In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, {x} to the moles and to the bats;

(x) They will cast them into vile and filthy places when they perceive that they are not able to help them.

Wesley's Notes

2:20 Shall cast - Into the meanest and darkest places, in which moles and bats have their abode.

King James Translators' Notes

his idols of silver...: Heb. the idols of his silver, etc

each...: or, for him

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. moles-Others translate "mice." The sense is, under ground, in darkness.

bats-unclean birds (Le 11:19), living amidst tenantless ruins (Re 11:13).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:10-22 The taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans seems first meant here, when idolatry among the Jews was done away; but our thoughts are led forward to the destruction of all the enemies of Christ. It is folly for those who are pursued by the wrath of God, to think to hide or shelter themselves from it. The shaking of the earth will be terrible to those who set their affections on things of the earth. Men's haughtiness will be brought down, either by the grace of God convincing them of the evil of pride, or by the providence of God depriving them of all the things they were proud of. The day of the Lord shall be upon those things in which they put their confidence. Those who will not be reasoned out of their sins, sooner or later shall be frightened out of them. Covetous men make money their god; but the time will come when they will feel it as much their burden. This whole passage may be applied to the case of an awakened sinner, ready to leave all that his soul may be saved. The Jews were prone to rely on their heathen neighbours; but they are here called upon to cease from depending on mortal man. We are all prone to the same sin. Then let not man be your fear, let not him be your hope; but let your hope be in the Lord your God. Let us make this our great concern.