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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joel 3:9-17

What the psalmist had long before ordered to be said among the heathen (Ps. 96:10) the prophet here will have in like manner to be published to all nations, That the Lord reigns, and that he comes, he comes to judge the earth, as he had long been judging in the earth. The notice here given of God's judging the nations may have reference to the destruction of Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus, and to the Antichrist especially, and all the proud enemies of the Christian church; but some of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 3:9

Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles ,.... This decree of God, concerning the deliverance of his church; and the destruction of their enemies; which is to be proclaimed among them, to the terror of them, and the comfort of God's people, encouraging them to the battle, since they might be sure of victory; for the prophet here returns to give an account of the armies to be gathered together, and to be destroyed in the valley of Jehoshaphat, as appears from Joel 3:12 ; and to this end heralds... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 3:10

Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears ,.... Let not only soldiers, and such as have been trained up in military discipline, appear in the field on this occasion; but let husbandmen and vinedressers leave their fields and vineyards, and turn their instruments of husbandry and vinedressing into weapons of war; let them not plead want of armour, but convert these to such uses: on the contrary, when this battle will be over, swords shall be beaten into... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 3:11

Assemble yourselves ,.... From divers parts into one place: "be ye gathered"; or "gather yourselves together", as the Targum and Kimchi; get together in a body, muster up all the forces you can collect together, Jarchi, from Menachem, by the change of a letter, renders it, "make ye haste"; lose time in preparing for this battle; get men, and arms for them, as fast as you can; be as expeditious as possible: and come, all ye Heathen ; antichristian nations, Mahometan or Papal; which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 3:12

Let the Heathen be awakened, and come to the valley of Jehoshaphat ,.... That is, let the enemies of Christ and his church be aroused from that state of security in which they are, and prepare for their own defence; for in such a state the antichristian powers will be before their destruction; see Revelation 18:7 ; let them bestir themselves, and exert all the rigour and strength they have; let them come in high spirits against the people of God; let them invade the holy land, and come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 3:13

Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe ,.... This is said to the mighty ones sent, the Christian princes, the executioners of God's vengeance on antichrist; the angels that will pour out the vials of his wrath on the antichristian states, compared to reapers, with a sharp sickle in their hands, to cut them down, as grain is cut when reaped; as the same states are compared to a harvest ripe, the measure of their sins being filled up, and the time of their destruction appointed for them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 3:14

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision ,.... The same with the valley of Jehoshaphat before mentioned; which shows that not any valley of that name is intended, but a certain place so called from the judgments of God in it; and here named "the valley of decision", because here their judgment will be determined, as Kimchi and Jarchi; and at this time the controversy between God, and his people's enemies, will be decided, and at an end: or "the valley of concision", as the Vulgate... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:9

Prepare war - Let all the enemies of God and of his people join together; let them even call all the tillers of the ground to their assistance, instead of laboring in the field; let every peasant become a soldier. Let them turn their agricultural implements into offensive weapons, so that the weak, being well armed, may confidently say, I am strong: yet, when thus collected and armed, Jehovah will bring down thy mighty ones; for so the clause in Joel 3:11 ; should be rendered. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:12

Let the heathen be wakened - The heathen shall be wakened. The valley of Jehoshaphat - Any place where God may choose to display his judgments against his enemies. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:13

Put ye in the sickle - The destruction of his enemies is represented here under the metaphor of reaping down the harvest; and of gathering the grapes, and treading them in the wine-presses. read more

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