Joel 3:3

3 They threw dice for my people and used them for barter. They would trade a boy for a whore, sell a girl for a bottle of wine when they wanted a 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Joel 3:3 In-Context

1 "In those days, yes, at that very time when I put life back together again for Judah and Jerusalem,

2 I'll assemble all the godless nations. I'll lead them down into Judgment Valley And put them all on trial, and judge them one and all because of their treatment of my own people Israel. They scattered my people all over the pagan world and grabbed my land for themselves.

3 They threw dice for my people and used them for barter. They would trade a boy for a whore, sell a girl for a bottle of wine when they wanted a drink.

4 "As for you, Tyre and Sidon and Philistia, why should I bother with you? Are you trying to get back at me for something I did to you? If you are, forget it. I'll see to it that it boomerangs on you.

5 You robbed me, cleaned me out of silver and gold, carted off everything valuable to furnish your own temples.