Joel 2:20

But I will remoue farre off from you the northren armie, & will driue him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the East sea, and his hinder part towards the vtmost Sea, and his stinke shall come vp, and his ill sauour shall come vp, because he hath done great things. Joel 2:20 (KJV)

The book of Joel belongs to the Minor Prophets and records a ministry to the southern kingdom of Judah during a time of national distress. The people were suffering a severe locust plague that devastated the land, and Joel used this disaster as a call to repentance and a warning of the Day of the Lord, a period of divine judgment.

In Joel 2:20 the phrase “northern army” is understood in two related ways. One tradition sees it as a vivid description of the invading locust swarm, a common biblical symbol of God’s judgment. Another scholarly view interprets the “northern army” as a metaphor for hostile foreign powers—such as the Assyrians or Babylonians—who threatened Israel. Both images convey a hostile force that God will remove.

The verse promises God’s decisive intervention: He will drive the enemy far away, casting it into a barren, desolate region. The description of its “face toward the east sea” (the Dead Sea) and its “hinder part toward the utmost sea” (the Mediterranean) emphasizes the comprehensive scope of the judgment across the whole land. The mention of the “stink” and “ill savour” paints a graphic picture of the defeated foe’s disgrace.

The clause “because he hath done great things” is interpreted either as a reference to the army’s formidable power or as an indication that the calamity arose from the people’s sin, underscoring the need for repentance. Throughout Joel, the call to turn back to God is central.

Application for today includes recognizing God’s power to intervene against destructive forces—whether natural or human—and the importance of humility, repentance, and reliance on divine protection in times of crisis. The passage ultimately offers hope, assuring believers that God will bring deliverance, defeat oppressive powers, and restore His people, affirming His sovereignty and faithful judgment.