Joel 2:10-20

10 The earth shall quake before them, the heavens shall tremble; the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

11 And the LORD shall utter His voice before His army, for His camp is very great. For He is strong that executeth His word; for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible, and who can abide it?

12 "Therefore also now," saith the LORD, "turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning."

13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God; for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth of the evil.

14 Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him--even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast! Call a solemn assembly,

16 gather the people! Sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber and the bride out of her retreat.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; and let them say, "Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them.Why should they say among the people, `Where is their God?'"

18 Then will the LORD be jealous for His land, and pity His people.

19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto His people: "Behold, I will send you corn and wine and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.

20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea. And his stink shall come up, and his ill savor shall come up"" because He hath done great things.

Joel 2:10-20 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.