Exposition on Joel - 17- Verse 7

     Here again, in verse 7 specifically, the verb usage is past tense which seems to indicate that this tragedy has happened or is ongoing. Again, there is the possibility that this verb tense is “prophetic perfect” like in the oracles of other prophets. In that case, these events are yet future, but Joel uses this emphatic literary devise to promote the certainty of these future actions if the people do not repent; in other words, they are so certain to happen that he speaks of them as though they have already happened. The invasion of an army would likely be an extended event. As mentioned before, this invasion of Judah could have been on any one of three historical occasions. Whatever the case, whether this invasion has happened or whether it will happen, the army destroyed the vine and fig tree, causing the people to mourn the loss of their substances, which would hopefully cause them to lament their sin and cry to God for mercy like Joel does in verses 19-20.

Verse 7b—“…their branches are made white.” In this portion of the passage, though I believe here the prophet is speaking specifically about the invasion of an army of men, Joel seems to allude to the type of destruction inflicted by locusts. Locusts would literally have ravaged the land and a swarm of them would strip all the bark off the limbs of fig, olive and grape vines, exposing the raw, white limb under the bark; the nakedness of the half eaten trees signifies the terrible state in which the land would be left. But an army of men would be no less devastating on the crops in the land and this description dovetails nicely with the army being figuratively described as a swarm of locusts.