Joel 1:20
Even the beasts of the field pant for you because the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The original Hebrew word translated as "pant" for the beasts of the field actually describes a longing or upward gaze, suggesting they are literally looking to the heavens for relief. This subtle detail shows that even the unreasoning creatures, in their dire straits, instinctively turn their "cry" towards God, highlighting the profound spiritual apathy of the people.
The prophet Joel has just described a devastating locust plague and a subsequent, scorching drought that has dried up water sources and burned the land. He’s been calling Judah to repentance, lamenting the destruction. Now, even the wild animals are affected by the famine, their cries echoing God's judgment on the land and serving as a rebuke to the unfeeling people of Judah.
The prophet Joel doesn't just describe a disaster; he shows us how even the natural world responds when God's judgment falls. What does it mean when animals 'cry out'?
Joel uses vivid imagery to show the devastating impact of the locust plague and drought. It's so severe that the beasts of the field, the wild and tame animals, are affected. They 'pant' and 'cry' not with human understanding, but with the raw expression of their suffering. This isn't just a natural phenomenon; it's a sign of God's judgment at work. The dried-up water brooks and devoured pastures are clear indicators that God is acting as judge. Even the creatures who don't reason like humans feel the consequences, their distress a testament to the severity of the situation. They are depicted as looking to heaven, their cries a silent, instinctual plea for relief, highlighting the widespread nature of the calamity and God's sovereign hand in it all.
In Joel's day, people were seemingly numb to God's warnings. But the animals weren't. What does this contrast reveal about spiritual blindness?
A powerful theme in Joel 1:20 is the stark contrast between the suffering of the animals and the apparent lack of response from the people of Judah. The prophet points out that even the brute beasts are 'crying out' and panting from thirst and hunger. This is a direct rebuke to the people who, despite the devastating plague and drought, remain deaf and unresponsive to God's judgment. While the animals instinctively cry out to their Creator for relief, the people are depicted as obstinate and listless. The prophet uses the animals' natural distress as a mirror, reflecting the people's spiritual insensitivity. Their lack of awareness and failure to cry out to God in their time of need is portrayed as a profound shame, especially when compared to the beasts who, by their very nature, express their dependence on God's provision.
The prophet Joel vividly portrays an ecological disaster—a devastating drought and fire—that has left the land barren and its creatures desperate. This verse speaks to the raw reality of God's judgment, where even the natural world reflects His displeasure and cries out for relief, reminding us that all creation is subject to His sovereign hand and responds to His actions.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was a major world power, known for its military might and expansionist policies across the ancient Near East. This era of imperial control would have profoundly shaped the geopolitical landscape for smaller nations like Judah.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Campaign in Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded Judah, conquering many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. This devastating campaign, though failing to capture Jerusalem, would have left a lasting memory of destruction and vulnerability.
c. 680s - 660s BC
Josiah's Reforms
King Josiah's religious reforms aimed to centralize worship in Jerusalem and purify its practices. While a period of spiritual renewal for some, it occurred within a context of regional instability and foreign influence.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
This passage uses the same unique verb translated as 'pant' or 'cry' in Joel 1:20, describing the soul's deep longing for God, mirroring the desperate state of the natural world in Joel.
Job 38:41This verse directly parallels Joel by stating that God provides for the raven, which cries out, highlighting God's care for His creation even in their distress and their dependence on Him.
Jeremiah 14:6This passage describes a similar scene of drought and distress where wild donkeys pant for water and the pastures wither, showing this imagery of nature's suffering is a recurring theme for God's judgment.
Luke 12:24Jesus uses the example of the ravens not sowing or reaping but being fed by God to teach about trusting His provision, connecting the cries of nature in Joel to God's attentive care for all living things.
calvinJoel 1:19-20: "O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field."
- Etiam bestiae agri clamabunt ad te (quanquam rg proprium est cervi, ut dicunt grammatici, sicuti etiam Psalmo 42 habetur: est illic idem verbum: clamabunt igitur bestiae ad te,) quia aruerunt decursus aquarum, quia ignis consumpsit habitacula (vel, pascua) deserti.
When the Prophet saw that he succeeded less than he expected, leaving t…
ellicottJoel 1:20: "The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness."
(20) The beasts of the field cry also unto thee.— The prophet has cried to God; the very beasts echo that cry, “looking up” to Him. As yet, man seems dumb.
The original Hebrew word translated as "pant" for the beasts of the field actually describes a longing or upward gaze, suggesting they are literally looking to the heavens for relief. This subtle detail shows that even the unreasoning creatures, in their dire straits, instinctively turn their "cry" towards God, highlighting the profound spiritual apathy of the people.
The prophet Joel has just described a devastating locust plague and a subsequent, scorching drought that has dried up water sources and burned the land. He’s been calling Judah to repentance, lamenting the destruction. Now, even the wild animals are affected by the famine, their cries echoing God's judgment on the land and serving as a rebuke to the unfeeling people of Judah.
The prophet Joel has just described a devastating locust plague and a subsequent, scorching drought that has dried up water sources and burned the land. He’s been calling Judah to repentance, lamenting the destruction. Now, even the wild animals are affected by the famine, their cries echoing God's judgment on the land and serving as a rebuke to the unfeeling people of Judah.
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Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon conquered Judah and began deporting elites and skilled workers to Babylon. This marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a traumatic experience for the Judean people.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of exiles, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, were taken to Babylon following a revolt. The anticipation and experience of exile were deeply formative for Jewish identity and theology.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, scattering the remaining population into exile. This catastrophic event represented the complete loss of the Davidic monarchy and the destruction of their sacred center.
Mid-5th century BC— this verse
Post-Exilic Period
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, some Judeans returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and city. This period was characterized by the challenges of rebuilding national and religious life with a fragile political status.
"Even the beasts of the field pant for you because the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness." — The original Hebrew word translated as "pant" for the beasts of the field actually describes a longing or upward gaze, suggesting they are literally looking to the heavens for relief. This subtle det…
