Joel 1:12 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The vine is dried up: see Joel 1:10, The fig tree; a tree well known, and the fruit of it was usually a great advantage and benefit to the people of those countries. The pomegranate tree; a pleasant tree, as appears Song of Solomon 4:13, Song of Solomon 7:12; and its fruit lovely, therefore fit for ornaments about the pillars of the temple. These in the common drought and by locusts have lost their beauty, and fail the hopes of him that planted them. The palm tree; of great beauty in the height and uniformity of its growth, and that doth rise under the weight which would depress it, Psalms 92:12: with these Ezekiel's temple was adorned, Ezekiel 40:16,22,26; with the branches of these triumphant shows were also made; but these are withered and dry. The apple tree; the fruit whereof was very useful, and did ordinarily well recompense the care of the planter, but now, as other trees, fail them. All the trees of the field; none so hardy and able to bear unkind seasons, but are now destroyed by the judgments of God in drought and locusts. Are withered; not as in autumn, when the leaf falleth, but, because the root fails, is either dead or dying. Because; or therefore, or surely, for the particle here used is oftentimes assertive, not causal. Joy is withered away from the sons of men; all mirth and liveliness of men is blasted with this dismal blast upon their labours and hopes; they cannot rejoice who foresee they shall be, nay, are already, pinched with want and famine.