Joel 3:4

4 "What are you trying to do to me, Tyre, Sidon, and all of Philistia? Are you trying to pay me back for something? If you are, I will quickly pay you back! ¹

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 gather all the nations and bring them to the Valley of Judgment. There I will judge them for all they have done to my people. They have scattered the Israelites in foreign countries and divided Israel, my land.

3 They threw dice to decide who would get the captives. They sold boys and girls into slavery to pay for prostitutes and wine.

4 "What are you trying to do to me, Tyre, Sidon, and all of Philistia? Are you trying to pay me back for something? If you are, I will quickly pay you back!

5 You have taken my silver and gold and carried my rich treasures into your temples.

6 You have taken the people of Judah and Jerusalem far from their own country and sold them to the Greeks.

Cross References

• 1. 3.4-8Isaiah 23.1-18;Ezekiel 26.1--28.26;Amos 1.9, 10;Zechariah 9.1-4;Matthew 11.21, 22;Luke 10.13, 14.+O+N3.4-8Isaiah 14.29-31;Jeremiah 47.1-7;Ezekiel 25.15-17;Amos 1.6-8;Zephaniah 2.4-7;Zechariah 9.5-7.