But I will remove, &c.— The locusts are here styled the northern army, because they entered the land at Hamath, one of the northern borders, and passed quite through it till they came to the southern parts about the Dead Sea, which have been barren and desolate ever since the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah; and there they were either famished, or perished in the water. This is Lowth's opinion: but to this it is objected, that the locusts are, in every other place, said to come from the east. The northern army is an appellation given to the army of Nebuchadnezzar, as coming from Babylon, a city lying to the north of Jerusalem. The prophet speaks of this army under the similitude of the locusts. See Chandler, and Sharpe. By the words east and utmost, are implied the Dead and Mediterranean Seas. Instead of, Because he hath done, we may read, Although he hath done, &c.
Related Commentaries of Joel 2:20
Joel 2:20
20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.