Joel 2:8

8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.

Joel 2:8 in Other Translations

8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

8 They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path; they burst through the weapons and are not halted.

8 They never jostle each other; each moves in exactly the right position. They break through defenses without missing a step.

8 They don't get in each other's way. Each one knows his job and does it. Undaunted and fearless, unswerving, unstoppable.

8 They do not push each other; each man proceeds on his own path. They dodge the missiles, never stopping.

Joel 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 2:8

Neither shall one thrust another
Press upon another, thrust him out of his place, or push him forward, or any ways straiten and distress him, or in the least hinder him in his progress: they shall walk everyone in his path;
or "highway" ^F15; everyone should have his path, and keep in it, and it should be as roomy to him as if he had a highway to walk in by himself, and in which he could not err: and when they shall fall upon the sword;
on which they would pitch without any fear or dread of it: they shall not be wounded:
or "cut to pieces" ^F16 by it; it not being easy for the sword to pierce and cut them, through the smoothness and smallness of their bodies; see ( Revelation 9:9 ) ; and besides, their numbers being so great, the loss of a few by the use of a sword, or a dart, or any such flying projectile, as the word ^F17 signifies, would be of little consequence, and avail very little to the utter rout, or cutting of them in pieces. Kimchi observes that the word signifies haters of gain; and to this sense Jarchi explains it; and so the Targum,

``they go to the place whither they are sent, they slay, and receive not mammon;''

they are not, as other enemies, to be appeased by money, as Kimchi interprets it. The Targum is, they are not to be bribed, as soldiers sometimes may be, and so depart; see ( Isaiah 13:17 ) ; and to this sense are other versions ^F18.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (wtlomb) "per aggerem suum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "via elevata", Drusius; "via strata sua", Cocceius.
F16 (weuby) "verbum significat discidit", Amos ix. 1. Tarnovius, so Ben Melech.
F17 (xlv deb) "per missile", Cocceius; so Bochartus, Castalio, Drusius, Burkius; "super missile", Montanus.
F18 "Non avari erunt", Montanus; "nec lucro inhiant", Tigurine version; "non studebunt avaritiae", so some in Vatablus.

Joel 2:8 In-Context

6 At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale.

7 They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course.

8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.

9 They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.

10 Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.