Bible Commentary

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision. 14. The prophet already hears in spirit the distant hum of the multitudes thronging tumultously in the valley of decision. Multitudes ] The Hebrew term is more picturesque than the English one, and suggests the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:14”

Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great. 13. The execution of the sentence is represented under two figures, the reaping of a harvest, and the treading of grapes in the wine-press. Comp. the same figures … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:13”

Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 12. Let the nations be stirred up ] corresponding to the stir up of Joe 3:9. for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about ] Another, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:12”

Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 11. Assemble yourselves ] The word is found only here, and its meaning is very uncertain. A.V. follows LXX., Targ., Syr., Ibn Ezra, and Kimchi; but the rendering rests upon no philological … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:11”

Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I [am] strong. 10. The nations are to put forth all their strength: the implements of peace are to be transformed into weapons of war; even the weak is to take courage, and feel himself a warrior, “as is wont … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:10”

Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 9. Proclaim ye ] The words are addressed to those whose duty it would be to make such a proclamation (comp. on Amo 3:9), i.e. the heralds, whom the prophet … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:9”

And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken [it]. 8. You sold the children of Judah into slavery to a nation far off in the North West; I … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:8”

Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head: 7. Behold, I am stirring them up ] i.e. arousing them into activity (Isa 13:17; Jer 50:9, R.V.: Isa 41:2; Isa 41:25; Isa 45:13, A.V., R.V. render badly raise up), and enabling … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:7”

The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Greeks, that ye might remove them far from their border. 6. The Phoenicians had further played the part of slave-dealers, and had sold Judahite captives into the hands of the Greeks. The slave-traffic of the Phoenicians is often mentioned; they … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:6”

Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: 5. my silver and my gold ] not necessarily the silver and the gold in the Temple (1Ki 14:26; 2Ki 14:14), but more generally what belonged to Jehovah, or His people, whether in the Temple, or … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joel 3:5”