Joel 3:9-16

9-16. After this condemnation of the bitterest enemies of the chosen people the prophet returns to the announcement broken off in Joel 3:3. The nations are urged to equip themselves for the conflict, to gather in the valley of Jehoshaphat; but when they gather at the command of Jehovah they are annihilated, while his own people remain secure. 9.

Proclaim ye Not the pious Jews (Wuensche), but those whose duty it is to make such proclamation, the heralds, who are at the command of Jehovah (Amos 3:9; Amos 3:13).

This The message which follows.

Gentiles Better, R.V., “nations.”

Prepare war Literally, sanctify. Bring the sacrifices, perform the religious rites customary before the opening of a war; by these means the campaign is brought under the divine sanction and favor (1 Samuel 7:8-9; Jeremiah 6:4).

Wake up Or, stir up. In a transitive sense, arouse the heroes, for this is no time for slumber. The verbs now change to the third person, a very common transition in vivid poetic or prophetic style.

Draw near To battle.

Come up Against the enemy (Joel 1:6). Both are technical terms. In Hebrew two short words, which could be uttered very rapidly and thus add force and vividness to the appeal. 10. The agricultural implements are to be beaten into weapons of war.

Plowshares Heb, ittim, a rare word (Isaiah 2:4); in 1 Samuel 13:20, the same word is employed alongside of one meaning plowshare; for that reason many, following Symmachus, prefer the translation “hoe,” “mattock.”

Spears Not the same word as in the parallel passages, Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3, but a word otherwise used only in writings from the northern kingdom or from the later period of Hebrew literature. Even the weak is to arouse himself into activity, into heroism, “as it happens frequently when warlike enthusiasm seizes a whole nation.” Compare Schiller: “But war brings strength to light; it raises all above the common, even in the coward it begets courage.” The injunction here is the very opposite of the promise in Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3, that in the Messianic age the weapons of war will be turned into agricultural implements.

The first part of Joel 3:11 is better translated, with R.V., “Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together.” Assemble yourselves [“Haste ye”] The matter is to be settled speedily, no delay can be permitted.

All ye heathen [“nations”]… round about Not merely the immediate neighbors, but all nations outside of Israel. In the latter part of Joel 3:11 Joel utters a prayer that Jehovah may send down his heavenly warriors to the assistance of his chosen people.

Thither Where the nations have gathered.

Thy mighty ones Not the heroes, the mighty ones of Judah, but heavenly powers, angels, who execute the commands of God (Psalms 68:17; Psalms 103:20; Zechariah 14:5). In all periods of their history the Israelites believed that Jehovah was fighting their battles; so in this last great conflict he will be the one supreme moving power; he will use his own hosts to bring victory to his people.

To this brief petition Jehovah replies, though not directly, in Joel 3:12-13. He will look after the interests of his people. Let them come; I will be there to meet them.

Sit to judge Not to listen to further pleas, but to pronounce sentence. On Jehoshaphat compare Joel 3:2; another play upon words in Hebrew.

All the heathen [“nations”] round about As in Joel 3:11, all the nations of the earth. The sentence is announced in Joel 3:13 in words addressed to the mighty ones of Joel 3:11. They are to discharge their judicial office. The judgment itself is represented under a twofold figure, the reaping of grain and the treading out of grapes (Revelation 14:15 f., Revelation 14:19 f.); the latter is a common picture of terrible judgment.

Harvest Not “vintage” (Hitzig, R.V. margin).

Is ripe They are so sinful that they are ready for judgment (Amos 8:1).

Press R.V., “wine-press.”

Is full Another picture of extreme sinfulness, parallel to the preceding and to the following.

Fats Better, vats. The receptacles for the juice after the grapes are pressed out (Joel 2:24). The grapes of sin are so numerous and ripe that even before they are artificially crushed the juice is pressed out by their own weight. The same thought is expressed in the last clause of the verse without metaphor.

In the next few verses we have a picture of the judgment. First (Joel 3:14), the tumult made by the nations as they are assembling; the prophet hears them coming.

Multitudes The word is repeated for the sake of emphasis: great multitudes; literally, tumults, which refers rather to the noise made by the great multitudes than to the numbers.

Valley of decision Defines the term used in Joel 3:12; the judgment will be decisive, the chaff will be separated from the wheat; the doom of the former is certain.

Decision Margin, “threshing”; so the great Jewish commentator Kimchi and a few moderns. The judgment is so severe that it may be likened to the threshing of grain (Isaiah 28:27; Amos 1:3); but the first interpretation is preferable. The nations are gathered because the judgment is ready to burst forth.

15, 16 While the nations are gathering, the supernatural forebodings of the day are seen (compare Joel 2:10; Joel 2:30-31). In Joel 2:10, from which passage Joel 3:15 is quoted, these phenomena marked the beginning of the day of judgment upon Judah; here upon the nations. Nothing is said of the execution of the judgment, but the description of the events accompanying it is so vivid that there can be no doubt about the final outcome.

Jehovah… shall roar The figure of an angry lion is in the prophet’s mind. The verb used describes the angry roar with which the lion springs upon the prey (Amos 1:2; Jeremiah 25:30). Jehovah is ready to leap upon the nations.

Utter his voice The appearance of Jehovah is described frequently in the imagery of a thunderstorm; his voice is the thunder (Psalms 18:9-13).

Zion,… Jerusalem The temple on Mount Zion in Jerusalem is the earthly abode of Jehovah; from it the manifestations of his power proceed. The very fact that Jehovah has not left the holy city is a favorable sign to the people.

The heavens and the earth shall shake A severe earthquake is to accompany the storm.

Thus far the prophet takes us; the sequel imagination must supply. The roaring lion will not allow his prey to escape; in the storm and the earthquake the nations will be annihilated. But it is only to his enemies that Jehovah shows himself terrible. From the awful judgment scene the prophet turns abruptly to describe the fate of the pious people of God.

Hope… strength Better, with R.V., “refuge… stronghold,” or “strong tower.”

They may flee to Jehovah for refuge as terrified inhabitants flee to the citadel of a city for protection. These and similar terms are often applied to Jehovah in the Psalms (Psalms 14:6; Psalms 18:3), 17. The present crisis, the destruction of the nations, and the deliverance of Israel will teach the latter that Jehovah is their

God They will now recognize him in his supremacy (Joel 2:27; Hosea 2:8; Ezekiel 38:23).

Dwelling in Zion Synonymous with “in the midst of Israel” (Joel 2:27); near enough to respond to any appeal for assistance.

Then shall Jerusalem be holy Set apart for God, and pure in character (compare Joel 2:1). Judgment, in the thought of the prophets, always has a purifying effect (Isaiah 4:4). The destruction of the enemies will prevent future defilement by them (Nahum 1:15).

Strangers Aliens, members of foreign nations, who have no interest in nor love for the things precious to the Jews (Hosea 7:9; Jeremiah 30:8).