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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 3:16

The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem ,.... Christ, the Lamb, shall now appear as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and utter his voice in his providence and judgments on the behalf of his church and people, signified by Zion and Jerusalem; and therefore said to roar, and utter his voice from thence; he will be heard far and near, and strike terror in the hearts of his enemies; see Jeremiah 25:30 ; and the heavens and the earth shall shake ; great... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:16

The Lord also shall roar out of Zion - His temple and worship shall be reestablished there, and he will thence denounce his judgments against the nations. "The heavens and the earth shall shake." There shall be great commotions in powerful empires and their dependencies; but in all these things his own people shall be unmoved, for God shall be their hope and strength. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:16

Verse 16 The Prophet explains here more clearly his object, or the end for which he had hitherto spoken of God’s judgment; for what we have heard served only to spread terror: but now the Prophet shows that his purpose was to console the faithful, and to give some relief to their troubles and sorrows. This is the reason why he introduces God as roaring from Zion and crying from Jerusalem. Roaring is ascribed to God, inasmuch as he compares himself in another place to a lion, when representing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 3:9-17

After a parenthesis of five verses, viz. 4-8, detailing the injurious treatment of the Jews by some of the surrounding nations, and the righteous retribution visited on those nations, the prophet resumes the subject broached at the beginning of the chapter, especially in Joel 3:2 , about the judgment to be visited on the nations in general. The verses now before us describe very graphically the execution of that judgment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 3:9-17

Retribution. "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles," etc. Here is the first startling boom of the righteous retribution. Some think the reference is to the approach of Sennacherib, or Nebuchadnezzar, or Antiochus; but the language seems strong and grand enough to represent the approach of the last day. In this retributive scene there are several things observable. I. THE GREATEST RESISTANCE ABSOLUTELY FUTILE . "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 3:15-17

These verses picture the accompaniments of the judgment, yet not the judgment itself. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 3:15-17

That day-the fear of the wicked, the hope of the just. These verses picture the dread accompaniments of the time and place of the destruction of the wicked. They give us a glimpse, and a most alarming one, of the final catastrophe. I. THE DAY OF DECISION SHALL BE A DAY OF DARKNESS , Apart from the decision itself and consequent execution of Divine wrath upon the ungodly—an execution which, as if baffling the power of words to describe, is left to imagination to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 3:16

Out of Zion . The presence of Jehovah is the immediate occasion of these terrors; and hence his voice proceeds from Jerusalem, or more particularly from Zion, where the visible symbol of his presence long dwelt. "For there," says Kimchi, "was his dwelling in Jerusalem; and as if from thence he roared and uttered his voice against them." Thus far the prophet pictures in very vivid, indeed terribly vivid, colours the frightful scene in the valley of decision: then stops short without... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joel 3:16

The Lord his people's Hope and Strength. The prospect of the day of the Lord is to the sinful fraught with dread and with dismay. To them the judgment brings the delayed condemnation, and therefore the very thought of it is associated with alarm. But the language of this verse reminds us how differently the Divine appearance and interposition are regarded by the true people of God. I. THE RIGHTEOUS LORD IS THE HARBOUR AND THE HOPE OF HIS PEOPLE . 1 . They... read more

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