Joel 2:18-27

The Response and Promise of Yahweh

18 Then Yahweh became jealous for his land and took pity on his people.

19 And Yahweh answered and said to his people, "Look at me, [I am] sending to you grain, new wine, and olive oil, and you will be satisfied by it. I will not give you [over] any more as a disgrace among the nations.

20 {The northerners}^[a] I will remove from you; I will drive them to a desert and desolate land, its^[b] front to the eastern sea, and its rear into the western sea; its stench and odor will rise up because he has done great things.

21 Do not fear, [O] land, rejoice and be glad, because Yahweh has done great things.

22 Do not fear, wild animals of [the] field, because [the] pastures of [the] desert have put forth new green shoots, because [the] tree has produced its fruit, [the] fig tree and [the] vine have yielded their produce.

23 Be glad, [O] children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in Yahweh your God, because he has given for you the autumn rains for [your] righteousness, and he has {poured down} for you rainwater, [the] autumn and spring rains, as before.

24 The threshing floors will be full [with] grain, and the vats will overflow [with] new wine and olive oil.

25 I will repay you the years that the locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my mighty troops that I sent against you.

26 And you will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and praise the name of Yahweh your God, who has dealt with you {wondrously}. My people {will never be ashamed}.

27 And you will know that I [am] in the midst of Israel, and I [am] Yahweh, your God, and there is no [other]. My people {will never be ashamed again}.

Joel 2:18-27 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "The northern army"
• [b]. That is, the northern army
• [c]. That is, Yahweh (see v. 21)
• [d]. Or "vindication"
• [e]. Literally "brought down"
• [f]. Literally "to do a wonder"
• [g]. Literally "will forever not be ashamed"
• [h]. Literally "will forever no longer be ashamed"