The Reformation Study Bible says that the locusts are actual locust that had destroyed their crops (chapter 1), and their experience of this event is used to talk about a future worse attack by armies sent from God if they don't repent (chapter 2). As far as Chapter 3, I don't know. It sounds like it is speaking of the final judgment maybe, only using idealistic language that they would have understood in their then-current circumstances. For instance it prophesies that Judah will sell their enemy's children as slaves to the Sabeans. I assume that is what their enemies had done to them, so it seems like God explaining that justice will truly come but the language is expressed in an idealistic way that they will understand. The things this would then point to are far greater than the language itself. But I don't really know, that's just from a quick skim over the passage.
C. Gorsuch
Glencullen Baptist
Portland, Oregon
Bookmarks