sweep in from the desert?

[lst715]

Hello, ma teacher!

I don't get the usage of "in" in this phrase: sweep in from the desert

I read this in Bible and this is the full text: Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house.

What I want to know is ... how can I understand this expression: sweep in from
I know why "from" is used. It means "from the desert."

Is "sweep in" kind of idiom?

The reason why I am curious is that I think "in" looks unnecessary.

Please let me know how I should understand this :-D

 

[Soup]

It means to come in(side) swiftly, strongly; e.g., the wind came in(side) swiftly.

 

[5jj]

I feel that it means 'towards' (the location we know about) rather than 'inside'.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER


(1) May I add a few words to the key member's and the moderator's excellent answers.

(2) I found three examples (Google books) that may help you to better

understand that "sweep in" means something like "come in":


(a) Rain swept in from the mountains.

(b) The cold breeze swept in from the bay.

(c) A hundred angry letters swept in from across the nation.

(3) As you know. many times we use "sweep" without "in":

I sweep the kitchen every day.

(4) I do not think that "sweep in" is considered an idiom. I think that it is considered

a phrasal verb. When you get time, you may wish to research the topic "phrasal

verbs" by checking your books, this website's "search" box, or the Web.