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.
In this verse he more fully confirms the Jews, that they might not be afraid of reproach from the Gentiles. It may have been that the Assyrians were now in readiness, prepared for war; it was then difficult to free the Jews from every fear.
Mark how swift God is to help His people once they truly humble themselves and seek His face. They prayed for sparing; He answers with comfort and covenant faithfulness. He is jealous for His own land and for their dignity, He will not let them lie open to reproach as a miserable people. His compassion toward the penitent is a great encouragement.
AI summary
Commenting on Joel 2:18-27
But I will remove far off from you the northern army,.... The army of the locusts, which came from the northern corner, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi; and is the first sense Jarchi makes mention of; though he says their Rabbins (b) interpret it of the evil imagination hid in the heart of men; and the two seas, later mentioned, of the two temples, first...