Joel 3
3
1At that time when this happens, when I bring back the exiles to Judah and Jerusalem, 2I will gather together all the nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat#3:2. Meaning “the Lord judges.” and I will judge them there over my people Israel, my inheritance, whom they have scattered among the nations, and have divided up my land. 3They cast lots for my people; they traded boys in payment for prostitutes and girls to buy wine to drink.#3:3. The point being made here is the casual way the victims were treated, and how little they were valued: being traded to buy a prostitute's services or some wine to drink.
4Also, what have you got to do with me, Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you trying to get back at me? If you are trying to pay me back, I will quickly pay you back what you deserve for what you've done. 5You stole my silver and my gold and my best treasures, and you put them in your temples. 6You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks so they could be sent far away from their land. 7But watch out! I will get them moving from the places you sold them to, and bring them back, and I will pay you back what you deserve for what you've done. 8I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a distant nation. I the Lord have spoken.
9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war!#3:9. Literally, “Sanctify a battle.” Joel is presumably being ironic here. The same word is used in 1:14 for calling a sacred assembly. Call up the mighty warriors! Let all the soldiers get ready and advance! 10Hammer your plow blades and turn them into swords. Turn your pruning hooks into spears. Even the weak should say ‘I am a strong fighter!’ 11Hurry up and come, all nations from everywhere, and gather there.#3:11. In the valley of Jehoshaphat, 3:2. Bring down your warriors, Lord! 12Let the nations get ready, let them come to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there I will sit in judgment on all the nations.
13Start swinging the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come and tread the grapes for the winepress is full and the vats are overflowing because their wickedness has become so great. 14Huge mobs are in the valley of the Lord's verdict.#3:14. The usual translation “in the valley of decision” suggests that these “multitudes” still are making their decision. However, this decision is that of God, and is the execution of that decision—in other words the verdict or sentence. For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of his verdict. 15The sun and moon will become dark, and the stars will stop shining. 16The Lord will roar from Zion, shouting in a loud voice from Jerusalem, shaking the heavens and the earth. But the Lord will shelter his people, protecting the people of Israel. 17Then you will know that I, the Lord your God, dwell in Zion, my holy mountain, and Jerusalem will be a holy place forever, and no foreigners will ever march through her again.#3:17. Referring to conquest by other nations.
18At that time new wine will pour down the mountains, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the riverbeds of Judah will run with water. A spring will flow out of the Temple and will water the valley of Shittim.#3:18. Shittim means “acacia trees,” usually found in arid areas. 19But Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence they did against Judah, for in their land they shed innocent blood. 20Judah will be lived in forever, and Jerusalem for all generations. 21Will I pardon and leave unpunished the shedding of innocent blood? The Lord lives in Zion!”
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Joel 3
3
The nations judged
# In Hebrew texts 3:1-21 is numbered 4:1-21. 1‘In those days and at that time,
when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will gather all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.#3:2 Jehoshaphat means the Lord judges; also in verse 12.
There I will put them on trial
for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel,
because they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land.
3They cast lots for my people
and traded boys for prostitutes;
they sold girls for wine to drink.
4‘Now what have you against me, Tyre and Sidon and all you regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I have done? If you are paying me back, I will swiftly and speedily return on your own heads what you have done. 5For you took my silver and my gold and carried off my finest treasures to your temples.#3:5 Or palaces 6You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, that you might send them far from their homeland.
7‘See, I am going to rouse them out of the places to which you sold them, and I will return on your own heads what you have done. 8I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.’ The Lord has spoken.
9Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare for war!
Rouse the warriors!
Let all the fighting men draw near and attack.
10Beat your ploughshares into swords
and your pruning hooks into spears.
Let the weakling say,
‘I am strong!’
11Come quickly, all you nations from every side,
and assemble there.
Bring down your warriors, Lord!
12‘Let the nations be roused;
let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat,
for there I will sit
to judge all the nations on every side.
13Swing the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
Come, trample the grapes,
for the winepress is full
and the vats overflow –
so great is their wickedness!’
14Multitudes, multitudes
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.
15The sun and moon will be darkened,
and the stars no longer shine.
16The Lord will roar from Zion
and thunder from Jerusalem;
the earth and the heavens will tremble.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
Blessings for God’s people
17‘Then you will know that I, the Lord your God,
dwell in Zion, my holy hill.
Jerusalem will be holy;
never again will foreigners invade her.
18‘In that day the mountains will drip new wine,
and the hills will flow with milk;
all the ravines of Judah will run with water.
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house
and will water the valley of acacias.#3:18 Or Valley of Shittim
19But Egypt will be desolate,
Edom a desert waste,
because of violence done to the people of Judah,
in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20Judah will be inhabited for ever
and Jerusalem through all generations.
21Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged?
No, I will not.’
The Lord dwells in Zion!
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