I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured [them]: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
Ver. 9. I have smitten you with blasting and mildews] This by immoderate rain; that by drought caused by an east wind, that ventus urens et exsiccans. God cannot possibly want a weapon to tame a rebel.
When your gardens and your vineyards increased] Or were trimmed and tricked up. Taxat nimium eorum studium, saith Mercer. The prophet here taxeth their overmuch pains taken and cost cast away in multiplying and dressing their orchards and vineyards; when, in the mean while, they neglected the sincere service of God; and suffered their own hearts to lie like the sluggard's field, that was all grown over with thorns and briars, Proverbs 24:31, that is, with lusts and sins, under which lurketh that old serpent.
The palmerworm] Which is worse than the locust, as Jerome noteth; for the locust feeds only on the tops of the ears of grain as he flies (and thence hath his name in Greek, ακρις), but palmerworms stick close to the fruits or flowers they light on; and will not off till all be consumed. It is the last and worst of evils, saith he; and leaves nothing behind it: omnia corrodit et converrit, makes clean work. See Joel 1:4; Joel 1:10,12. See Trapp on " Joe 1:4 " See Trapp on " Joe 1:10 " See Trapp on " Joe 1:11 " See Trapp on " Joe 1:12 "
Yet have ye not returned unto me] No, not yet; but have rejected the remedy of your recovery: see Amos 4:8 .