יואל, פרק ב׳, פסוק י״א

A devastating locust swarm is not merely a natural disaster, but a calculated and terrifying divine military campaign. Before the invasion strikes, a warning is issued. The primary approach among commentators is that God sounds a prophetic warning through His messengers before the disaster arrives, urging the people to repent before the destructive army is unleashed [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. However, another perspective suggests that this divine warning is not a prophetic message. Instead, it is the deafening roar of the locust swarm itself, making the earth tremble like an earthquake as it approaches [אבן עזרא].

Operating on a divine mission, these creatures function as a non-human military force [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They are considered a mighty army due to their massive numbers and overwhelming strength, acting as a disciplined camp that positions itself on the battlefield, fully prepared for war [מלבי״ם]. In carrying out this attack, the swarm displays immense power, executing God's exact orders without fail [מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא]. Yet, a unique interpretation offers a different view on who holds this immense power. Rather than the locusts, the true strength belongs to the person who repents and fulfills God's will. Such an individual becomes far mightier than the invading camp, possessing the power to overcome the disaster and drive it away from the land [מלבי״ם].

Ultimately, this event points to a specific time of disaster and punishment set for sinners [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. The current plague serves as an early glimpse, helping people grasp the sheer terror expected during the great Day of Judgment at the end of days [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Faced with such dread, a desperate cry arises, asking who could possibly survive and withstand such a difficult time [מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. Alternatively, this question serves as a direct call to action: it asks who will find the courage to repent, thereby containing the destruction and preventing it from causing them harm [מלבי״ם].