Joel 3:3

3 And have cast lots for my people, And have given a boy for a prostitute, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.

Joel 3:3 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 3:3

And they have cast lots for my people
Not only parted their land, but cast lots for their persons, Or played at dice for them, how many captives each soldier should have, and which should be their share and property: ninety seven thousand Jews, Josephus F4 says, were carried captive by the Romans, who, very probably, cast lots for them, as was usual in such cases; see ( Nahum 3:10 ) ; and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they
might drink;
either they gave a boy to be prostituted to natural lusts, in lieu of a whore; and a girl to be debauched for a bottle of wine: or they gave a boy for the price of a whore, as the Targum and Kimchi interpret it; that is, they gave a boy, instead of money, to a whore, to lie with her, as the eunuch was given to Thais; and they gave a girl to the wine merchant for as much wine as they could drink at one sitting. These phrases both express their uncleanness and intemperance, and also the low price and value they set upon their captives; and is applicable enough to the Papists, notorious for the same abominable lusts.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 9. sect. 3.

Joel 3:3 In-Context

1 "For, behold, in those days, And in that time, When I restore the fortunes of Yehudah and Yerushalayim,
2 I will gather all nations, And will bring them down into the valley of Yehoshafat; And I will execute judgment on them there for my people, And for my heritage, Yisra'el, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,
3 And have cast lots for my people, And have given a boy for a prostitute, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
4 "Yes, and what are you to me, Tzor, and Tzidon, And all the regions of Peleshet? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.
5 Because you have taken my silver and my gold, And have carried my finest treasures into your temples,
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.