Joel 3:4

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;

Joel 3:4 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 3:4

Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all
the coasts of Palestine?
&c.] The Tyrians, Zidonians, and Philistines, were near neighbours of the Jews, and implacable enemies to them; and are here put for the enemies of the true church of Christ, the Papists and Turks, and in whose possession those places now are: these are addressed by the Lord, inquiring or demanding the reason of their ill usage of him and his people: "what have ye to do with me?" to be called by my name, or accounted my people? I know you not, nor will I have any fellowship with you: or what have ye to do with my people, to disturb and distress them? what wrong have I or they done you, that you thus use them? will ye render me a recompence?
for turning you out of your land, and putting my people into it? do you think to retaliate this? and if ye recompense me;
by doing an injury to my people: swiftly [and] speedily will I return your recompence upon your own
head;
bring swift and sudden destruction upon you.

Joel 3:4 In-Context

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.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.