John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 1:9
The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lord ,.... The meat offering was made of fine flour, oil, and frankincense; and the drink offering was of wine; and, because of the want of corn and wine, these were not brought to the temple as usual; and which was matter of great grief to religious persons, and especially to the priests, as follows: the priests, the Lord's ministers, mourn ; partly because they had no work to do, and could not answer to their... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 1:8
Lament like a virgin ,.... This is not the continuation of the prophet's speech to the drunkards; but, as Aben Ezra observes, he either speaks to himself, or to the land the Targum supplies it, O congregation of Israel; the more religious and godly part of the people are here addressed; who were concerned for the pure worship of God, and were as a chaste virgin espoused to Christ, though not yet come, and for whom they were waiting; these are called upon to lament the calamities of the times... read more