Joel 2:14-17

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:14

Who knoweth if he will return and repent ,.... Which some understand of man, and of his returning and repentance; either thus whosoever he be that knows the ways of repentance, he will return, and God will repent of this evil: which sense is mentioned by Kimchi and Ben Melech: or he that knoweth that iniquity is on him will return and repent; so Jarchi, with which agrees the Targum, "he that knows that sins are in him will return from them, and he shall obtain mercy; and whoever repents,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:15

Blow the trumpet in Zion ,.... For the calling of the people together to religious duties, which was one use of the silver trumpets made for and blows by the priests, Numbers 10:2 ; sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly ; See Gill on Joel 1:14 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:16

Gather the people ,.... The common people, all the inhabitants of the land, Joel 1:14 ; summon them to meet together in the temple, in order to humble themselves before God for their sins, and implore his mercy, and seek his face to remove his judgments, or avert them: sanctify the congregation ; see that they are sanctified and prepared for a fast, as the law directs in such cases; that they may be clean and free from all ceremonial impurities; that their bodies and clothes be washed,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:17

Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar ,.... Not the altar of incense which stood in the holy place; but the altar of burnt offering, where the priests used to stand and do service; but now having nothing to do of that kind, they are called upon to weep and pray between that and the porch of the temple; where they might be seen and heard by the people in the outward court which the porch led into: this is thought by some to be the same situation with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:14

Who knoweth if he will return - He may yet interpose and turn aside the calamity threatened, and so far preserve the land from these ravagers, that there will be food for men and cattle, and a sufficiency of offerings for the temple service. Therefore: - read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:15

Blow the trumpet - Let no time be lost, let the alarm be sounded. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:16

Gather the children - Let all share in the humiliation, for all must feel the judgment, should it come. Let no state nor condition among the people be exempted. The elders, the young persons, the infants, the bridegroom, and the bride; let all leave their houses, and go to the temple of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:17

Let the priests - weep between the porch and the altar - The altar of burnt-offerings stood before the porch of the temple, 2 Chronicles 8:12 , and between them there was an open space of fifteen or twenty cubits. It was there that the priests prostrated themselves on such occasions. It was into this place that the priests brought the sacrifice or victim of atonement; and where the high priest laid his hands on the head of the victim confessing his sins. Let them say - The following... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:14

Verse 14 The Prophet seems at first sight to leave men here perplexed and doubtful; and yet in the last verse, as we have seen, he had Offered a hope of favor, provided they sincerely repented. Hence the Prophet seems not to pursue the same subject, but rather to vary it: and we have already said, that all exhortations would be frigid, nay, useless, by which God stirs us up to repentance, except he were to testify that he is ready to be reconciled. Seeing then that the Prophet here leaves the... read more

Group of Brands