Joel 3

1 quia ecce in diebus illis et in tempore illo cum convertero captivitatem Iuda et Hierusalem

2 congregabo omnes gentes et deducam eas in valle Iosaphat et disceptabo cum eis ibi super populo meo et hereditate mea Israhel quos disperserunt in nationibus et terram meam diviserunt

3 et super populum meum miserunt sortem et posuerunt puerum in prostibulum et puellam vendiderunt pro vino ut biberent

4 verum quid vobis et mihi Tyrus et Sidon et omnis terminus Palestinorum numquid ultionem vos redditis mihi et si ulciscimini vos contra me cito velociter reddam vicissitudinem vobis super caput vestrum

5 argentum enim meum et aurum tulistis et desiderabilia mea et pulcherrima intulistis in delubra vestra

6 et filios Iuda et filios Hierusalem vendidistis filiis Graecorum ut longe faceretis eos de finibus suis

7 ecce ego suscitabo eos de loco in quo vendidistis eos et convertam retributionem vestram in caput vestrum

8 et vendam filios vestros et filias vestras in manibus filiorum Iuda et venundabunt eos Sabeis genti longinquae quia Dominus locutus est

9 clamate hoc in gentibus sanctificate bellum suscitate robustos accedant ascendant omnes viri bellatores

10 concidite aratra vestra in gladios et ligones vestros in lanceas infirmus dicat quia fortis ego sum

11 erumpite et venite omnes gentes de circuitu et congregamini ibi occumbere faciet Dominus robustos tuos

12 consurgant et ascendant gentes in vallem Iosaphat quia ibi sedebo ut iudicem omnes gentes in circuitu

13 mittite falces quoniam maturavit messis venite et descendite quia plenum est torcular exuberant torcularia quia multiplicata est malitia eorum

14 populi populi in valle concisionis quia iuxta est dies Domini in valle concisionis

15 sol et luna obtenebricata sunt et stellae retraxerunt splendorem suum

16 et Dominus de Sion rugiet et de Hierusalem dabit vocem suam et movebuntur caeli et terra et Dominus spes populi sui et fortitudo filiorum Israhel

17 et scietis quia ego Dominus Deus vester habitans in Sion in monte sancto meo et erit Hierusalem sancta et alieni non transibunt per eam amplius

18 et erit in die illa stillabunt montes dulcedinem et colles fluent lacte et per omnes rivos Iuda ibunt aquae et fons de domo Domini egredietur et inrigabit torrentem Spinarum

19 Aegyptus in desolatione erit et Idumea in desertum perditionis pro eo quod inique egerint in filios Iuda et effuderint sanguinem innocentem in terra sua

20 et Iudaea in aeternum habitabitur et Hierusalem in generatione et generationem

21 et mundabo sanguinem eorum quem non mundaveram et Dominus commorabitur in Sion

Joel 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

God's judgments in the latter days. (1-8) The extent of these judgments. (9-17) The blessings the church shall enjoy. (18-21)

Verses 1-8 The restoration of the Jews, and the final victory of true religion over all opposers, appear to be here foretold. The contempt and scorn with which the Jews have often been treated as a people, and the little value set upon them, are noticed. None ever hardened his heart against God or his church, and prospered long.

Verses 9-17 Here is a challenge to all the enemies of God's people. There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophets foretell the same final victory of the church of God over all that oppose it. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be a joyful day. What cause have those who possess an interest in Christ, to glory in their Strength and their Redeemer! The acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, will be a day of remarkable vengeance to others: let every one that is out of Christ awake, and flee from the wrath to come.

Verses 18-21 There shall be abundant Divine influences, and the gospel will spread speedily into the remotest corners of the earth. These events are predicted under significant emblems; there is a day coming, when every thing amiss shall be amended. The fountain of this plenty is in the house of God, whence the streams take rise. Christ is this Fountain; his sufferings, merit, and grace, cleanse, refresh, and make fruitful. Gospel grace, flowing from Christ, shall reach to the Gentile world, to the most remote regions, and make them abound in fruits of righteousness; and from the house of the Lord above, from his heavenly temple, flows all the good we daily taste, and hope to enjoy eternally.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOEL 3

This chapter, which some make the fourth, contains a prophecy of God's judgments on all the antichristian nations at the time of the Jews' conversion, and the reasons of them, Joe 3:1-3; a threatening of Tyre and Zidon, by way of retaliation, for carrying the riches of the Jews into their temples, and selling their persons to the Greeks, Joe 3:4-8; an alarm to prepare for the battle of Armageddon, or the destruction that shall be made in the valley of Jehoshaphat, Joe 3:9-15; and after that an account of the happy state of the church of Christ, their safety and security, plenty, prosperity, and purity, to the end of the world, Joe 3:16-21.