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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joel 3:1-8

We have often heard of the year of the redeemed, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion; now here we have a description of the transactions of that year, and a prophecy of what shall be done when it comes, whenever it comes, for it comes often, and at the end of time it will come once for all. I. It shall be the year of the redeemed, for God will bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, Joel 3:1. Though the bondage of God's people may be grievous and very long, yet it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 3:1

For, behold, in those days, and at that time ,.... Which Kimchi refers to the times of the Messiah; and is true of the latter times of the Messiah, of his spiritual reign yet to come: when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem : not from the Edomites, Tyrians, and Philistines, that had carried them captive in the times of Ahaz; nor from Babylon, where they had been carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar; for nothing of what is after foretold followed upon the return of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 3:2

I will also gather all nations ,.... Or cause or suffer them to be gathered together against his people; not the Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, in the times of Jehoshaphat, as Aben Ezra; but either the Turks, prophesied of under the name of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel, Ezekiel 38:1 ; and a multitude of other nations with them, who shall be gathered together against the Jews, to regain the land of Judea from them, they will upon their conversion inhabit; or else all the antichristian kings... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 9. sect. 3. 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,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:1

For, behold, in those days - According to the preceding prophecy, these days should refer to Gospel times, or to such as should immediately precede them. But this is a part of the prophecy which is difficult to be understood. All interpreters are at variance upon it; some applying its principal parts to Cambyses; his unfortunate expedition to Egypt; the destruction of fifty thousand of his troops (by the moving pillars of sand) whom he had sent across the desert to plunder the rich temple of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:2

The valley of Jehoshaphat - There is no such valley in the land of Judea; and hence the word must be symbolical. It signifies the judgment of God, or Jehovah judgeth; and may mean some place (as Bp. Newcome imagines) where Nebuchadnezzar should gain a great battle, which would utterly discomfit the ancient enemies of the Jews, and resemble the victory which Jehoshaphat gained over the Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites, 2 Chronicles 20:22-26 . And parted my land - The above nations had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:3

Have given a boy for a harlot - To such wretched circumstances were the poor Jews reduced in their captivity, that their children were sold by their oppressors; and both males and females used for the basest purposes. And they were often bartered for the necessaries or luxuries of life. Or this may refer to the issue of the Chaldean war in Judea, where the captives were divided among the victors. And being set in companies, they cast lots for them: and those to whom they fell sold them for... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:1

Verse 1 The Prophet confirms in these words what he had before taught respecting the restoration of the Church; for it was a thing difficult to be believed: when the body of the people was so mutilated, when their name was obliterated, when all power was abolished, when the worship of God also, together with the temple, was subverted, when there was no more any form of a kingdom, or even of any civil government, who could have thought that God had any concern for a people in such a wretched... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:2

Verse 2 We also see that the Prophet Haggai speaks in the same manner of the second temple, — that the glory of the second temple shall be greater than that of the first, (Haggai 2:3) He, however referred, no doubt, to the prophecy of Ezekiel; and Ezekiel speaks of the second temple, which was to be built after the return of the people from exile. Be it so, yet Ezekiel did not confine to four or five ages what he said of the second temple: on the contrary he meant that the favor of God would be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:3

Verse 3 There follows now another indignity still greater; for they cast lot on God’s people, — On my people they have cast lot, and prostituted a boy for a harlot, and a girl have they sold for wine, that they might drink. By these words the Prophet enhances the injury done them; for the Jews had been reproachfully treated. Some measure of humanity is mostly shown when men are sold; but the Prophet here complains in the person of God, that the Jews had been exposed to sale, as though they were... read more

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