A Nation of Locusts Invades Like an Army

Joel describes a locust plague in military terms so vivid it becomes apocalyptic: 'A nation has invaded my land, powerful and without number; it has the teeth of a lion.' 'They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.' The sun and moon go dark. The earth shakes. Joel then pivots to the Day of the Lord — a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. 'Who can endure it?' The locust plague may be literal. It may be a vision. The text never clarifies.