Joel 2:15-21

15 ¹Blow a trumpet in Zion, ²Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,

16 Gather the people, ³sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the ⁴bridegroom come out of his room And the bride out of her bridal chamber.

17 Let the priests, the LORD'S ministers, Weep ⁵between the porch and the altar, And let them say, "⁶Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not make Your inheritance a ⁷reproach, A byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, '⁸Where is their God?' "

Deliverance Promised

18 Then the LORD will be ⁹zealous for His land And will have ¹⁰pity on His people.

19 The LORD will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I am going to ¹¹send you grain, new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied in full with them; And I will ¹²never again make you a reproach among the nations.

20 "But I will remove the ¹³northern army far from you, And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land, And its vanguard into the ¹⁴eastern sea, And its rear guard into the ¹⁵western sea. And its ¹⁶stench will arise and its foul smell will come up, For it has done great things."

21 ¹⁷Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad, For the LORD has done ¹⁸great things.

Joel 2:15-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOEL 2

In this chapter a further account is given of the judgment of the locusts and caterpillars, or of those who are designed by them, Joe 2:1-11; the people of the Jews are called to repentance, humiliation, and fasting, urged from the grace and goodness of God, his jealousy and pity for his people, and the answer of prayer that might he expected from him upon this, even to the removal of the calamity, Joe 2:12-20; a prophecy of good things, both temporal and spiritual, in the times of the Messiah, is delivered out as matter and occasion of great joy, Joe 2:21-27; and another concerning the effusion of the Spirit, which was fulfilled an the day of Pentecost, Joe 2:28-29; and the chapter is concluded with the judgments and desolations that should come upon the land of Judea after this, for their rejection of Christ, though the remnant according to the election of grace should be delivered and saved from the general destruction, Joe 2:30-32.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 10:3; 2 Kings 10:20
• 2. Joel 1:14
• 3. 1 Samuel 16:5; 2 Chronicles 29:5
• 4. Psalms 19:5
• 5. 2 Chronicles 8:12; Ezekiel 8:16
• 6. Exodus 32:11, 12; Isaiah 37:20; Amos 7:2, 5
• 7. Psalms 44:13; Psalms 74:10
• 8. Psalms 42:10; Psalms 79:10; Psalms 115:2
• 9. Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 8:2
• 10. Isaiah 60:10; Isaiah 63:9, 15
• 11. Jeremiah 31:12; Hosea 2:21, 22; Joel 1:10; Malachi 3:10
• 12. Ezekiel 34:29; Ezekiel 36:15
• 13. Jeremiah 1:14, 15
• 14. Zechariah 14:8
• 15. Deuteronomy 11:24
• 16. Isaiah 34:3; Amos 4:10
• 17. Isaiah 54:4; Jeremiah 30:10; Zephaniah 3:16, 17
• 18. Psalms 126:3; Joel 2:26

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "was zealous"
• [b]. Or "had pity"
• [c]. Or "answered and said"
• [d]. Lit "it"