Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine yield their best.
The Prophet addresses the beasts not because they understand, but to drive home to the Jews how total God's wrath had been and how total His mercy now is. If the Lord spares even the brute creation, restoring pasture and fruit, what does that mean for men, whom God loves properly and not incidentally? The argument cuts deeper when spoken to creatures that cannot reason.
AI summary
(Zac 8:12). As before (Joe 1:18, Joe 1:20) he represented the beasts as groaning and crying for want of food in the "pastures," so now he reassures them by the promise of springing pastures.
The Prophet calls earth, beasts, and the sons of Zion each to rejoice, but for reasons suited to each. The soil has suffered drought; the beasts have groaned for want of plants; the men have sighed in calamity. To all three He speaks: do not fear. He has destroyed the foe and restored what was laid waste.
AI summary
Commenting on Joel 2:21-23