Joel — Chapter 3
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1“Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,
2I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land.
3They cast lots for My people; they bartered a boy for a prostitute and sold a girl for wine to drink.
4Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads.
5For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples.
6You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland.
7Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return your recompense upon your heads.
8I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.
9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack!
10Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’
11Come quickly, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves. Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD.
12Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down 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; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.
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 grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.
16The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.
17Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, never again to be overrun by foreigners.
18And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias.
19Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21For I will avenge their blood, which I have not yet avenged.” For the LORD dwells in Zion.
1For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
3And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
4Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
5Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
6The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
7Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
8And 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.
9Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
11Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
13Put 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.
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
15The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
17So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
19Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.
1For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment upon them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land,
3and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
4Yea, and what are ye to me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head.
5Forasmuch as ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly precious things,
6and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem unto the sons of the Grecians, that ye may remove them far from their border;
7behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head;
8and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off: for Jehovah hath spoken it.
9Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.
10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
11Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah.
12Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about.
13Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision.
15The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
16And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
17So shall ye know that I am Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall flow with waters; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of Jehovah, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
19Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20But Judah shall abide for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21And I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.
1(4:1) “For look! In those days and at that time I will return the exiles to Judah and Jerusalem.
2Then I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment against them there concerning my people Israel who are my inheritance, whom they scattered among the nations. They partitioned my land,
3and they cast lots for my people. They traded a boy for a prostitute; they sold a little girl for wine so they could drink.
4Why are you doing these things to me, Tyre and Sidon? Are you trying to get even with me, land of Philistia? If you are, I will very quickly repay you for what you have done!
5For you took my silver and my gold and brought my precious valuables to your own palaces.
6You sold Judeans and Jerusalemites to the Greeks, removing them far from their own country.
7Look! I am rousing them from that place to which you sold them. I will repay you for what you have done!
8I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah. They will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away.” Indeed, the Lord has spoken.
9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for a holy war! Call out the warriors! Let all these fighting men approach and attack!
10Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I too am a warrior!’
11Lend your aid and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves to that place.” Bring down, O Lord, your warriors!
12“Let the nations be roused and let them go up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit in judgment on all the surrounding nations.
13Rush forth with the sickle, for the harvest is ripe! Come, stomp the grapes, for the winepress is full! The vats overflow. Indeed, their evil is great!”
14Crowds, great crowds are in the Valley of Decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision!
15The sun and moon are darkened; the stars withhold their brightness.
16The Lord roars from Zion; from Jerusalem his voice bellows out. The heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge for his people; he is a stronghold for the citizens of Israel.
17“You will be convinced that I, the Lord, am your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy— conquering armies will no longer pass through it.
18On that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the dry stream beds of Judah will flow with water. A spring will flow out from the temple of the Lord, watering the Valley of Acacia Trees.
19Egypt will be desolate, and Edom will be a desolate wilderness because of the violence they did to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.
20But Judah will reside securely forever, and Jerusalem will be secure from one generation to the next.
21I will avenge their blood that I had not previously acquitted.” It is the Lord who dwells in Zion!
1“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,
3and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
4“Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.
5Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my finest treasures into your temples,
6and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border.
7Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head;
8and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for Yahweh has spoken it.”
9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up.
10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’
11Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together.” Cause your mighty ones to come down there, Yahweh.
12“Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.”
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near, in the valley of decision.
15The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
16Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
17“So you will know that I am Yahweh, your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more.
18It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters, and a fountain will flow out from Yahweh’s house, and will water the valley of Shittim.
19Egypt will be a desolation, and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Yahweh dwells in Zion.”
Summary
When the Lord restores the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, He will gather all nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them for scattering Israel and dividing up its land, including selling captives for slaves and trading children for wine (vv. 1-8). Nations are summoned to prepare for war and beat their farm tools into weapons, but this is actually a call to God's own judgment, since He is the one who will sit to judge them all in the valley (vv. 9-14). The sun, moon, and stars grow dark and the earth shakes as the Lord roars from Zion, yet He remains a refuge for His people (vv. 15-16). Israel will then know the Lord dwells in Zion, and the land will overflow with abundance while Egypt and Edom become desolate for the violence done to Judah (vv. 17-19). The book closes with the promise that Judah and Jerusalem will endure forever, cleansed and secure, because the Lord dwells there (vv. 20-21).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Jerusalem (v.1, v.6, v.16): Capital of Judah; the holy city where the Temple stood.
- Tyre (v.4): Phoenician port city on the Mediterranean coast.
- Zion (v.16, v.17, v.21): The hill on which Jerusalem/the Temple stood; often used poetically for God's dwelling.
- Egypt (v.19): Land to the southwest; place of Israel's bondage and exodus.
- Edom (v.19): Land south of the Dead Sea; descendants of Esau.
Places on this map
- JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
- TyreSour, LebanonOriginally an island fortress a half mile off the Phoenician coast, which is why it held out against Assyria and Babylon and only fell when Alexander built a causeway to it. That causeway silted up, and Tyre has been a peninsula ever since. Wikipedia
- Mediterranean SeaCalled simply the Great Sea, and treated as the western edge of the world. Israel's coast has almost no natural harbours, so for most of its history the sea was a boundary rather than a road, and seafaring was left to the Phoenicians. Wikipedia
- EgyptEgyptA ribbon of irrigated land along the Nile, ending in the Delta where Israel settled in Goshen. Rain-fed Canaan depended on weather; Egypt depended on a river that flooded on schedule, which made it the place everyone went when the harvest failed. Wikipedia
- Edomsouthern JordanThe red sandstone highlands south-east of the Dead Sea, holding the King's Highway and later Petra. Settlements sat behind cliffs and narrow gorges, which is the pride Obadiah addresses when he speaks to those who dwell in the clefts of the rock. Wikipedia
- Dead SeaIsrael / JordanThe lowest exposed ground on earth, about 1,400 feet below sea level, and roughly ten times saltier than the ocean because water leaves only by evaporation. Nothing lives in it, which is the image Ezekiel 47 overturns when he has it filled with fish. Wikipedia
- Phoeniciacoastal LebanonA narrow strip of coast backed hard against the Lebanon range, with too little farmland to feed itself and excellent harbours. That combination made its cities trade by sea, plant colonies as far as Spain, and supply Israel with timber, craftsmen and Jezebel. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Verse-by-verse commentary on this chapter, written for the everyday reader and freely available online.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Joel -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Nations Held Accountable for God's People (v.2) — God declares He will judge the nations specifically for how they treated Israel, His people. Does it change how you view injustice around you to know God notices and records how the vulnerable are treated?
- Multitudes in the Valley of Decision (v.14) — Joel pictures crowds gathered for a verdict that every person will eventually face. Are you living as though a decision about your life is still coming, or have you already settled where you stand with God?
- A Refuge When Everything Shakes (v.16) — Even as the heavens and earth tremble, God is described as a stronghold for His people. What are you building your security on that could shake, and have you made God your refuge before the shaking starts?
- A Fountain Flowing From God's House (v.18) — The chapter pictures a fountain flowing out from the temple to water even the driest places. What dry, barren area of your life needs you to position yourself closer to God's presence?
- From Devastation to God Dwelling With His People (v.21) — The book that opened with a locust plague closes with God's permanent presence in Zion. What does it look like to trust that God's trajectory for whatever you're walking through now is toward His nearness, not away from it?