Joel 2:20

But I will remove far off from you the northern [army], and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

But I will remove far off {H7368} from you the northern {H6830} army, and will drive {H5080} him into a land {H776} barren {H6723} and desolate {H8077}, with his face {H6440} toward the east {H6931} sea {H3220}, and his hinder part {H5490} toward the utmost {H314} sea {H3220}, and his stink {H889} shall come up {H5927}, and his ill savour {H6709} shall come up {H5927}, because he hath done {H6213} great things {H1431}.

No, I will take the northerner away, far away from you, and drive him to a land that is waste and barren; with his vanguard toward the eastern sea and his rearguard toward the western sea, his stench and his rottenness will rise, because he has done great things."

The northern army I will drive away from you, banishing it to a barren and desolate land, its front ranks into the Eastern Sea, and its rear guard into the Western Sea. And its stench will rise; its foul odor will ascend. For He has done great things.

but I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive it into a land barren and desolate, its forepart into the eastern sea, and its hinder part into the western sea; and its stench shall come up, and its ill savor shall come up, because it hath done great things.

Commentary

Context

Joel 2:20 stands within a powerful prophetic book where the prophet Joel delivers a message to Judah, initially warning of a devastating locust plague that serves as a vivid metaphor and foretaste of the impending "Day of the Lord". This particular verse marks a turning point: after a call to repentance and God's compassionate response (Joel 2:12-17), the Lord promises to intervene and restore His people. The "northern [army]" in this context primarily refers to the immense swarms of locusts that had ravaged the land, depicted with military precision in earlier verses like Joel 1:4. God's promise here is a direct answer to the people's repentance and prayer.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Deliverance: The verse powerfully illustrates God's active role in protecting His people. He doesn't just allow the plague to dissipate; He actively "removes" and "drives" it away, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over nature and all threats. This highlights God's faithfulness to deliver those who turn to Him.
  • Complete Destruction of the Enemy: The imagery of the "northern army" being driven into "a land barren and desolate" and its remnants scattered between the Dead Sea ("east sea") and the Mediterranean Sea ("utmost sea") signifies a thorough and complete eradication of the destructive force. This is not a temporary reprieve but a definitive end to the immediate threat, ensuring its total disappearance.
  • Consequences of Opposition: The phrase "his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things" carries a strong sense of divine judgment. The "great things" done by the locusts were destructive, and their ultimate putrefaction serves as a tangible, unpleasant sign of their defeat and the consequences of opposing God's purposes or ravaging His creation. It's an ironic statement highlighting the reversal of their destructive power.

Linguistic Insights

The term "northern [army]" (Hebrew: Χ¦Χ€Χ•Χ Χ™, tsephoni) is significant. While often interpreted as the literal locust plague due to the context of Joel 1-2, its military description throughout Joel 2 (e.g., comparing locusts to horses, chariots, and soldiers) has led some commentators to see it as a dual prophecy, also hinting at future human invaders from the north, a common direction for enemies of Israel. The phrase "his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up" emphasizes the sheer overwhelming number of dead locusts, leading to a foul odor, a clear sign of their complete annihilation and the end of their destructive power. The "east sea" is the Dead Sea, and the "utmost sea" is the Mediterranean Sea, indicating a complete dispersal and destruction across the breadth of the land.

Practical Application

Joel 2:20 offers a profound message of hope and reassurance for believers today. It reminds us that even after periods of severe hardship, judgment, or spiritual barrenness, God is capable of bringing about complete restoration and deliverance. Just as He removed the devastating "northern army" from Judah, He can remove obstacles, challenges, and destructive forces from our lives. This verse encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate power and His faithfulness to His promises, knowing that He can turn desolation into a testimony of His restorative grace. It underscores the truth that God restores what the "locusts have eaten", bringing renewal even after great loss and demonstrating His unfailing commitment to His covenant people.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Zechariah 14:8

    ΒΆ And it shall be in that day, [that] living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

  • Deuteronomy 11:24

    Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.

  • Amos 4:10

    I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

  • Isaiah 34:3

    Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

  • Ezekiel 47:18

    And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel [by] Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And [this is] the east side.

  • Exodus 10:19

    And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.

  • Jeremiah 1:14

    Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
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