Joel 2:5
"Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of that mountains shall they leap,.... The motion of the locusts is leaping from place to place; for which the locusts have legs peculiarly made, their hindermost being the longest; wherefore Pliny (i) observes, that insects which have their hindermost legs long leap locusts; to which agrees the Scripture description of them: "which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; even those of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind", Lev 11:21

; which words, as Dr. Shaw (k), observes, may bear this construction: "which have knees upon" or "above their hinder legs, to leap withal upon the earth"; and he observes, that the "locust", has the two hindermost of its legs or feet much stronger, larger, and longer, than any of the foremost; in them the knee, or the articulation of the leg and thigh, is distinguished by a remarkable bending or curvature, whereby it is able, whenever prepared to jump, to spring and raise itself with great force and activity; and this fitly resembles the jumping of chariots on mountains and hills, which are uneven, and usually have stones lie scattered about, which, with the chains and irons about chariots, cause a great rattling; and the noise of locusts is compared to the noise of these, which is represented as very great; some say it is to be heard six miles off, as Remigius on the place; and Pliny says (l), they make such a noise with their wings when they fly, that they are thought to be other winged fowls; see Rev 9:9 . Chariots were made use of in war, and the Chaldeans are said to have chariots which should come like a whirlwind, Jer 4:13 ; like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble; as they are before compared to fire, and a flame of fire that devoured all things as easily as the fire devours stubble, so here to the crackling noise of it; see Ecc 7:6 ; as a strong people set in battle array: that is, as the noise of a mighty army prepared for battle, just going to make the onset, when they lift up their voices aloud, and give a terrible shout; for this clause, as the other two, refer to the noise made by the locusts in their march; an emblem of the terribleness of the Chaldeans in theirs, who were heard before they were seen. (i) Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 48. (k) Travels, p. 420. Ed. 2. (l) Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 29.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (15 words)

H6963 קוֹל
Definition:

14sound, voice; — absoluteקוֺלGenesis 4:10+ (הַקֹּלGenesis 27:22;Genesis 45:16); constructקוֺלGenesis 3:8+ (וְקֹלExodus 19:16,לְקֹלExodus 4:8(twice in verse)); suffixקוֺלִי1 Samuel 26:17+,קוֺלְךָJudge 14sound, voice; — absoluteקוֺלGenesis 4:10+ (הַקֹּלGenesis 27:22;Genesis 45:16); constructקוֺלGenesis 3:8+ (וְקֹלExodus 19:16,לְקֹלExodus 4:8(twice in verse)); suffixקוֺלִי1 Samuel 26:17+,קוֺלְךָJudge

H4818 מֶרְכָּבָה
Definition:

13+, constructמִרְכֶּ֫בֶתGenesis 41:43; suffixמֶרְבַּבְתּוֺGenesis 46:29+; pluralמַרְכָּבוֺתZechariah 6:1+; constructמַרְכְּבוֺת2 Kings 23:11+,בֹת-Exodus 15:4; suffixמַרְכְּבֹתֶיךָMicah 5:10;Habakkuk 13+, constructמִרְכֶּ֫בֶתGenesis 41:43; suffixמֶרְבַּבְתּוֺGenesis 46:29+; pluralמַרְכָּבוֺתZechariah 6:1+; constructמַרְכְּבוֺת2 Kings 23:11+,בֹת-Exodus 15:4; suffixמַרְכְּבֹתֶיךָMicah 5:10;Habakkuk

Possible Meanings:
  • chariot (semantic_range)
H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)
H7218 רֹאשׁ
Definition:

45head(common Semitic word; earliest form *ra°š, Arabic, SabeanראסPräZMG xxix (1875). 425MordtmHim.Inschr. 31; EthiopicAmharichence (aheightened) Assyrianrêšu(rarelyrâšu), Aramaicרֵישָׁא(Egyptian Aram 45head(common Semitic word; earliest form *ra°š, Arabic, SabeanראסPräZMG xxix (1875). 425MordtmHim.Inschr. 31; EthiopicAmharichence (aheightened) Assyrianrêšu(rarelyrâšu), Aramaicרֵישָׁא(Egyptian Aram

Possible Meanings:
  • chief (semantic_range)
  • sum (semantic_range)
H2022 הַר
Definition:

26, readהוֺרֵיעָֿד; but betterהַרֲרֵיעַֿדeverlasting mountains, seeהַרbelowהרר.הַר558noun masculineGenesis 7:19mountain, hill, hill-country(Late Hebrewid., pluralהָרִים,הֲרָרִים; PhoenicianהרCISi. 3, 26, readהוֺרֵיעָֿד; but betterהַרֲרֵיעַֿדeverlasting mountains, seeהַרbelowהרר.הַר558noun masculineGenesis 7:19mountain, hill, hill-country(Late Hebrewid., pluralהָרִים,הֲרָרִים; PhoenicianהרCISi. 3,

H7540 רָקַד
Definition:

4(of mountains,כְּאֵילִים);Imperfect2masculine pluralתִּרְקְדוּPsalm 114:6(id.; both of Sinai quaking at law-giving);Infinitive constructעֵת רְקוֺדEcclesiastes 3:4a time to mourn (סְפֹד), anda time to 4(of mountains,כְּאֵילִים);Imperfect2masculine pluralתִּרְקְדוּPsalm 114:6(id.; both of Sinai quaking at law-giving);Infinitive constructעֵת רְקוֺדEcclesiastes 3:4a time to mourn (סְפֹד), anda time to

Possible Meanings:
  • skip about (semantic_range)
  • skip about (semantic_range)
  • dance (semantic_range)
  • leap (semantic_range)
  • he (semantic_range)
H6963 קוֹל
Definition:

14sound, voice; — absoluteקוֺלGenesis 4:10+ (הַקֹּלGenesis 27:22;Genesis 45:16); constructקוֺלGenesis 3:8+ (וְקֹלExodus 19:16,לְקֹלExodus 4:8(twice in verse)); suffixקוֺלִי1 Samuel 26:17+,קוֺלְךָJudge 14sound, voice; — absoluteקוֺלGenesis 4:10+ (הַקֹּלGenesis 27:22;Genesis 45:16); constructקוֺלGenesis 3:8+ (וְקֹלExodus 19:16,לְקֹלExodus 4:8(twice in verse)); suffixקוֺלִי1 Samuel 26:17+,קוֺלְךָJudge

H3851 לַהַב
Definition:

22,22 2t.; constructJudges 13:205t.; pluralלְהָבִיםIsaiah 13:8; constructלַהֲבֵיIsaiah 66:15; —1flameof altar,Judges 13:20(twice in verse)הַמִּזְבֵּחַׅ׳(ל)אֵשׁ אוֺכְלָה׳ל, of׳יs is judgementIsaiah 29: 22,22 2t.; constructJudges 13:205t.; pluralלְהָבִיםIsaiah 13:8; constructלַהֲבֵיIsaiah 66:15; —1flameof altar,Judges 13:20(twice in verse)הַמִּזְבֵּחַׅ׳(ל)אֵשׁ אוֺכְלָה׳ל, of׳יs is judgementIsaiah 29:

Possible Meanings:
  • blade (semantic_range)
  • flashing point (semantic_range)
  • blade (semantic_range)
H0784 אֵשׂ
Definition:

23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p 23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p

Possible Meanings:
  • foundation (semantic_range)
H0398 אָכַל
Definition:

28+;אָֽכְלָהNumbers 21:28+; etc.ImperfectיאֹבַלGenesis 49:27+;וַיּאֹ֫כַלGenesis 25:34+;וַיּאֹכַ֑לGenesis 3:6+;יאֹכֵ֑לLeviticus 21:22+;אֹכַלGenesis 24:33+;וָָֽאֹכַ֫לGenesis 27:33;וְאֹכֵ֑לIsaiah 44:19;ו 28+;אָֽכְלָהNumbers 21:28+; etc.ImperfectיאֹבַלGenesis 49:27+;וַיּאֹ֫כַלGenesis 25:34+;וַיּאֹכַ֑לGenesis 3:6+;יאֹכֵ֑לLeviticus 21:22+;אֹכַלGenesis 24:33+;וָָֽאֹכַ֫לGenesis 27:33;וְאֹכֵ֑לIsaiah 44:19;ו

Possible Meanings:
  • eat (semantic_range)
  • devour (semantic_range)
H7179 קשׁ
Definition:

27(Kt)cool of spirit, i.e. calm, self-possessed (Qrיְקַרֿ); pluralקָרִיםof waterJeremiah 18:14;Proverbs 25:25.קַשׁnoun masculineNahum 1:10stubble, chaff; — absolute׳קExodus 5:12+,קַ֑שׁExodus 15:7; — l 27(Kt)cool of spirit, i.e. calm, self-possessed (Qrיְקַרֿ); pluralקָרִיםof waterJeremiah 18:14;Proverbs 25:25.קַשׁnoun masculineNahum 1:10stubble, chaff; — absolute׳קExodus 5:12+,קַ֑שׁExodus 15:7; — l

H5971 עַם
Definition:

Fromamam; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock -- folk, men, nation, people.see HEBREWamamBrow Fromamam; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock -- folk, men, nation, people.see HEBREWamamBrow

Possible Meanings:
  • with (semantic_range)
H6099 עָצוּם
Definition:

18+, pluralעֲצוּמִיםIsaiah 8:7+,עֲצֻמִיםMicah 4:3+; suffixעֲצוּמָיוPsalm 10:10; —1mighty, especially of people,strongin numbers (often ""רַב,גָּדוֺל)Genesis 18:18;Exodus 1:93t. J E;Deuteronomy 4:386t. 18+, pluralעֲצוּמִיםIsaiah 8:7+,עֲצֻמִיםMicah 4:3+; suffixעֲצוּמָיוPsalm 10:10; —1mighty, especially of people,strongin numbers (often ""רַב,גָּדוֺל)Genesis 18:18;Exodus 1:93t. J E;Deuteronomy 4:386t.

Possible Meanings:
  • numerous (semantic_range)
H6186 עָרַךְ
Definition:

A primitive root; to set in a row, i.e. Arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications) -- put (set) (the battle, self) in array, compare, direct, equal, esteem, estimate, expert (in wa A primitive root; to set in a row, i.e. Arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications) -- put (set) (the battle, self) in array, compare, direct, equal, esteem, estimate, expert (in wa

Possible Meanings:
  • value (semantic_range)
  • tax (semantic_range)
H4421 מִלְחָמָה
Definition:

2,8;Exodus 1:10+; constructמִלְהֶ֫מֶת1 Samuel 13:22(מִכְמָשׁ׳מᵐ5Th We Bu HPS Ew§ 188 cKöii. 182 > absoluteThes and others); suffixמִלְחַמְתִּי2Chronicles 35:21;מִלְחַמְתְּךָ2 Samuel 11:25;מִלְחַמְתֶּ֑ 2,8;Exodus 1:10+; constructמִלְהֶ֫מֶת1 Samuel 13:22(מִכְמָשׁ׳מᵐ5Th We Bu HPS Ew§ 188 cKöii. 182 > absoluteThes and others); suffixמִלְחַמְתִּי2Chronicles 35:21;מִלְחַמְתְּךָ2 Samuel 11:25;מִלְחַמְתֶּ֑

Possible Meanings:
  • battle (semantic_range)
  • war (semantic_range)

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