Joe 1:18, 20 | JFB | STEP | 18. cattle ... perplexed-- implying the restless gestures of the dumb beasts in their inability to find food. There is a tacit contrast between the sense of the brute creation and the insensibility of the people. yea, the ... sheep-- Even the sheep, which are content with less rich pasturage, cannot find food. are made desolate-- literally, "suffer punishment." The innocent brute shares the "punishment" of guilty man ( ; ; ).

‏ Joel 1:18

18. cattle ... perplexed--implying the restless gestures of the dumb beasts in their inability to find food. There is a tacit contrast between the sense of the brute creation and the insensibility of the people.

yea, the ... sheep--Even the sheep, which are content with less rich pasturage, cannot find food.

are made desolate--literally, "suffer punishment." The innocent brute shares the "punishment" of guilty man (Ex 12:29; Jon 3:7; 4:11).

‏ Joel 1:20

20. beasts ... cry ... unto thee--that is, look up to heaven with heads lifted up, as if their only expectation was from God (Job 38:41; Psa 104:21; 145:15; 147:9; compare Psa 42:1). They tacitly reprove the deadness of the Jews for not even now invoking God.