Joel3
New International Version
1“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.
3They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.
4“Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done.
5For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.
6You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.
7“See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done.
8I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.” The Lord has spoken.
9Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!”
11Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, Lord!
12“Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.
13Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!”
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
15The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
16The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
17“Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.
18“In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house and will water the valley of acacias.
19But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations.
21Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not.” The Lord dwells in Zion!
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Joel 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's judgments in the latter days. (1-8) . The extent of these judgments. (9-17) . The blessings the church shall enjoy. (18-21).
vv1-8
The restoration of the Jews, and the final victory of true religion over all opposers, appear to be here foretold. The contempt and scorn with which the Jews have often been treated as a people, and the little value set upon them, are noticed. None ever hardened his heart against God or his church, and prospered long.
vv9-17
Here is a challenge to all the enemies of God's people. There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophets foretell the same final victory of the church of God over all that oppose it. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be a joyful day. What cause have those who possess an interest in Christ, to glory in their Strength and their Redeemer! The acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, will be a day of remarkable vengeance to others: let every one that is out of Christ awake, and flee from the wrath to come.
vv18-21
There shall be abundant Divine influences, and the gospel will spread speedily into the remotest corners of the earth. These events are predicted under significant emblems; there is a day coming, when every thing amiss shall be amended. The fountain of this plenty is in the house of God, whence the streams take rise. Christ is this Fountain; his sufferings, merit, and grace, cleanse, refresh, and make fruitful. Gospel grace, flowing from Christ, shall reach to the Gentile world, to the most remote regions, and make them abound in fruits of righteousness; and from the house of the Lord above, from his heavenly temple, flows all the good we daily taste, and hope to enjoy eternally.
Key Words
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הִנֵּה: lo!
הֵם: they (only used when emphatic)
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
עֵת: time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
שׁוּב: to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
שְׁבוּת: exile, concretely, prisoners; figuratively, a former state of prosperity
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם: Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Cross References
Joel 3Parallels gathering of nations, Mount of Olives/valley setting, and divine deliverance of Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The valley of Jehoshaphat (meaning Yahweh judges) alludes historically to Jehoshaphat's Valley of Blessing.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel of conquering enemies casting lots for Jerusalem's captive people.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms the cruel pagan practice of casting lots for captives as described in Joel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Specifically connects Tyre and Javan (Greece) with trading the persons of men.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct ironical reversal of the peace prophecy (plowshares into swords for war preparation).
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reverses the famous peace oracle; here, agricultural tools are beaten into weapons for judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Echoes the Joel imagery of putting in the sickle because the harvest is ripe.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Shares the imagery of treading the winepress as a metaphor for divine judgment on nations.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Condemns Tyre, Philistia, and Edom for delivering up captives and violating brotherhood.
Supported by JFB
Detailed vision of life-giving waters flowing eastward from the temple, like Joel's fountain.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophesies living waters flowing out from Jerusalem, matching Joel's temple fountain.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament fulfillment of the river of life proceeding from the throne of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Edom's perpetual anger and violence against his brother Judah.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic parallel mentioning the sons of Zion raised up against the sons of Greece.
Supported by JFB
Verbatim echo within Joel of cosmic darkness accompanying the Day of the Lord.
Verbatim parallel: 'The Lord shall roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem.'
Identifies the Sabeans as a people from a far country, trading in rich incense.
Supported by JFB