Joel3
World English Bible · Public Domain
1“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,
3and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
4“Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.
5Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my finest treasures into your temples,
6and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border.
7Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head;
8and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for Yahweh has spoken it.”
9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up.
10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’
11Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together.” Cause your mighty ones to come down there, Yahweh.
12“Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.”
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near in the valley of decision.
15The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
16Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
17“So you will know that I am Yahweh, your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more.
18It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters; and a fountain will flow out from Yahweh’s house, and will water the valley of Shittim.
19Egypt will be a desolation and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed, for Yahweh 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