1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
6 The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9 Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.
1 For, behold, in those days, H3117 and in that time, H6256 when I shall bring again H7725 H7725 the captivity H7622 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem, H3389
2 I will also gather H6908 all nations, H1471 and will bring them down H3381 into the valley H6010 of Jehoshaphat, H3092 and will plead H8199 with them there for my people H5971 and for my heritage H5159 Israel, H3478 whom they have scattered H6340 among the nations, H1471 and parted H2505 my land. H776
3 And they have cast H3032 lots H1486 for my people; H5971 and have given H5414 a boy H3206 for an harlot, H2181 and sold H4376 a girl H3207 for wine, H3196 that they might drink. H8354
4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, H6865 and Zidon, H6721 and all the coasts H1552 of Palestine? H6429 will ye render H7999 me a recompence? H1576 and if ye recompense H1580 me, swiftly H7031 and speedily H4120 will I return H7725 your recompence H1576 upon your own head; H7218
5 Because ye have taken H3947 my silver H3701 and my gold, H2091 and have carried H935 into your temples H1964 my goodly H2896 pleasant things: H4261
6 The children H1121 also of Judah H3063 and the children H1121 of Jerusalem H3389 have ye sold H4376 unto the Grecians, H3125 H1121 that ye might remove them far H7368 from their border. H1366
7 Behold, I will raise H5782 them out of the place H4725 whither ye have sold H4376 them, and will return H7725 your recompence H1576 upon your own head: H7218
8 And I will sell H4376 your sons H1121 and your daughters H1323 into the hand H3027 of the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 and they shall sell H4376 them to the Sabeans, H7615 to a people H1471 far off: H7350 for the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 it.
9 Proclaim H7121 ye this among the Gentiles; H1471 Prepare H6942 war, H4421 wake up H5782 the mighty men, H1368 let all the men H582 of war H4421 draw near; H5066 let them come up: H5927
10 Beat H3807 your plowshares H855 into swords, H2719 and your pruninghooks H4211 into spears: H7420 let the weak H2523 say, H559 I am strong. H1368
11 Assemble H5789 yourselves, and come, H935 all ye heathen, H1471 and gather yourselves together H6908 round about: H5439 thither cause thy mighty ones H1368 to come down, H5181 O LORD. H3068
12 Let the heathen H1471 be wakened, H5782 and come up H5927 to the valley H6010 of Jehoshaphat: H3092 for there will I sit H3427 to judge H8199 all the heathen H1471 round about. H5439
13 Put H7971 ye in the sickle, H4038 for the harvest H7105 is ripe: H1310 come, H935 get you down; H3381 for the press H1660 is full, H4390 the fats H3342 overflow; H7783 for their wickedness H7451 is great. H7227
14 Multitudes, H1995 multitudes H1995 in the valley H6010 of decision: H2742 for the day H3117 of the LORD H3068 is near H7138 in the valley H6010 of decision. H2742
15 The sun H8121 and the moon H3394 shall be darkened, H6937 and the stars H3556 shall withdraw H622 their shining. H5051
16 The LORD H3068 also shall roar H7580 out of Zion, H6726 and utter H5414 his voice H6963 from Jerusalem; H3389 and the heavens H8064 and the earth H776 shall shake: H7493 but the LORD H3068 will be the hope H4268 of his people, H5971 and the strength H4581 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
17 So shall ye know H3045 that I am the LORD H3068 your God H430 dwelling H7931 in Zion, H6726 my holy H6944 mountain: H2022 then shall Jerusalem H3389 be holy, H6944 and there shall no strangers H2114 pass through H5674 her any more.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, H3117 that the mountains H2022 shall drop down H5197 new wine, H6071 and the hills H1389 shall flow H3212 with milk, H2461 and all the rivers H650 of Judah H3063 shall flow H3212 with waters, H4325 and a fountain H4599 shall come forth H3318 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and shall water H8248 the valley H5158 of Shittim. H7851
19 Egypt H4714 shall be a desolation, H8077 and Edom H123 shall be a desolate H8077 wilderness, H4057 for the violence H2555 against the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 because they have shed H8210 innocent H5355 blood H1818 in their land. H776
20 But Judah H3063 shall dwell H3427 for ever, H5769 and Jerusalem H3389 from generation H1755 to generation. H1755
21 For I will cleanse H5352 their blood H1818 that I have not cleansed: H5352 for the LORD H3068 dwelleth H7931 in Zion. H6726
1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment upon them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land,
3 and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
4 Yea, and what are ye to me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head.
5 Forasmuch as ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly precious things,
6 and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem unto the sons of the Grecians, that ye may remove them far from their border;
7 behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head;
8 and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off: for Jehovah hath spoken it.
9 Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
11 Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah.
12 Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about.
13 Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
16 And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
17 So shall ye know that I am Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall flow with waters; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of Jehovah, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 But Judah shall abide for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 And I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.
1 For lo, in those days, and in that time, When I turn back `to' the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 Then I have gathered all the nations, And caused them to go down unto the valley of Jehoshaphat, And I have been judged with them there, Concerning My people and Mine inheritance -- Israel, Whom they scattered among nations, And My land they have apportioned.
3 And for My people they do cast a lot, And they give the young man for an harlot, And the young woman have sold for wine, That they may drink.
4 And also, what `are' ye to Me, O Tyre and Zidon, And all circuits of Philistia? Recompence are ye rendering unto Me? And if ye are giving recompence to Me, Swiftly, hastily, I turn back your recompence on your head.
5 In that My silver and My gold ye took, And My desirable things that are good, Ye have brought in to your temples.
6 And sons of Judah, and sons of Jerusalem, Ye have sold to the sons of Javan, To put them far off from their border.
7 Lo, I am stirring them up out of the place Whither ye have sold them, And I have turned back your recompence on your head,
8 And have sold your sons and your daughters Into the hand of the sons of Judah, And they have sold them to Shabeans, Unto a nation far off, for Jehovah hath spoken.
9 Proclaim ye this among nations, Sanctify a war, stir up the mighty ones, Come nigh, come up, let all the men of war.
10 Beat your ploughshares to swords, And your pruning-hooks to javelins, Let the weak say, `I `am' mighty.'
11 Haste, and come in, all ye nations round, And be gathered together, Thither cause to come down, O Jehovah, Thy mighty ones.
12 Wake and come up let the nations unto the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I sit to judge all the nations around.
13 Send ye forth a sickle, For ripened hath harvest, Come in, come down, for filled hath been the press, Overflowed hath wine-presses, For great `is' their wickedness.
14 Multitudes, multitudes `are' in the valley of decision, For near `is' the day of Jehovah in the valley of decision.
15 Sun and moon have been black, And stars have gathered up their shining.
16 And Jehovah from Zion doth roar, And from Jerusalem giveth forth His voice, And shaken have the heavens and earth, And Jehovah `is' a refuge to his people, And a stronghold to sons of Israel.
17 And ye have known that I `am' Jehovah your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain, And Jerusalem hath been holy, And strangers do not pass over into it again.
18 And it hath come to pass, in that day, Drop down do the mountains juice, And the hills do flow `with' milk, And all streams of Judah do go `with' water, And a fountain from the house of Jehovah goeth forth, And hath watered the valley of Shittim.
19 Egypt a desolation becometh, And Edom a desolation, a wilderness, becometh, For violence `to' sons of Judah, Whose innocent blood they shed in their land.
20 And Judah to the age doth dwell, And Jerusalem to generation and generation.
21 And I have declared their blood innocent, `That' I did not declare innocent, And Jehovah is dwelling in Zion!
1 For behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall turn again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all the nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of my people and mine inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land;
3 and they have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, and have drunk [it].
4 Yea also, what have ye to do with me, O Tyre and Zidon, and all the districts of Philistia? Will ye render me a recompence? But if ye recompense me, swiftly [and] speedily will I bring your recompence upon your own head;
5 because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my beautiful pleasant things,
6 and the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the children of the Greeks, that ye might remove them far from their border.
7 Behold, I will raise them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will bring your recompence upon your own head.
8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far off: for Jehovah hath spoken.
9 Proclaim this among the nations: prepare war, arouse the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.
10 Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-knives into spears; let the weak say, I am strong.
11 Haste ye and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together. Thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah.
12 Let the nations rouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about.
13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down, for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Jehovah is at hand in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16 And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: and Jehovah will be a shelter for his people, and the refuge of the children of Israel.
17 And ye shall know that I, Jehovah, [am] your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain; and Jerusalem shall be holy, and no strangers shall pass through her any more.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the water-courses of Judah shall flow with waters; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of Jehovah, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, in that they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 But Judah shall abide for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 And I will purge them from the blood from which I had not purged them: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.
1 "For, behold, in those days, And in that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I 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,
3 And 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.
5 Because you have taken my silver and my gold, And have carried my finest treasures into your temples,
6 And 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.
7 Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, And will return your repayment on your own head;
8 And 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."
9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war. Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords, And your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, "I am strong."
11 Hurry 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 will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13 Put in the sickle; For the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the winepress is full, The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great."
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near, in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon are darkened, And the stars withdraw their shining."
16 Yahweh 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.
18 It 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 come forth from the house of Yahweh, And will water the valley of Shittim.
19 Egypt 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.
20 But Judah will be inhabited forever, And Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 I will cleanse their blood, That I have not cleansed: For Yahweh dwells in Zion."
1 And after that, it will come about, says the Lord, that I will send my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will be prophets, your old men will have dreams, your young men will see visions:
2 And on the servants and the servant-girls in those days I will send my spirit.
3 And I will let wonders be seen in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
4 The sun will be made dark and the moon turned to blood, before the great day of the Lord comes, a day to be feared.
5 And it will be that whoever makes his prayer to the name of the Lord will be kept safe: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem some will be kept safe, as the Lord has said, and will be among the small band marked out by the Lord.
6 For in those days and in that time, when I let the fate of Judah and Jerusalem be changed,
7 I will get together all the nations, and make them come down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and there I will take up with them the cause of my people and of my heritage Israel, whom they have sent wandering among the nations, and of my land which has been parted by them.
8 And they have put the fate of my people to the decision of chance: giving a boy for the price of a loose woman and a girl for a drink of wine.
9 And further, what are you to me, O Tyre and Zidon and all the circle of Philistia? will you give me back any payment? and if you do, quickly and suddenly I will send it back on your head,
10 For you have taken my silver and my gold, putting in the houses of your gods my beautiful and pleasing things.
11 And the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem you have given for a price to the sons of the Greeks, to send them far away from their land:
12 See, I will have them moved from the place where you have sent them, and will let what you have done come back on your head;
13 I will give your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah for a price, and they will give them for a price to the men of Sheba, a nation far off: for the Lord has said it.
14 Give this out among the nations; make ready for war: get the strong men awake; let all the men of war come near, let them come up.
15 Get your plough-blades hammered into swords, and your vine-knives into spears: let the feeble say, I am strong.
16 Come quickly, all you nations round about, and get yourselves together there: make your strong ones come down, O Lord.
17 Let the nations be awake, and come to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there I will be seated as judge of all the nations round about.
18 Put in the blade, for the grain is ready: come, get you down, for the wine-crusher is full, the vessels are overflowing; for great is their evil-doing.
19 Masses on masses in the valley of decision! for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
20 The sun and the moon have become dark, and the stars keep back their shining.
21 And the Lord will be thundering from Zion, and his voice will be sounding from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will be shaking: but the Lord will be a breastplate for his people and a strong place for the children of Israel.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joel 3
Commentary on Joel 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Joe 3:1-21. God's Vengeance on Israel's Foes in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. His Blessing on the Church.
1. bring again the captivity—that is, reverse it. The Jews restrict this to the return from Babylon. Christians refer it to the coming of Christ. But the prophet comprises the whole redemption, beginning from the return out of Babylon, then continued from the first advent of Christ down to the last day (His second advent), when God will restore His Church to perfect felicity [Calvin].
2. Parallel to Zec 14:2, 3, 4, where the "Mount of Olives" answers to the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" here. The latter is called "the valley of blessing" (Berachah) (2Ch 20:26). It lies between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives and has the Kedron flowing through it. As Jehoshaphat overthrew the confederate foes of Judah, namely, Ammon, Moab, &c. (Ps 83:6-8), in this valley, so God was to overthrow the Tyrians, Zidonians, Philistines, Edom, and Egypt, with a similar utter overthrow (Joe 3:4, 19). This has been long ago fulfilled; but the ultimate event shadowed forth herein is still future, when God shall specially interpose to destroy Jerusalem's last foes, of whom Tyre, Zidon, Edom, Egypt, and Philistia are the types. As "Jehoshaphat" means "the judgment of Jehovah," the valley of Jehoshaphat may be used as a general term for the theater of God's final judgments on Israel's foes, with an allusion to the judgment inflicted on them by Jehoshaphat. The definite mention of the Mount of Olives in Zec 14:4, and the fact that this was the scene of the ascension, makes it likely the same shall be the scene of Christ's coming again: compare "this same Jesus … shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Ac 1:11).
all nations—namely, which have maltreated Judah.
plead with them—(Isa 66:16; Eze 38:22).
my heritage Israel—(De 32:9; Jer 10:16). Implying that the source of Judah's redemption is God's free love, wherewith He chose Israel as His peculiar heritage, and at the same time assuring them, when desponding because of trials, that He would plead their cause as His own, and as if He were injured in their person.
3. cast lots for my people—that is, divided among themselves My people as their captives by lot. Compare as to the distribution of captives by lot (Ob 11; Na 3:10).
given a boy for … harlot—Instead of paying a harlot for her prostitution in money, they gave her a Jewish captive boy as a slave.
girl for wine—So valueless did they regard a Jewish girl that they would sell her for a draught of wine.
4. what have ye to do with me—Ye have no connection with Me (that is, with My people: God identifying Himself with Israel); I (that is, My people) have given you no cause of quarrel, why then do ye trouble Me (that is, My people)? (Compare the same phrase, Jos 22:24; Jud 11:12; 2Sa 16:10; Mt 8:29).
Tyre … Zidon … Palestine—(Am 1:6, 9).
if ye recompense me—If ye injure Me (My people), in revenge for fancied wrongs (Eze 25:15-17), I will requite you in your own coin swiftly and speedily.
5. my silver … my gold—that is, the gold and silver of My people. The Philistines and Arabians had carried off all the treasures of King Jehoram's house (2Ch 21:16, 17). Compare also 1Ki 15:18; 2Ki 12:18; 14:14, for the spoiling of the treasures of the temple and the king's palace in Judah by Syria. It was customary among the heathen to hang up in the idol temples some of the spoils of war as presents to their gods.
6. Grecians—literally, "Javanites," that is, the Ionians, a Greek colony on the coast of Asia Minor who were the first Greeks known to the Jews. The Greeks themselves, however, in their original descent came from Javan (Ge 10:2, 4). Probably the germ of Greek civilization in part came through the Jewish slaves imported into Greece from Phœnicia by traffickers. Eze 27:13 mentions Javan and Tyre as trading in the persons of men.
far from their border—far from Judea; so that the captive Jews were cut off from all hope of return.
7. raise them—that is, I will rouse them. Neither sea nor distance will prevent My bringing them back. Alexander, and his successors, restored to liberty many Jews in bondage in Greece [Josephus, Antiquities, 13.5; Wars of the Jews, 3.9,2].
8. sell them to … Sabeans—The Persian Artaxerxes Mnemon and Darius Ochus, and chiefly the Greek Alexander, reduced the Phœnician and Philistine powers. Thirty thousand Tyrians after the capture of Tyre by the last conqueror, and multitudes of Philistines on the taking of Gaza, were sold as slaves. The Jews are here said to do that which the God of Judah does in vindication of their wrong, namely, sell the Phœnicians who sold them, to a people "far off," as was Greece, whither the Jews had been sold. The Sabeans at the most remote extremity of Arabia Felix are referred to (compare Jer 6:20; Mt 12:42).
9. The nations hostile to Israel are summoned by Jehovah to "come up" (this phrase is used because Jerusalem was on a hill) against Jerusalem, not that they may destroy it, but to be destroyed by the Lord (Eze 38:7-23; Zec 12:2-9; 14:2, 3).
Prepare war—literally, sanctify war: because the heathen always began war with religious ceremonies. The very phrase used of Babylon's preparations against Jerusalem (Jer 6:4) is now used of the final foes of Jerusalem. As Babylon was then desired by God to advance against her for her destruction, so now all her foes, of whom Babylon was the type, are desired to advance against her for their own destruction.
10. Beat your ploughshares into swords—As the foes are desired to "beat their ploughshares into swords, and their pruning hooks into spears," that so they may perish in their unhallowed attack on Judah and Jerusalem, so these latter, and the nations converted to God by them, after the overthrow of the antichristian confederacy, shall, on the contrary, "beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks," when under Messiah's coming reign there shall be war no more (Isa 2:4; Ho 2:18; Mic 4:3).
let the weak say, I am strong—So universal shall be the rage of Israel's foes for invading her, that even the weak among them will fancy themselves strong enough to join the invading forces. Age and infirmity were ordinarily made valid excuses for exemption from service, but so mad shall be the fury of the world against God's people, that even the feeble will not desire to be exempted (compare Ps 2:1-3).
11. Assemble—"Hasten" [Maurer].
thither—to the valley of Jehoshaphat.
thy mighty ones—the warriors who fancy themselves "mighty ones," but who are on that very spot to be overthrown by Jehovah [Maurer]. Compare "the mighty men" (Joe 3:9). Rather, Joel speaks of God's really "mighty ones" in contrast to the self-styled "mighty men" (Joe 3:9; Ps 103:20; Isa 13:3; compare Da 10:13). Auberlen remarks: One prophet supplements the other, for they all prophesied only "in part." What was obscure to one was revealed to the other; what is briefly described by one is more fully so by another. Daniel calls Antichrist a king, and dwells on his worldly conquests; John looks more to his spiritual tyranny, for which reason he adds a second beast, wearing the semblance of spirituality. Antichrist himself is described by Daniel. Isaiah (Isa 29:1-24), Joel (Joe 3:1-21) and Zechariah (Zec 12:1-14:21), describe his army of heathen followers coming up against Jerusalem, but not Antichrist himself.
12. See Joe 3:2.
judge all the heathen round about—that is, all the nations from all parts of the earth which have maltreated Israel; not merely, as Henderson supposes, the nations round about Jerusalem (compare Ps 110:6; Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3, 11-13; Zep 3:15-19; Zec 12:9; 14:3-11; Mal 4:1-3).
13. Direction to the ministers of vengeance to execute God's wrath, as the enemy's wickedness is come to its full maturity. God does not cut off the wicked at once, but waits till their guilt is at its full (so as to the Amorites' iniquity, Ge 15:16), to show forth His own long-suffering, and the justice of their doom who have so long abused it (Mt 13:27-30, 38, 40; Re 14:15-19). For the image of a harvest to be threshed, compare Jer 51:33; and a wine-press, Isa 63:3 and La 1:15.
14. The prophet in vision seeing the immense array of nations congregating, exclaims, "Multitudes, multitudes!" a Hebraism for immense multitudes.
valley of decision—that is, the valley in which they are to meet their "determined doom." The same as "the valley of Jehoshaphat," that is, "the valley of judgment" (see on Joe 3:2). Compare Joe 3:12, "there will I sit to judge," which confirms English Version rather than Margin, "threshing." The repetition of "valley of decision" heightens the effect and pronounces the awful certainty of their doom.
15. (See on Joe 2:10; Joe 2:30).
16. (Compare Eze 38:18-22). The victories of the Jews over their cruel foe Antiochus, under the Maccabees, may be a reference of this prophecy; but the ultimate reference is to the last Antichrist, of whom Antiochus was the type. Jerusalem being the central seat of the theocracy (Ps 132:13), it is from thence that Jehovah discomfits the foe.
roar—as a lion (Jer 25:30; Am 1:2; 3:8). Compare as to Jehovah's voice thundering, Ps 18:13; Hab 3:10, 11.
Lord … the hope of his people—or, "their refuge" (Ps 46:1).
17. shall ye know—experimentally by the proofs of favors which I shall vouchsafe to you. So "know" (Isa 60:16; Ho 2:20).
dwelling in Zion—as peculiarly your God.
holy … no strangers pass through—to attack, or to defile, the holy city (Isa 35:8; 52:1; Zec 14:21). Strangers, or Gentiles, shall come to Jerusalem, but it shall be in order to worship Jehovah there (Zec 14:16).
18. mountains … drop … wine—figurative for abundance of vines, which were cultivated in terraces of earth between the rocks on the sides of the hills of Palestine (Am 9:13).
hills … flow with milk—that is, they shall abound in flocks and herds yielding milk plentifully, through the richness of the pastures.
waters—the great desideratum for fertility in the parched East (Isa 30:25).
fountain … of … house of … Lord … water … valley of Shittim—The blessings, temporal and spiritual, issuing from Jehovah's house at Jerusalem, shall extend even to Shittim, on the border between Moab and Israel, beyond Jordan (Nu 25:1; 33:49; Jos 2:1; Mic 6:5). "Shittim" means "acacias," which grow only in arid regions: implying that even the arid desert shall be fertilized by the blessing from Jerusalem. So Eze 47:1-12 describes the waters issuing from the threshold of the house as flowing into the Dead Sea, and purifying it. Also in Zec 14:8 the waters flow on one side into the Mediterranean, on the other side into the Dead Sea, near which latter Shittim was situated (compare Ps 46:4; Re 22:1).
19. Edom—It was subjugated by David, but revolted under Jehoram (2Ch 21:8-10); and at every subsequent opportunity tried to injure Judah. Egypt under Shishak spoiled Jerusalem under Rehoboam of the treasures of the temple and the king's house; subsequently to the captivity, it inflicted under the Ptolemies various injuries on Judea. Antiochus spoiled Egypt (Da 11:40-43). Edom was made "desolate" under the Maccabees [Josephus, Antiquities, 12.11,12]. The low condition of the two countries for centuries proves the truth of the prediction (compare Isa 19:1, &c.; Jer 49:17; Ob 10). So shall fare all the foes of Israel, typified by these two (Isa 63:1, &c.).
20. dwell for ever—(Am 9:15), that is, be established as a flourishing state.
21. cleanse … blood … not cleansed—I will purge away from Judah the extreme guilt (represented by "blood," the shedding of which was the climax of her sin, Isa 1:15) which was for long not purged away, but visited with judgments (Isa 4:4). Messiah saves from guilt, in order to save from punishment (Mt 1:21).