Joel3
New Living Translation
1“At the time of those events,” says the Lord, “when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land.
3They threw dice to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded boys to obtain prostitutes and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk.
4“What do you have against me, Tyre and Sidon and you cities of Philistia? Are you trying to take revenge on me? If you are, then watch out! I will strike swiftly and pay you back for everything you have done.
5You have taken my silver and gold and all my precious treasures, and have carried them off to your pagan temples.
6You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, so they could take them far from their homeland.
7“But I will bring them back from all the places to which you sold them, and I will pay you back for everything you have done.
8I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the people of Arabia, a nation far away. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
9Say to the nations far and wide: “Get ready for war! Call out your best warriors. Let all your fighting men advance for the attack.
10Hammer your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Train even your weaklings to be warriors.
11Come quickly, all you nations everywhere. Gather together in the valley.” And now, O Lord, call out your warriors!
12“Let the nations be called to arms. Let them march to the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I, the Lord, will sit to pronounce judgment on them all.
13Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread the grapes, for the winepress is full. The storage vats are overflowing with the wickedness of these people.”
14Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision. There the day of the Lord will soon arrive.
15The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.
16The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.
17“Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, live in Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy forever, and foreign armies will never conquer her again.
18In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. Water will fill the streambeds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the Lord’s Temple, watering the arid valley of acacias.
19But Egypt will become a wasteland and Edom will become a wilderness, because they attacked the people of Judah and killed innocent people in their land.
20“But Judah will be filled with people forever, and Jerusalem will endure through all generations.
21I will pardon my people’s crimes, which I have not yet pardoned; and I, the Lord, will make my home in Jerusalem with my people.”
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