Joel 2:9-10
They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The comparison of the invaders to a "thief" isn't just about their stealth, but highlights their sheer audacity and uninvited presence, penetrating defenses like windows that were often left unglazed, symbolizing how even seemingly secure places are vulnerable to God's judgment. This imagery underscores the utter violation and inescapability of the coming destruction.
Joel is vividly describing a devastating invasion, likening it to a swarm of locusts that relentlessly infiltrates every part of the land. The onslaught is so thorough that they scale walls, breach houses, and slip through windows as if they were thieves, leaving no place secure from their destructive advance. This intense imagery highlights the utter devastation and helplessness the people will face as the divine judgment unfolds.
Joel calls the target 'the city.' But what does this 'city' represent, and why is its name so significant?
The Heart of the Nation
The text specifically refers to 'the city.' In the context of Joel's prophecy, this is undeniably Jerusalem. But Jerusalem was far more than just a geographical location. It was:
When this city is invaded, it signifies a direct assault on the very identity and hope of God's people. It's not just a loss of buildings, but a desecration of the sacred and the collapse of national identity.
The invaders don't just break down the front door; they scale walls, climb houses, and slip through windows like thieves. What does this reveal about their nature and the completeness of the invasion?
No Sanctuary Left
The description of the invaders' entry is relentless and invasive. They don't just breach the outer defenses; they penetrate every level of the city and its homes:
Understand the original words
gannāḇ · Hebrew Noun
A thief represents unexpected, stealthy, and invasive arrival. Biblically, this imagery is frequently used to describe the suddenness of judgment or the return of the Lord, catching the unprepared off-guard.
rāḡaz · Hebrew Verb
Often used in biblical prophetic literature to signify a cosmic disturbance or the shaking of the foundations of creation. It demonstrates the subjection of the physical world to the authority and presence of God.
šāmayim · Hebrew Noun
The heavens (or skies) are considered the domain of God and the place from which His glory and judgment are revealed. When the heavens 'tremble,' it denotes a disruption in the cosmic order due to divine action.
qāḏar · Hebrew Verb
Joel's vivid imagery of locusts breaching city walls and entering homes like thieves powerfully illustrates the utter devastation and inescapable judgment God brings upon His people when they turn away from Him.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Empire at its Zenith
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was a dominant military power, known for its brutal efficiency in conquering and deporting populations.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians, a stark warning of imperial might and the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, though the city was miraculously spared from destruction.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah and deported some of its elite, including the prophet Daniel.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
This passage describes a plague of locusts that covered the land and filled houses, mirroring Joel's depiction of these destructive creatures invading every space.
Jeremiah 9:21Jeremiah also uses the imagery of death entering through the window, linking physical invasion with a spiritual vulnerability that leads to destruction.
Matthew 24:43-44Jesus directly references the 'thief in the night' imagery from Joel and other prophets to describe the unexpected and urgent nature of His return and the need for readiness.
Luke 12:39Echoing the thief analogy, Jesus warns His followers to be watchful and prepared, as the 'Son of Man' will come at an hour they do not expect, similar to how the invaders in Joel are likened to thieves.
1 Thessalonians 5:2Paul uses the 'thief in the night' metaphor to emphasize the sudden and surprising nature of the Day of the Lord, urging believers to stay alert, just as Joel's invaders arrive unexpectedly.
barnesJoel 2:9: "They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief."
They shall run to and fro in the city - "The city" is questionless Jerusalem. So to the Romans, "the city" meant Rome; to the Athenians, Athens; among ourselves, "town" or "the city" are idiomatic names for the whole of London or "the city of London." In Wales "town" is, with the country people, the neighboring town with which alo…
jfbJoel 2:9: "They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief."
- run to and fro in the city—greedily seeking what they can devour.the wall—surrounding each house in Eastern buildings.enter in at the windows—though barred.like a thief—(Joh 10:1; compare Jer 9:21).
The comparison of the invaders to a "thief" isn't just about their stealth, but highlights their sheer audacity and uninvited presence, penetrating defenses like windows that were often left unglazed, symbolizing how even seemingly secure places are vulnerable to God's judgment. This imagery underscores the utter violation and inescapability of the coming destruction.
Joel is vividly describing a devastating invasion, likening it to a swarm of locusts that relentlessly infiltrates every part of the land. The onslaught is so thorough that they scale walls, breach houses, and slip through windows as if they were thieves, leaving no place secure from their destructive advance. This intense imagery highlights the utter devastation and helplessness the people will face as the divine judgment unfolds.
Joel is vividly describing a devastating invasion, likening it to a swarm of locusts that relentlessly infiltrates every part of the land. The onslaught is so thorough that they scale walls, breach houses, and slip through windows as if they were thieves, leaving no place secure from their destructive advance. This intense imagery highlights the utter devastation and helplessness the people will face as the divine judgment unfolds.
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This comprehensive invasion signifies total conquest. There is no safe place, no hidden corner, no private moment that remains untouched by the enemy's presence.
Joel uses vivid imagery of locusts, but the commentary suggests soldiers too. How do these two figures work together to paint a terrifying picture?
A Dual Devastation
Joel masterfully employs a dual metaphor: the literal plague of locusts and the invading human army (often identified as the Babylonians or Assyrians).
The Locust Swarm: This represents a natural, overwhelming disaster. Locusts are notorious for their sheer numbers, their voracious appetite, and their ability to consume everything in their path, leaving utter devastation. Their movement is relentless and indiscriminate.
The Invading Army: This represents human agency driven by destruction. Soldiers are organized, intentional, and brutal. They breach defenses, pillage, and terrorize.
By merging these images, Joel conveys that God's judgment is both a force of nature unleashed and a purposeful, destructive military campaign. The invaders possess the indiscriminate, overwhelming power of a natural disaster, combined with the calculated malice and tactical assault of an army. This dual threat leaves no room for escape or defense.
In biblical prophecy, the darkening of heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars) symbolizes the Day of the Lord, divine judgment, and the suspension of God’s common grace in nature. It signifies that the light of the world is obscured by the overwhelming presence of God's wrath.
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and exiling most of the remaining population.
c. 440 BC— this verse
Prophetic Ministry of Joel
Joel likely prophesied during the post-exilic period in Jerusalem, addressing the returned community facing hardship and spiritual apathy. This verse describes a devastating locust plague.
"They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darke…" — The comparison of the invaders to a "thief" isn't just about their stealth, but highlights their sheer audacity and uninvited presence, penetrating defenses like windows that were often left unglazed…
