Charles Ellicott Commentary Joel 2:17

"Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?" — Joel 2:17 (ASV)

That the heathen should rule over them.— All mention of the locusts is dropped. The lesser calamity is swallowed up in the apprehension of the greater.