Albert Barnes Commentary Joel 1:18

"How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate." — Joel 1:18 (ASV)

How do the beasts groan! - There is something very pitiable in the cry of the animal creation, even because they are innocent, yet bear man’s guilt. Their groaning seems to the prophet to be beyond expression. How vehemently do they groan!

The herds of cattle are perplexed, as though, like man, they were endowed with reason, to debate where to find their food. Indeed, not these only, but the flocks of sheep, which might find pasture where the herds could not, these too shall bear the punishment of guilt.

They suffered by the guilt of man; and yet so stupid was man, that he was not so aware of his own sin for which they suffered, as they were of its effect. The beasts cried to God, but even their cries did not awaken His own people. The prophet cries for them;