24-26a)
Chapter 2 24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm— my great army that I sent among you. 26a You will have plenty to eat, until you are full.
The locusts had destroyed years worth of work by the Israelites, but God restores the land so that the vegetation and crops flourish once more; the Israelites enjoy a bountiful harvest and have plenty to eat. Note that, like the creatures from the Abyss in Period 3, this army of locusts is also sent by God ("my great army that I sent among you").
Subunit A2: The Beast army is defeated (2:26b-27)
Chapter 2 26b You will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. 27 You will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.
When God defeats the Beast army, the Israelites will see the power of their God, the One True God, and they will remain faithful to Him throughout the Millennial Reign (see also, for instance, Micah 5:12-14). So they will never again be brought low by Satan's forces and be the object of scorn ("shamed") (see also, for example, Zeph. 3:9-20).
Chiasmus 3: The wicked people that enslaved the Israelites are punished (3:1-10)
A1 3:1-2a The wicked peoples are gathered for judgement and punishment
B1 3:2b-3 Wicked people have taken some of the Israelites into slavery
X 3:4-6 God levels charges against these wicked
B2 3:7-8 The Israelites will take these wicked people into slavery
A2 3:9-10 The wicked peoples are gathered for judgement and punishment
Subunit A1: The wicked peoples are gathered for judgement and punishment (3:1-2a)
Chapter 3 1 “In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2a I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
At the start of the Millennial Reign, as God restores the fortunes of Israel ("Judah" and "Jerusalem"), He incites Satan's Beast army and its allies ("all the nations") to launch an attack against the New Israel through a mountain pass at the borders of the land (see details in our paper of Ezekiel 39 [8], see also 2:20 above). The mountain pass is called "the Valley of Jehoshaphat" - "Jehoshaphat" means "Jehovah judges" - because God will judge and punish this army for its crimes (see also Joel 3:12-15 below, the name "Jehoshaphat" also evokes the miraculous deliverance that God gave Jehoshaphat - 2 Chronicles 20).
Subunit B1: Wicked people have taken some of the Israelites into slavery (3:2b-3)
Chapter 3 2b At that time, I will bring charges against them for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up the people of my land. 3 They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.
During the reign of the Beast, certain trade organizations allied with Satan have scattered some of God's people. The wicked people of these organizations have cast lots to divide the Israelites among themselves and sold them into slavery for trifles ("prostitutes" and "wine"), showing great disdain for God and His chosen (see also Zech. 1:18-21).
Pivot X: God levels charges against these wicked (3:4-6)
Chapter 3 4 “Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5 For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples. 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Javans, that you might send them away from their homes.
These trade organizations, represented by "Tyre, Sidon and the regions of Philistia", sold some of the Israelites ("Judah and Jerusalem" represent all of Israel) to the Chinese ("Javans") to toil as slaves away from their homes, apparently in retaliation to some act of God against them ("are you repaying me?") (see also Zech. 1:18,19). Since they have scattered God's people to spite Him (they are "paying Him back"), they will be punished in like manner - they will be scattered as well. We believe that, in vs 5, God's "silver", "gold" and "treasures" metaphorically represent His people; and the "temples" are actually "temples of commerce" and represent these wicked trade organizations. (Note that vs 5&6 form a parallelism.)
Which modern peoples are referenced here? Based on the fact that "Tyre, Sidon and the regions of Philistia" were great centres of trade (see more on Tyre in [7]), and based on our analysis of Zechariah 1:18-2:9 [10], we believe that Tyre and the other cities of coastal Canaan represent powerful international organizations related to trade and commerce, organizations that are allied with Satan's "Babylon". The Javans are the Chinese; the Chinese are also called Magog (see appendix in [7], Gen 10:4,5).
Subunit B2: The Israelites will take these wicked people into slavery (3:7-8)
Chapter 3 7 “See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. 8 Your sons and daughters will be sold to the people of Judah; they will be sold to the Sabeans, a nation out of reach.” The Lord has spoken.
The Lord will regather His people and punish their scatterers by exiling them. He will hand over the scatterers ("sons and daughters" of the trade organizations) to the Israelites ("Judah", "Sabeans"); the Israelites are protected by God and "out of reach" of Satan's forces. ( Note that vs 8 has a parallel design.)
The Israelites are called "Sabeans" - those of the tribe of Sheba - in this passage, but in what sense? The Sheba referenced here is the tribe listed in Gen 10:6-7 as the descendants of Ham (we don't believe this is the Sheba of Gen 25:3 - Arab descendants of Abraham). We infer that this tribe was one of original residents of India, based on the list of generous gifts that the queen of Sheba brought to Solomon (see 1 Kings 10:2,10-12); it also appears that 1 Kings 10:10-13 connects the queen to Ophir in South India. So this ancient tribe represents India, the land of the New Israel. ( The Israelites are similarly called "Sheba" in Ezekiel 38:13 - see [11].)
Subunit A2: The wicked peoples are gathered for judgement and punishment (3:9-10)
Chapter 3 9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!”
God incites the wicked people of the Beast army and its allies to arm themselves and gather for a war against the New Israel, so that He may punish them (see also Ezekiel 39:2, Rev 14:18,19).
Chiasmus 4: The Beast army is punished and destroyed (3:11-16a)
A1 3:11-13a God prepares to punish the Beast army
X 3:13b God punishes and destroys the Beast army
A2 3:14-16a God prepares to punish the Beast army
Subunit A1: God prepares to punish the Beast army (3:11-13a)
Chapter 3 11a Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there.
The Beast army and its allies are enticed into attacking the New Israel (see also Ezekiel 39:1-2).
Chapter 3 11b Bring down your warriors, Lord!
The Beast army will be supernaturally defeated through the actions of God's angels ("your warriors") (see Ezekiel 39:3, Rev. 19:14, Rev 14:19).
Chapter 3 12 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.
The mountain pass ("valley") that is the site of this battle is called "Jehoshaphat", which means "God judges", to indicate that God will judge and punish the Beast army in this valley ("Jehoshaphat" may also be an allusion to Jehoshaphat's miraculous deliverance when Ammon, Moab and Edom came against the Israelites - 2 Chronicles 20) (see also 3:1 above).
Chapter 3 13a Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
The Beast army and its allies are to be gathered in ("swing the sickle"), for the time is right ("the harvest is ripe"). This same metaphor for this event can be found in Rev. 14:17-19.
Pivot X: God punishes and destroys the Beast army (3:13b)
Chapter 3 13b Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!”
The giant army that gathers ("winepress is full") is destroyed ("grapes are trampled") and the site of the battlefield is littered with bodies ("vats overflow") as punishment for the great evil it has done on earth during its reign. This same metaphor for this event is also used in other passages about this event (see Rev. 14:19-20, 19:15, Isaiah 63:1-6).
Subunit A2: God prepares to punish the Beast army (3:14-16a)
Chapter 3 14a Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
The army of the Beast and its allies that gathers for this assault on the New Israel is gigantic ("multitudes"), occupying hundreds of miles along a highway (see Joel 2:20, Rev. 14:20). The mountain pass in which these enemies of God are judged and punished is called the "Valley of Decision" here (a similar name to "Valley of Jehoshaphat", for "Jehoshaphat" means "Jehovah judges").
Chapter 3 14b For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
This period in which God punishes Satan's empire is one of the three great "Days of the Lord" - periods of God's great wrath and punishment of the wicked (see also 1:15 and 2:11).
Chapter 3 15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
The sun, moon and the stars represent the fallen angels that control these enemy nations from the spiritual realm (Deut. 17:3, Acts 7:42). They will be defeated and punished ("darkened", "no longer shine") along with the humans that make up this army (Rev. 19:20).
Chapter 3 16a The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble.
The Lord will fight the Beast army through the coming Messiah, the Lion of Judah ("the Lord will roar from Zion") (see Rev. 5:5, cf. Hosea 11:10), and both the human elements of the army ("earth") and the fallen angels that control them ("heavens") will tremble in fear.
Chiasmus 5: Satan's empires are defeated and God's nation is blessed (3:16b-21)
A1 3:16b The Beast army is destroyed when it attacks Israel
B1 3:17a-18a God's nation will be blessed forever
X 3:18b God's wisdom will flow out of Jerusalem to the rest of Israel
B2 3:19-20 God's nation will be blessed forever: Satan's empires are destroyed
A2 3:21 The Beast army is destroyed when it attacks Israel
Subunit A1: The Beast army is destroyed when it attacks Israel (3:16b)
Chapter 3 16b The Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
When the Beast army attacks the New Israel at the beginning of the Millennial Reign, God will protect His nation (see Ezekiel 39).
Subunit B1: God's nation will be blessed forever (3:17a-18a)
Chapter 3 17 “You will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.
God will make the New Israel ("Zion", "Jerusalem") His capital on earth ("dwell in Zion"), and the nation will be dedicated to God ("holy hill"); God's holy nation will never again be overrun by non-believing outsiders (see also Isaiah 52:1).
Chapter 3 18a “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk.
Israel will be a blessed and prosperous nation under God, Christ and the coming Messiah ("drip with new wine", "flow with milk") (see also Isaiah 30:23).
Pivot X: God's wisdom will flow out of Jerusalem to the rest of Israel (3:18b)
Chapter 3 18b All the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the wadi of acacias.
A fountain of spiritual wisdom from God will flow through the Messiah in the New Jerusalem ("the Lord's house") to the rest of the New Israel ("ravines of Judah", "Wadi of Acacias") (cf. Zech. 14:8).
The phrase "Wadi of the Acacias" is unusual and difficult. We assume that this pivot is a structured as a parallelism, and so "Wadi of the Acacias" has a the same meaning as the "ravines of Judah" ("Judah" represents the New Israel). We take the "acacias" to represent God's people, the Israelites, for only the wood of the acacia was good enough for the most sacred furniture of God's temple - the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10,25:13,37:10) (note that the Israelites were similarly called God's "treasure" in 3:5 above).
Subunit B2: God's nation will be blessed forever: Satan's empires are destroyed (3:19-20)
Chapter 3 19 Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because they have attacked the people of Judah, and because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
Satan's Beast empire, and that global organization of Satan worshippers, "Babylon" ("Egypt"/"Edom"), will be destroyed forever, because the Beast army attacked the Israelites ("people of Judah") and because these empires have killed righteous people around the world ("in their land") (see also Rev. 13:10).
In this passage, "Edom" represents Satan's Empires of "Babylon" and the Beast (see our parse of Obadiah [9]). "Egypt", in the prophecy of this Period typically represents the Western Empire, but, based on the context, we take it to also synecdochically represent Satan's empires (as in Isaiah 27:12, Hosea 11:11), for the Western Empire makes up a large part of the Satan's empires. So "Edom" and "Egypt" are synonymous in this passage. Since Satan's empires control the whole earth during the reign of the Beast, "their land" refers to the whole earth.
Chapter 3 20 But Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations.
But God will preserve and protect His holy nation, the New Israel ("Judah", "Jerusalem"), throughout the Millennial Reign.
Subunit A2: The Beast army is destroyed when it attacks Israel (3:21)
Chapter 3 21 And I will avenge their blood which I have not avenged, For the LORD dwells in Zion.
With God's defeat of the Beast army at the borders of the New Israel and His destruction of the Beast empire, He avenges the death of the faithful that occurred during the tyrannical reign of the Beast empire (see also Rev 19:11-21).
5.3 The First Half (66AD-70AD) of The First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–73AD) (Ch 1 Vs 8 - Ch 2 Vs 3, Ch 2 Vs 15-17, Ch 2 Vs 28-32)
This Period is structured as a series of 4 chiasmi.Chiasmus 1: The Judahites are punished with famine (1:8-13)
A1 1:8-9 The priests mourn the cessation of offerings at the temple
X 1:10-12 Judea's crops are ruined
A2 1:13 The priests mourn the cessation of offerings at the temple
Subunit A1: The priests mourn the cessation of offerings at the temple (1:8-9)
Chapter 1 8 Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving for the betrothed of her youth. 9 Grain offerings and drink offerings are cut off from the house of the Lord. The priests are in mourning, those who minister before the Lord.
During the Roman attack, the shortage of food in Judea is so severe that there is none for offerings at the temple. The Judahite priests greatly mourn this stoppage of sacrifices; they mourn as a young bride would mourn the death of her groom. (See more historical details of this time in our parse of "The 70 Weeks of Daniel [2].)
Pivot X: Judea's crops are ruined (1:10-12)
Chapter 1 10 The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the olive oil fails. 11 Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed. 12a The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered, also the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree. 12b All the trees of the field are dried up, because joy is withdrawn from the people.
At the time of the Roman attack on Judea, the crops of the land are destroyed by the Romans, and there is also a drought in the land that causes the vegetation to dry up (see also Isaiah 3:1, Isaiah 24:7).The crops fail as punishment from God ("joy is withdrawn" - 12b) for the Judahites' wickedness.
Subunit A2: The priests mourn the cessation of offerings at the temple (1:13)
Chapter 1 13 Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.
The priests are sarcastically enjoined to mourn the cessation of sacrifices due to the famine. This famine occurs after Christ established the New Covenant, under which these sacrifices are no longer required (Romans 7:6), so the people mourning this loss are the wicked Judahites who rejected Christ.
Chiasmus 2: Judea is devastated as the "Day of the Lord" approaches (1:14-20, 2:1-2a)
A1 1:14-15 The dreadful "Day of the Lord" is near
X 2:16-20 Judea is devastated
A2 2:1-2a The dreadful "Day of the Lord" is near
Subunit A1: The dreadful "Day of the Lord" is near (1:14-15)
Chapter 1 14 Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. 15 Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.
The righteous in Jerusalem are exhorted to gather together, seek the Lords mercy and prepare to leave the city as the terrible "Day of the Lord" approaches. The "Day of the Lord" of this Period is the time of extreme tribulation at Jerusalem in 70AD, during which the city and temple will be completely destroyed and all the people in the city will be killed or taken into slavery (see also Isaiah 13:15-16). This is one of the three great Days of the Lord (see also 2:11, 3:14).
Pivot X: Judea is devastated (2:16-20)
Chapter 1 16 Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes— joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17 The seeds are shriveled beneath the clods. The storehouses are in ruins, the granaries have been broken down, indeed the grain has dried up. 18 How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering. 19 To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. 20 Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures.
The Romans apparently adopted a scorched-earth policy, burning and destroying everything in Judea. At the same time there was a drought that destroyed the crops in the land (see also Isaiah 3:1). The prophet paints a picture of absolute devastation in Judea ("the house of our God"); everything in the land - humans, cattle, wild animals, seeds, crops, granaries, pasture, trees, streams - is affected in this time of tribulation (see also Isaiah 24:5-7). The people look to God for deliverance from this misery (the prophet speaks for the Judahites of this Period when he says, "To you, Lord, I call"). God has shown His anger at the Judahites through this devastation, but this is only an harbinger of the far worse punishments that come during the "Day of the Lord".
Subunit A2: The dreadful "Day of the Lord" is near (2:1-2a)
Chapter 2 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— 2a a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.
A horn of warning is sounded in Jerusalem at the approach of the Roman army, so that the righteous may prepare to flee (see Matt. 24:15-17). The Romans will execute the "Day of the Lord" of this Period - the time of absolute destruction of Jerusalem ("darkness and gloom", "clouds and blackness" - see also Zeph. 1:15) in the summer and fall of 70AD (see also Zech. 14:1-2).
Chiasmus 3: Jerusalem prays for deliverance from the rampaging Romans (2:2b-3, 2:15-17)
A1 2:2b-3 As the Romans approach Jerusalem, its wicked pray in vain
X 2:15-16 The righteous in Jerusalem are exhorted to fast and pray
A2 2:17 As the Romans approach Jerusalem, its wicked pray in vain
Subunit A1: As the Romans approach Jerusalem, its wicked pray in vain (2:2b-3)
Chapter 2 2b Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was before nor ever will be in ages to come.
The mighty army of the Romans and its allies covers the mountains of Judea around Jerusalem as suddenly and as completely as the light of dawn. This unusual alliance of the Romans and the nations around Judea has not been witnessed before or since.
Chapter 2 3 Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste— nothing escapes them.
As they approach Jerusalem, the Romans destroy everything ("fire devours", "flame blazes") in their path in Judea, so that the thriving land of Judah ("garden of Eden") is devastated (turned into a "desert waste").
Pivot X: The righteous in Jerusalem are exhorted to fast and pray (2:15-16)
Chapter 2 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. 16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.
The horn is blown in Jerusalem (as in 2:1) to call the righteous to fast and pray, so that God protects them from the Romans as they flee (see Zech. 14:2-7, Rev. 12:14). All the righteous Judahites, without exception ("elders", "children", "those nursing at the breast", "let the bridegroom leave his room..."), gather to pray for deliverance from the Romans.
Subunit A2: As the Romans approach Jerusalem, its wicked pray in vain (2:17)
Chapter 2 17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, one that is ruled by other nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
The wicked priests make their tearful supplication in the area between the portico and the altar, also known as the inner court (1 Kings 6:3) or the 'court of the priests' - the location of the priest's prayers and their tears indicate the earnestness of their plea. Their appeal is based on the fact that they are God's people and their destruction would reflect badly on their God. But the Old Covenant, under which they exclusively were God's people, ends with the destruction of Jerusalem (see Zech. 11:10), and it is only those who accept Christ's message of the New Covenant and flee to the mountains (Matt. 24:15-18) that escape this slaughter by the Romans. ( Note that these predictions about the wicked Judahites are phrased as mocking imperatives from the prophet.)
Chiasmus 4: Righteous Judahites are saved (2:28-32)
A1 2:28-29 Righteous Judahites are saved - spiritually and physically
X 2:30-31 Miraculous signs appear before Jerusalem is destroyed
A2 2:32 Righteous Judahites are saved - spiritually and physically
Subunit A1: Righteous Judahites are saved - spiritually and physically (2:28-29)
Chapter 2 28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
In the period after Christ's death, Christian Judahites (God's servants) manifested the gifts of the Spirit, particularly the gift of prophesy; God apparently poured out these miraculous abilities in common people ("all people", not only prophets) partly in an effort to save as many Judahites as possible (see 1 Cor. 14:22). ( Peter quotes this passage on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:17-21. In Acts, the passage begins "In the last days", by which is likely meant, the time before the destruction of Jerusalem.)
Pivot X: Miraculous signs appear before Jerusalem is destroyed (2:30-31)
Chapter 2 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth—blood and fire and billows of smoke, 31a the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood— 31b before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Judahite historian Josephus and Roman historian Tacitus reported great signs and wonders before the sacking of Jerusalem in 70AD ("the great and dreadful day of the Lord" of this Period) - these signs presumably provided the righteous additional signals to flee. Note that the passage in 2:30-31a forms an inverted parallelism: the "blood and fire and billows of smoke" are signs on earth, and the signs of the "sun and moon" are in the heavens.
Subunit A2: Righteous Judahites are saved - spiritually and physically (2:32)
Chapter 2 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said; the remnant will be those whom the LORD calls.
The righteous Judahites believed in Christ and obeyed him, and they were saved both physically and spiritually, for Christ is the way to God (John 14:6). Several prophecies have predicted that the righteous will be saved in this Period ("as the Lord has said") - see for example Isaiah 26:1-4, Isaiah 3:10. Those who accepted Christ's message and heeded his call (the Christian Judahites are "those whom the LORD calls") to flee to the mountains on seeing the Romans at Jerusalem were delivered from a cruel death (Matt.24:15-18). ( Paul quotes from vs 2:32 in a slightly different context in Rom. 10:13.)
Conclusion
The three distinct Periods of this prophecy are connected by a few common phrases and images, which have the effect of obscuring its chiastic structure:
- All three Periods appear to describe an attack of locusts, but in reality the prophecy predicts 4 attacks of different kinds: the Roman attack in Period 1; the locust attack and the Beast attack in Period 2; and the assault from the creatures of the Abyss in Period 3.
- All three Periods refer to the sun and moon. In Period 1 the sun and moon are used to display signs from God, in Period 2 the sun, moon and stars metaphorically represent fallen angels (Deut. 17:3, Acts 7:42) and their darkening indicates their loss of power over the world, and in Period 3 the sun, moon and stars are darkened by swarms of locusts.
- All three Periods have a "Day of the Lord" which indicates a time of great punishment from God: In Period 1, it is the punishment of non-believing Judahites; in Period 2, the enemies of Israel; and in Period 3, non-believers around the world.
References
[1] A Definition of Cryptochiasmus[2] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of "The 70 Weeks Of Daniel"
[3] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Revelation 4-22 Part 2
[4] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Isaiah 2-4
[5] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of "The Olivet Discourse" in Matthew 24
[6] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Revelation 4-22 Part 3
[7] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Isaiah 23
[8] A Commentary on Ezekiel 39
[9] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Obadiah
[10] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Zechariah 1-6
[11] A Commentary on Ezekiel 38
* First version published on 18 February 2020.