Joel 2:9 (ASV)

Passage

They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief.

Nearby Context

Joel 2:7 They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war; and they march every one on his ways, and they break not their ranks.

Joel 2:8 Neither doth one thrust another; they march every one in his path; and they burst through the weapons, and break not off [their course].

Joel 2:9 They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief.

Joel 2:10 The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

Joel 2:11 And Jehovah uttereth his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong that executeth his word; for the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "leap", "upon", "city", "wall", "climb", "houses", and "enter". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "leap" and "upon", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Neither doth one thrust another they march..." into verse 10's "The earth quaketh before them the heavens...", so "leap" and "upon" belong inside that flow. In Joel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "leap" and "upon" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.