Joel 3:3

3 They threw dice to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded boys to obtain prostitutes and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk.

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 “At the time of those events,” says the LORD, “when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will gather the armies of the world into the valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will judge them for harming my people, my special possession, for scattering my people among the nations, and for dividing up my land.
3 They threw dice to decide which of my people would be their slaves. They traded boys to obtain prostitutes and sold girls for enough wine to get drunk.
4 “What do you have against me, Tyre and Sidon and you cities of Philistia? Are you trying to take revenge on me? If you are, then watch out! I will strike swiftly and pay you back for everything you have done.
5 You have taken my silver and gold and all my precious treasures, and have carried them off to your pagan temples.

Footnotes 1

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