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The Army of Locusts
…3Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them.4Their appearanceis like thatof horses,and they galloplike swift steeds.5With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.…

Treasury of Scripture

The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

Revelation 9:7
And the shapes of the locustswere like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their headswere as it were crowns like gold, and their faceswere as the faces of men.

AppearanceCavalryFormHorsemenHorsesRunRunningWarWar-HorsesAppearanceCavalryFormHorsemenHorsesRunRunningWarWar-Horses1.He shows unto Zion the terribleness of God's judgment.
12.He exhorts to repentance;
15.prescribes a fast;
18.promises a blessing thereon.
21.He comforts Zion with present,
28.and future blessings.

Their appearance is like that of horses
This phrase draws a vivid comparison between the locusts and horses, emphasizing the formidable and intimidating nature of the invading force. In the ancient Near Eastern context, horses were symbols of power and military strength, often associated with chariots and warfare. The imagery suggests an unstoppable and disciplined army, evoking fear and awe. This comparison can also be seen inRevelation 9:7, where locusts are described with similar characteristics, indicating a connection between Joel's prophecy and apocalyptic visions.

and they gallop like swift steeds
The emphasis on speed and agility highlights the relentless and overwhelming advance of the locusts. In biblical times, swift steeds were prized for their ability to cover great distances quickly, often used in battle to outmaneuver enemies. This imagery underscores the urgency and inevitability of the coming judgment. The swiftness of the locusts can be seen as a metaphor for the rapid unfolding of God's plans, as seen in other prophetic texts likeHabakkuk 1:8, where the Chaldeans are described with similar speed. This also points to the divine orchestration behind the events, as God uses natural phenomena to fulfill His purposes.

1.Joel
A prophet in the Old Testament, Joel is the author of the book that bears his name. He is known for his prophecies concerning the Day of the Lord and calls for repentance.

2.The Locust Army
InJoel 2, the prophet describes a devastating locust plague that serves as a metaphor for an invading army. This army is depicted with imagery that conveys power and speed, likened to horses and swift steeds.

3.Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which is the primary audience of Joel's prophecy. The people of Judah are called to repentance in light of the coming judgment.

4.The Day of the Lord
A central theme in Joel, referring to a time of divine judgment and deliverance. It is both a day of destruction for the unrepentant and a day of salvation for those who turn to God.

5.Repentance and Restoration
Joel's message includes a call to repentance, promising that God will restore and bless His people if they return to Him with sincere hearts.The Power of Imagery
Joel uses vivid imagery to convey the seriousness of God's judgment. This teaches us the importance of understanding biblical metaphors to grasp the full weight of God's messages.

Urgency of Repentance
The swift and powerful nature of the locust army underscores the urgency with which we should respond to God's call for repentance. We should not delay in turning back to God.

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
The depiction of the locusts as an unstoppable force reminds us of God's sovereignty over all creation, including His use of natural and historical events to fulfill His purposes.

Hope in Restoration
Despite the dire warnings, Joel's prophecy also offers hope. God promises restoration and blessing for those who repent, highlighting His mercy and faithfulness.

Spiritual Vigilance
Just as the people of Judah were called to be vigilant and prepared for the Day of the Lord, we too must remain spiritually alert and ready for Christ's return.1.What is the meaning of Joel 2:4?

2.How does Joel 2:4's imagery inspire us to prepare for spiritual battles?

3.What characteristics of the "appearance of horses" can we apply to our faith?

4.How does Joel 2:4 connect to Revelation's depiction of end-times events?

5.In what ways can we embody the strength described in Joel 2:4?

6.How can Joel 2:4 encourage us to remain vigilant in our spiritual walk?

7.What is the significance of the horse imagery in Joel 2:4?

8.How does Joel 2:4 relate to the concept of divine judgment?

9.What historical context influenced the writing of Joel 2:4?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Joel 2?

11.How many stalls of horses did Solomon have? (1 Kings 4:26 vs. 2 Chronicles 9:25)

12.Why do the numbers listed in 2 Chronicles 9:25 about Solomon's horses and chariots differ from related passages like 1 Kings 4:26?

13.Why does the universal outpouring of the Spirit in Joel 2:28-29 not appear to be fulfilled worldwide?

14.Why does 1 Kings 4:26 mention 40,000 stalls for Solomon's horses, while 2 Chronicles 9:25 records only 4,000?Their appearance is like that of horses

• Joel sets before us a literal swarm of locusts sent by the Lord, yet he paints them with battlefield imagery to stress their terror.

• Just as the shape of a locust’s head brings to mind a war-horse in profile, the prophet wants listeners to hear the thundering hooves of judgment approaching.

•Revelation 9:7 echoes the same comparison: “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle.”

•Judges 6:5 describes Midian’s forces as “numerous as locusts,” showing that Scripture often links locusts with vast, unstoppable armies.

• By choosing the horse—an animal made for war (Job 39:19-25)—Joel anchors the scene in reality while signaling that God’s discipline is no small inconvenience; it carries the weight of an invading cavalry.

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and they gallop

• Locusts advance in sudden, coordinated leaps, creating the visual and audible effect of galloping troops.

• The verb draws attention to momentum. Nothing hesitates, nothing wavers. God’s judgment moves decisively, just as chariots “dash madly in the streets” (Nahum 2:4).

• The sound of countless wings becomes the drumbeat of hooves, reminding us how quickly life can change when the Lord confronts sin (Isaiah 5:28-29).

• For Israel, every crunch of the insects underfoot meant harvests disappearing. For us, it is a call not to delay repentance when conviction comes.

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like swift steeds

• “Swift” underscores the speed at which God can act—no barrier slows Him, no wall holds Him back (Habakkuk 1:8;Jeremiah 4:13).

• Horses bred for swiftness carry messengers of victory or doom. In Joel’s vision they carry only doom—for now—until the people turn (Joel 2:12-14).

• The comparison assures us the prophecy is not exaggerated. As surely as war-horses outrun foot soldiers, the locusts will outrun every human attempt to stop them.

• Yet the same God who directs the swarm later promises to “repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25). His swift judgment can become swift restoration.

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summary

Joel 2:4 layers a literal locust plague with military imagery to hammer home the certainty, speed, and severity of God’s judgment. The swarm looks like war-horses, moves with the thunder of galloping cavalry, and advances as swiftly as the finest steeds. The picture is meant to shake complacent hearts, urging immediate repentance while also reassuring the faithful that the Lord who controls the army of judgment is equally able to send an army of blessing.

(4)As the appearance of horses.--So also are locusts described in the Revelation: "And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle" (from this likeness the Italians call a locust cavalletta) . . . "and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots, of many horses running to battle" (Revelation 9:7;Revelation 9:9).

Verses 4-6. - These verses describe the appearance of the locusts and the alarm which their presence causes.Verse 4. -The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses. They arc said to resemble horses in theshape of the head; hence the Germans call themHeupferde, or hay-horses, and the Italianscavalette. This resemblance had been noticed long ago by Theodoret, who says, "If any one should examine accurately the head of the locust, hewill find it exceedingly like that of a horse." And as horsemen, so shall they run. Inrapidity of motion they resembled running horses (parashim).Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap. This is the next circumstance noticed about them, viz. thenoise of their motion. Their motion was peculiar; it was springing or leaping, and, when they sprang or leaped, the noise they made resembled the rattling of a jerky two-wheeled war-chariot over a rough mountain-road.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Their appearance
כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה(kə·mar·’êh)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4758:Sight, appearance, vision

is like that
מַרְאֵ֑הוּ(mar·’ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4758:Sight, appearance, vision

of horses,
סוּסִ֖ים(sū·sîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483:A swallow, swift (type of bird)

and they gallop
יְרוּצֽוּן׃(yə·rū·ṣūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 7323:To run

like swift steeds.
וּכְפָרָשִׁ֖ים(ū·ḵə·p̄ā·rā·šîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6571:A steed, a driver, cavalry


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OT Prophets: Joel 2:4 The appearance of them is as (Jl Joe.)