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
The burden H4853 of Egypt. H4714 Behold, the LORD H3068 rideth H7392 upon a swift H7031 cloud, H5645 and shall come H935 into Egypt: H4714 and the idols H457 of Egypt H4714 shall be moved H5128 at his presence, H6440 and the heart H3824 of Egypt H4714 shall melt H4549 in the midst H7130 of it. And I will set H5526 the Egyptians H4714 against the Egyptians: H4714 and they shall fight H3898 every one H376 against his brother, H251 and every one H376 against his neighbour; H7453 city H5892 against city, H5892 and kingdom H4467 against kingdom. H4467 And the spirit H7307 of Egypt H4714 shall fail H1238 in the midst H7130 thereof; and I will destroy H1104 the counsel H6098 thereof: and they shall seek H1875 to the idols, H457 and to the charmers, H328 and to them that have familiar spirits, H178 and to the wizards. H3049 And H853 the Egyptians H4714 will I give over H5534 into the hand H3027 of a cruel H7186 lord; H113 and a fierce H5794 king H4428 shall rule H4910 over them, saith H5002 the Lord, H113 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 And the waters H4325 shall fail H5405 from the sea, H3220 and the river H5104 shall be wasted H2717 and dried up. H3001 And they shall turn H2186 the rivers H5104 far away; H2186 and the brooks H2975 of defence H4693 shall be emptied H1809 and dried up: H2717 the reeds H7070 and flags H5488 shall wither. H7060 The paper reeds H6169 by the brooks, H2975 by the mouth H6310 of the brooks, H2975 and every thing sown H4218 by the brooks, H2975 shall wither, H3001 be driven away, H5086 and be no more. The fishers H1771 also shall mourn, H578 and all they that cast H7993 angle H2443 into the brooks H2975 shall lament, H56 and they that spread H6566 nets H4365 upon H6440 the waters H4325 shall languish. H535 Moreover they that work H5647 in fine H8305 flax, H6593 and they that weave H707 networks, H2355 shall be confounded. H954 And they shall be broken H1792 in the purposes H8356 thereof, all that make H6213 sluices H7938 and ponds H99 for fish. H5315 Surely the princes H8269 of Zoan H6814 are fools, H191 the counsel H6098 of the wise H2450 counsellors H3289 of Pharaoh H6547 is become brutish: H1197 how say H559 ye unto Pharaoh, H6547 I am the son H1121 of the wise, H2450 the son H1121 of ancient H6924 kings? H4428 Where H335 are they? where H645 are thy wise H2450 men? and let them tell H5046 thee now, and let them know H3045 what the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 hath purposed H3289 upon Egypt. H4714 The princes H8269 of Zoan H6814 are become fools, H2973 the princes H8269 of Noph H5297 are deceived; H5377 they have also seduced H8582 Egypt, H4714 even they that are the stay H6438 of the tribes H7626 thereof. The LORD H3068 hath mingled H4537 a perverse H5773 spirit H7307 in the midst H7130 thereof: and they have caused Egypt H4714 to err H8582 in every work H4639 thereof, as a drunken H7910 man staggereth H8582 in his vomit. H6892 Neither shall there be any work H4639 for Egypt, H4714 which the head H7218 or tail, H2180 branch H3712 or rush, H100 may do. H6213
Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559 Son H1121 of man, H120 set H7760 thy face H6440 against mount H2022 Seir, H8165 and prophesy H5012 against it, And say H559 unto it, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, O mount H2022 Seir, H8165 I am against thee, and I will stretch out H5186 mine hand H3027 against thee, and I will make H5414 thee most H4923 desolate. H8077 I will lay H7760 thy cities H5892 waste, H2723 and thou shalt be desolate, H8077 and thou shalt know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068 Because thou hast had a perpetual H5769 hatred, H342 and hast shed H5064 the blood of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 by the force H3027 of the sword H2719 in the time H6256 of their calamity, H343 in the time H6256 that their iniquity H5771 had an end: H7093 Therefore, as I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 I will prepare H6213 thee unto blood, H1818 and blood H1818 shall pursue H7291 thee: sith H518 thou hast not hated H8130 blood, H1818 even blood H1818 shall pursue H7291 thee. Thus will I make H5414 mount H2022 Seir H8165 most H8077 desolate, H8077 and cut off H3772 from it him that passeth out H5674 and him that returneth. H7725 And I will fill H4390 his mountains H2022 with his slain H2491 men: in thy hills, H1389 and in thy valleys, H1516 and in all thy rivers, H650 shall they fall H5307 that are slain H2491 with the sword. H2719 I will make H5414 thee perpetual H5769 desolations, H8077 and thy cities H5892 shall not return: H7725 H3427 and ye shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068 Because thou hast said, H559 These two H8147 nations H1471 and these two H8147 countries H776 shall be mine, and we will possess H3423 it; whereas the LORD H3068 was there: Therefore, as I live, H2416 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 I will even do H6213 according to thine anger, H639 and according to thine envy H7068 which thou hast used H6213 out of thy hatred H8135 against them; and I will make myself known H3045 among them, when I have judged H8199 thee. And thou shalt know H3045 that I am the LORD, H3068 and that I have heard H8085 all thy blasphemies H5007 which thou hast spoken H559 against the mountains H2022 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 They are laid desolate, H8074 H8077 they are given H5414 us to consume. H402 Thus with your mouth H6310 ye have boasted H1431 against me, and have multiplied H6280 your words H1697 against me: I have heard H8085 them. Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 When the whole earth H776 rejoiceth, H8055 I will make H6213 thee desolate. H8077 As thou didst rejoice H8057 at the inheritance H5159 of the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 because it was desolate, H8074 so will I do H6213 unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, H8077 O mount H2022 Seir, H8165 and all Idumea, H123 even all of it: and they shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068
And I hated H8130 Esau, H6215 and laid H7760 his mountains H2022 and his heritage H5159 waste H8077 for the dragons H8568 of the wilderness. H4057 Whereas Edom H123 saith, H559 We are impoverished, H7567 but we will return H7725 and build H1129 the desolate places; H2723 thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 They shall build, H1129 but I will throw down; H2040 and they shall call H7121 them, The border H1366 of wickedness, H7564 and, The people H5971 against whom the LORD H3068 hath indignation H2194 for H5704 ever. H5769
And if the family H4940 of Egypt H4714 go not up, H5927 and come H935 not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, H4046 wherewith the LORD H3068 will smite H5062 the heathen H1471 that come not up H5927 to keep H2287 the feast H2282 of tabernacles. H5521 This shall be the punishment H2403 of Egypt, H4714 and the punishment H2403 of all nations H1471 that come not up H5927 to keep H2287 the feast H2282 of tabernacles. H5521
For thy violence H2555 against thy brother H251 Jacob H3290 shame H955 shall cover H3680 thee, and thou shalt be cut off H3772 for ever. H5769 In the day H3117 that thou stoodest H5975 on the other side, in the day H3117 that the strangers H2114 carried away captive H7617 his forces, H2428 and foreigners H5237 entered H935 into his gates, H8179 and cast H3032 lots H1486 upon Jerusalem, H3389 even thou wast as one H259 of them. But thou shouldest not have looked H7200 on the day H3117 of thy brother H251 in the day H3117 that he became a stranger; H5235 neither shouldest thou have rejoiced H8055 over the children H1121 of Judah H3063 in the day H3117 of their destruction; H6 neither shouldest thou have spoken H6310 proudly H1431 in the day H3117 of distress. H6869 Thou shouldest not have entered H935 into the gate H8179 of my people H5971 in the day H3117 of their calamity; H343 yea, thou shouldest not have looked H7200 on their affliction H7451 in the day H3117 of their calamity, H343 nor have laid H7971 hands on their substance H2428 in the day H3117 of their calamity; H343 Neither shouldest thou have stood H5975 in the crossway, H6563 to cut off H3772 those of his that did escape; H6412 neither shouldest thou have delivered up H5462 those of his that did remain H8300 in the day H3117 of distress. H6869 For the day H3117 of the LORD H3068 is near H7138 upon all the heathen: H1471 as thou hast done, H6213 it shall be done H6213 unto thee: thy reward H1576 shall return H7725 upon thine own head. H7218 For as ye have drunk H8354 upon my holy H6944 mountain, H2022 so shall all the heathen H1471 drink H8354 continually, H8548 yea, they shall drink, H8354 and they shall swallow down, H3886 and they shall be as though they had not H3808 been.
The vision H2377 of Obadiah. H5662 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 concerning Edom; H123 We have heard H8085 a rumour H8052 from the LORD, H3068 and an ambassador H6735 is sent H7971 among the heathen, H1471 Arise H6965 ye, and let us rise up H6965 against her in battle. H4421
Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 For three H7969 transgressions H6588 of Edom, H123 and for four, H702 I will not turn away H7725 the punishment thereof; because he did pursue H7291 his brother H251 with the sword, H2719 and did cast off H7843 all pity, H7356 and his anger H639 did tear H2963 perpetually, H5703 and he kept H8104 his wrath H5678 for ever: H5331 But I will send H7971 a fire H784 upon Teman, H8487 which shall devour H398 the palaces H759 of Bozrah. H1224
Remember, H2142 O LORD, H3068 the children H1121 of Edom H123 in the day H3117 of Jerusalem; H3389 who said, H559 Rase H6168 it, rase H6168 it, even to the foundation H3247 thereof.
The word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came again unto me, saying, H559 Son H1121 of man, H120 set H7760 thy face H6440 against the Ammonites, H1121 H5983 and prophesy H5012 against them; And say H559 unto the Ammonites, H1121 H5983 Hear H8085 the word H1697 of the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because thou saidst, H559 Aha, H1889 against my sanctuary, H4720 when it was profaned; H2490 and against the land H127 of Israel, H3478 when it was desolate; H8074 and against the house H1004 of Judah, H3063 when they went H1980 into captivity; H1473 Behold, therefore I will deliver H5414 thee to the men H1121 of the east H6924 for a possession, H4181 and they shall set H3427 their palaces H2918 in thee, and make H5414 their dwellings H4908 in thee: they shall eat H398 thy fruit, H6529 and they shall drink H8354 thy milk. H2461 And I will make H5414 Rabbah H7237 a stable H5116 for camels, H1581 and the Ammonites H1121 H5983 a couchingplace H4769 for flocks: H6629 and ye shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068 For thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because thou hast clapped H4222 thine hands, H3027 and stamped H7554 with the feet, H7272 and rejoiced H8055 in heart H5315 with all thy despite H7589 against the land H127 of Israel; H3478 Behold, therefore I will stretch out H5186 mine hand H3027 upon thee, and will deliver H5414 thee for a spoil H957 H897 to the heathen; H1471 and I will cut thee off H3772 from the people, H5971 and I will cause thee to perish H6 out of the countries: H776 I will destroy H8045 thee; and thou shalt know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because H3282 that Moab H4124 and Seir H8165 do say, H559 Behold, the house H1004 of Judah H3063 is like unto all the heathen; H1471 Therefore, behold, I will open H6605 the side H3802 of Moab H4124 from the cities, H5892 from his cities H5892 which are on his frontiers, H7097 the glory H6643 of the country, H776 Bethjeshimoth, H1020 Baalmeon, H1186 and Kiriathaim, H7156 Unto the men H1121 of the east H6924 with the Ammonites, H1121 H5983 and will give H5414 them in possession, H4181 that the Ammonites H1121 H5983 may not be remembered H2142 among the nations. H1471 And I will execute H6213 judgments H8201 upon Moab; H4124 and they shall know H3045 that I am the LORD. H3068 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because that Edom H123 hath dealt H6213 against the house H1004 of Judah H3063 by taking H5358 vengeance, H5359 and hath greatly H816 offended, H816 and revenged H5358 himself upon them; Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 I will also stretch out H5186 mine hand H3027 upon Edom, H123 and will cut off H3772 man H120 and beast H929 from it; and I will make H5414 it desolate H2723 from Teman; H8487 and they of Dedan H1719 shall fall H5307 by the sword. H2719 And I will lay H5414 my vengeance H5360 upon Edom H123 by the hand H3027 of my people H5971 Israel: H3478 and they shall do H6213 in Edom H123 according to mine anger H639 and according to my fury; H2534 and they shall know H3045 my vengeance, H5360 saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD. H3069 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Because the Philistines H6430 have dealt H6213 by revenge, H5360 and have taken H5358 vengeance H5359 with a despiteful H7589 heart, H5315 to destroy H4889 it for the old H5769 hatred; H342 Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I will stretch out H5186 mine hand H3027 upon the Philistines, H6430 and I will cut off H3772 the Cherethims, H3774 and destroy H6 the remnant H7611 of the sea H3220 coast. H2348 And I will execute H6213 great H1419 vengeance H5360 upon them with furious H2534 rebukes; H8433 and they shall know H3045 that I am the LORD, H3068 when I shall lay H5414 my vengeance H5360 upon them.
The violence H2555 done to me and to my flesh H7607 be upon Babylon, H894 shall the inhabitant H3427 of Zion H6726 say; H559 and my blood H1818 upon the inhabitants H3427 of Chaldea, H3778 shall Jerusalem H3389 say. H559
Also Edom H123 shall be a desolation: H8047 every one that goeth H5674 by it shall be astonished, H8074 and shall hiss H8319 at all the plagues H4347 thereof.
Who is this that cometh H935 from Edom, H123 with dyed H2556 garments H899 from Bozrah? H1224 this that is glorious H1921 in his apparel, H3830 travelling H6808 in the greatness H7230 of his strength? H3581 I that speak H1696 in righteousness, H6666 mighty H7227 to save. H3467 Wherefore art thou red H122 in thine apparel, H3830 and thy garments H899 like him that treadeth H1869 in the winefat? H1660 I have trodden H1869 the winepress H6333 alone; and of the people H5971 there was none H376 with me: for I will tread H1869 them in mine anger, H639 and trample H7429 them in my fury; H2534 and their blood H5332 shall be sprinkled H5137 upon my garments, H899 and I will stain H1351 all my raiment. H4403 For the day H3117 of vengeance H5359 is in mine heart, H3820 and the year H8141 of my redeemed H1350 is come. H935 And I looked, H5027 and there was none to help; H5826 and I wondered H8074 that there was none to uphold: H5564 therefore mine own arm H2220 brought salvation H3467 unto me; and my fury, H2534 it upheld H5564 me. And I will tread down H947 the people H5971 in mine anger, H639 and make them drunk H7937 in my fury, H2534 and I will bring down H3381 their strength H5332 to the earth. H776
Come near, H7126 ye nations, H1471 to hear; H8085 and hearken, H7181 ye people: H3816 let the earth H776 hear, H8085 and all that is therein; H4393 the world, H8398 and all things that come forth H6631 of it. For the indignation H7110 of the LORD H3068 is upon all nations, H1471 and his fury H2534 upon all their armies: H6635 he hath utterly destroyed H2763 them, he hath delivered H5414 them to the slaughter. H2874 Their slain H2491 also shall be cast out, H7993 and their stink H889 shall come up H5927 out of their carcases, H6297 and the mountains H2022 shall be melted H4549 with their blood. H1818 And all the host H6635 of heaven H8064 shall be dissolved, H4743 and the heavens H8064 shall be rolled together H1556 as a scroll: H5612 and all their host H6635 shall fall down, H5034 as the leaf H5929 falleth off H5034 from the vine, H1612 and as a falling H5034 fig from the fig tree. H8384 For my sword H2719 shall be bathed H7301 in heaven: H8064 behold, it shall come down H3381 upon Idumea, H123 and upon the people H5971 of my curse, H2764 to judgment. H4941 The sword H2719 of the LORD H3068 is filled H4390 with blood, H1818 it is made fat H1878 with fatness, H2459 and with the blood H1818 of lambs H3733 and goats, H6260 with the fat H2459 of the kidneys H3629 of rams: H352 for the LORD H3068 hath a sacrifice H2077 in Bozrah, H1224 and a great H1419 slaughter H2874 in the land H776 of Idumea. H123 And the unicorns H7214 shall come down H3381 with them, and the bullocks H6499 with the bulls; H47 and their land H776 shall be soaked H7301 with blood, H1818 and their dust H6083 made fat H1878 with fatness. H2459 For it is the day H3117 of the LORD'S H3068 vengeance, H5359 and the year H8141 of recompences H7966 for the controversy H7379 of Zion. H6726 And the streams H5158 thereof shall be turned H2015 into pitch, H2203 and the dust H6083 thereof into brimstone, H1614 and the land H776 thereof shall become burning H1197 pitch. H2203 It shall not be quenched H3518 night H3915 nor day; H3119 the smoke H6227 thereof shall go up H5927 for ever: H5769 from generation H1755 to generation H1755 it shall lie waste; H2717 none shall pass through H5674 it for ever H5331 and ever. H5331 But the cormorant H6893 and the bittern H7090 shall possess H3423 it; the owl H3244 also and the raven H6158 shall dwell H7931 in it: and he shall stretch out H5186 upon it the line H6957 of confusion, H8414 and the stones H68 of emptiness. H922 They shall call H7121 the nobles H2715 thereof to the kingdom, H4410 but none shall be there, and all her princes H8269 shall be nothing. H657 And thorns H5518 shall come up H5927 in her palaces, H759 nettles H7057 and brambles H2336 in the fortresses H4013 thereof: and it shall be an habitation H5116 of dragons, H8577 and a court H2681 for owls. H1323 H3284 The wild beasts of the desert H6728 shall also meet H6298 with the wild beasts of the island, H338 and the satyr H8163 shall cry H7121 to his fellow; H7453 the screech owl H3917 also shall rest H7280 there, and find H4672 for herself a place of rest. H4494 There shall the great owl H7091 make her nest, H7077 and lay, H4422 and hatch, H1234 and gather H1716 under her shadow: H6738 there shall the vultures H1772 also be gathered, H6908 every one H802 with her mate. H7468 Seek ye out H1875 of the book H5612 of the LORD, H3068 and read: H7121 no one H259 of these H2007 shall fail, H5737 none H802 shall want H6485 her mate: H7468 for my mouth H6310 it hath commanded, H6680 and his spirit H7307 it hath gathered H6908 them. And he hath cast H5307 the lot H1486 for them, and his hand H3027 hath divided H2505 it unto them by line: H6957 they shall possess H3423 it for H5704 ever, H5769 from generation H1755 to generation H1755 shall they dwell H7931 therein.
And the LORD H3068 shall utterly destroy H2763 the tongue H3956 of the Egyptian H4714 sea; H3220 and with his mighty H5868 wind H7307 shall he shake H5130 his hand H3027 over the river, H5104 and shall smite H5221 it in the seven H7651 streams, H5158 and make men go over H1869 dryshod. H5275
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).