John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments ,.... Which latter used to be done in times of distress, either private or public, and as a token of grief and sorrow, Genesis 37:34 ; nor was it criminal or unlawful, the apostles themselves used it, Acts 14:14 ; nor is it absolutely forbidden here, only comparatively, that they should rend their hearts rather than their garments; or not their garments only, but their hearts also; in like sense as the words in Hosea 6:6 ; are to be taken as... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joel 2:12-17
We have here an earnest exhortation to repentance, inferred from that desolating judgment described and threatened in the Joel 2:1-11: Therefore now turn you to the Lord. 1. ?Thus you must answer the end and intention of the judgment; for it was sent for this end, to convince you of your sins, to humble you for them, to reduce you to your right minds and to your allegiance.? God brings us into straits, that he may bring us to repentance and so bring us to himself. 2. ?Thus you may stay the... read more