Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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THE PROPHET JOEL

CHAPTER THREE:
JUDGMENT UPON THE NATIONAL GROUPS

Summary

YHWH calls for all nations to gather for judgment regarding their treatment of His people. The nations around Israel are to be repaid for their ill treatment. War and judgment is called for in the Valley of Jehosophat. Judah will be blessed and Egypt and Edom punished,

Joel 3:1-3 – Gathering the Nations to Judgment

JL3:1 For, behold, in those days and at that time – when I will restore the captives of Judah and Jerusalem 67 –
67 ¹ For, behold, in those days and at that time – when I will restore the captives of Judah and Jerusalem: Or, DAR: For behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall turn again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem. [Deuteronomy 30:3; Jeremiah 16:15; Ezekiel 39:28; Amos 9:14]
JL3:2 then I will gather all the national groups 68 [Revelation 16:14], bringing them down into the Valley of Y^eH^oW^aH –Judges. 69 There I will enter into judgment with them regarding My people and My inheritance Israel. 70 They were the ones who scattered them among the national groups, apportioning My land among themselves. 71
68 I will gather all the national groups: Or, JPS: I will gather all nations [GOYW]; LXX: Then I have gathered all the nations [ETHNE]. The LXX Greek is KAI SYNAGO PANTA TA ETHNE. Matthew 25:31 uses KAI SYNAKHTHESONTAI … PANTA TA ETHNE. Some see an echo at Revelation 16:14. The idea of gathering all the nations may occur in a variety of prophetic contexts. [Zephaniah 3:8; Zechariah 14:2]
69 Bringing them down into the Valley of Y^eH^oW^aH –Judges: Or, DAR: and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat. The name means “Jehovah is Judge.” Compare Joel 3:12. King Jehosaphat made many revisions in the religion of the land as well as the judicial system. [2 Chronicles 19:5-11]
70 There I will enter into judgment with them regarding My people and My inheritance Israel: Or, DAR: and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of my people and mine inheritance; YLT: and will plead with them there for my people and my heritage Israel.
71 They were the ones who scattered them among the national groups, apportioning My land among themselves: Or, DAR: whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land; LXX: Whom they scattered among nations, and My land they have apportioned [CLEROUS]. Other nations have apportioned the land of Israel throughout the centuries. [Ezekiel 35:10]
JL3:3 Over My people they cast lots, trading a boy for a prostitute and selling a girl for wine to drink – and they did drink. 72
72 Over My people they cast lots, trading a boy for a prostitute and selling a girl for wine to drink – and they did drink: Or, JPS: And they have cast lots for My people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, and have drunk; LXX: And for My people they do cast a lot, And they give the young man for an harlot [PORNAIS], And the young woman have sold for wine, That they may drink. [Deuteronomy 23:17; Obadiah 11]

Joel 3:4-8 – Surrounding Nations Repaid

JL3:4 Furthermore, what relationship do we have, O Tyre and Sidon? 73 as well as all of you in Palestinian territory? 74 Are you going to buy me off? However, even if you did try to make compensation to Me I would promptly throw it back in your face quickly. 75
73 What relationship do we have, O Tyre and Sidon: Or, DAR: what have ye to do with me; LXX: what are ye to Me. The LXX Greek is TI HYMEIS EMOI, and may be compared to John 2:4 – TI EMOI KAI SOI. The phrase is a repellant one indicating no such favorable relationship.
74 Palestinian territory: Or, DAR: all the districts of Philistia; YLT: and all Galilee of the Gentiles. [Isaiah 14:29, 31; Jeremiah 47:4; Ezekiel 25:15] Land still much in the news.
75 Are you going to buy me off? However, even if you did try to make compensation to Me I would promptly throw it back in your face quickly: Or, DAR: Will ye render me a recompence? But if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I bring your recompence upon your own head.

JL3:5 For it was My own gold and silver you took away, and it was My rich and desirable possessions you carried off for your own idol-shrines. 76
76 For it was My own gold and silver you took away, and it was My rich and desirable possessions you carried off for your own idol-shrines: Or, LXX: In that My silver and My gold ye took, And My desirable things that are good, Ye have brought in to your temples [NAOUS]. [1 Samuel 5:2; 2 Chronicles 21:17]
JL3:6 But the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem you sold to the children of Greece, removing them far away from their own boundaries. 77
77 But the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem you sold to the children of Greece, removing them far away from their own boundaries: Or, DAR: and the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the children of the Greeks, that ye might remove them far from their border; LXX: And sons of Judah, and sons of Jerusalem, Ye have sold to the sons of Javan [HELLENON], To put them far off from their border. See the Mosaic Curse at Deuteronomy 28:32, 68. On “Javan” see Genesis 10:2; Ezekiel 27:13; Zechariah 9:13.
JL3:7 Watch Me! [I am] rousing them up from all the places where you sold them. Thus, I will bring back upon your own head your own dealings. 78
78 Watch Me! [I am] rousing them up from all the places where you sold them. Thus, I will bring back upon your own head your own dealings: Or, JPS: behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your retribution upon your own head; LXX: Lo, I am stirring them up out of the place Whither ye have sold them, And I have turned back your recompence on your head. [Isaiah 11:12; 43:5; 49:12; Jeremiah 23:8; Ezekiel 34:12] The “Judge of all the earth” will make an accounting with all nations and all human beings on the Day of Judgment. [Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 17:10; 25:14] Note the judgment upon the world powers Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome in Daniel chapter 7.
JL3:8 Instead, I will sell your own sons and daughters into the hands of the children of Judah. Then they will sell them to the Arabs, to ethnic groups far, far away, for Y^eH^oW^aH has spoken. 79
79 ⁸ Instead, I will sell your own sons and daughters into the hands of the children of Judah. Then they will sell them to the Arabs, to ethnic groups far, far away, for Y^eH^oW^aH has spoken: Or, JPS: and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off; for the LORD hath spoken; LXX: And have sold your sons and your daughters Into the hand of the sons of Judah, And they have sold them to Shabeans, Unto a nation far off, for Jehovah hath spoken.

Joel 3:9-12 – War and Judgment!

JL3:9 All of you make a proclamation among the national groups: Sanctify war! Awaken the brave soldiers! Let all their strong men of war approach! 80
80 All of you make a proclamation among the national groups: Sanctify war! Awaken the brave soldiers! Let all their strong men of war approach: Or, DAR: Proclaim this among the nations: prepare war, arouse the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. [Ezekiel 38:7]
JL3:10 Beat your ploughs into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears. 81 Let the weakest among them say, “I am powerful!”
81 Beat your ploughs into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: Or, LXX: Beat your ploughshares to swords, and your pruning-hooks to javelins. The conversion of peace time industry into that of war-time. The language is the reverse of those at Isaiah 2:4. [Micah 4:3]
82 JL3:11 Lend a hand and approach from every quarter, all you national groups. 83 O Y^eH^oW^aH, hurry and descend to this place with all Your valiant ones! 84
83 Lend a hand and approach from every quarter, all you national groups: Or, DAR: Haste ye and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together. [Zephaniah 3:8]
84 O Y^eH^oW^aH, hurry and descend to this place with all Your valiant ones: Or, DAR: Thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah; JPS: thither cause Thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD; LXX: Thither cause to come down, O Jehovah, Thy mighty ones; NJB: Yahweh, send down your champions; TAN: there bring down your warriors, O LORD. See notes on Zechariah 14:5. [Psalm 103:20] Some cross-reference 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and Revelation 19:14. It is likely the expression is a general one applied to God’s angels used by Him on a variety of historic occasions.
JL3:12 Let the national groups awaken and come into Valley of Y^eH^oW^aH -Judges, for their I will sit in judgment of all national groups from every quarter. 85
82 Let the weakest among them say, “I am powerful: Or, JPS: let the weak say: ‘I am strong; LXX: Let the weak say, ‘I am mighty. [Zechariah 12:8]
85 ¹² Let the national groups awaken and come into Valley of Y^eH^oW^aH -Judges, for their I will sit in judgment of all national groups from every quarter: Or, DAR: Let the nations rouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about; LXX: Wake and come up let the nations unto the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I sit to judge all the nations around. Return to Joel 3:2. [Psalm 76:9; 96:13] At God’s appointed time all nations and ethnic groups will be judged as total entities. [1 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 20:4, 6]

Joel 3:13-17 – Nations in the Valley of Judgment

JL3:13 All of you thrust in the sickle, for the vine is ripe. 86 [Revelation 14:15] Enter and trample, for the winepress is full, the vats overflowing because of the abundance of their wickedness. 87 [Revelation 14:18-20]
86 All of you thrust in the sickle, for the vine is ripe: Or, LXX: Send ye forth a sickle [DREPANA], for ripened hath harvest. The language is echoed at Revelation 14:15, “Send your [MEMPSON] sickle [DREPANON] and harvest [THERPISON] for the hour to harvest has arrived.” [Compare Revelation 14:19.] [Jeremiah 51:33]
87 Enter and trample, for the winepress is full, the vats overflowing because of the abundance of their wickedness: Or, JPS: come, tread ye, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great; LXX: Come in, come down, for filled hath been the press, Overflowed hath wine-presses, For great is their wickedness. The language is echoed at Revelation 14:18-20. [Isaiah 63:3]
JL3:14 Multitudes! Multitudes in the Valley of Strict-Judicial-Decision. 88
88 Multitudes! Multitudes in the Valley of Strict-Judicial-Decision: Or, DAR: Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Jehovah is at hand in the valley of decision; YLT: Noises have resounded in the valley of judgment: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of judgment. The Hebrew ‘EMEQ CHARUWTS [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #2742 (2782)] also suggests a threshing instrument for harvesting, so there is a play on words. Return to Joel 2:1. [Isaiah 34:2; Zephaniah 1:14] Though national entities may be condemned this does not necessarily mean all the citizens of that nation. Note the survivors of the non-Jewish nations in Zechariah 14:16.
JL3:15 The sun and moon darken, and the stars withdraw their illumination. 89
89 The sun and moon darken, and the stars withdraw their illumination: Or, JPS: The sun and the moon are become black, and the stars withdraw their shining; LXX: Sun and moon have been black, and stars have gathered up their shining. Return to Joel 2:31. [Acts 2:20] Compare notes on Isaiah 13:10. [Ezekiel 32:7] Such celestial phenomenon are seen in the context of Jerusalem’s “last days” and the Return of the Messiah. The LXX Greek is HO HELIOS KAI HE SELENE SYSKOTASOUSI KAI HOI ASTERES DYSOUSI PHENGOS AUTON. Many of the words are present in Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24, Luke 21:25; Revelation 6:12. The prophetic chronology is a] the Great Oppression of three and a half years; b] celestial phenomenon; c] the Return of Christ; and, d] the gathering of the Saints. [Matthew 24:29-31]
JL3:16 Out of Zion Y^eH^oW^aH will roar mightily. Out of Jerusalem He utter His Voice, 90 and then the heavens and the earth will tremble. 91 Y^eH^oW^aH will be a protective shelter to His people, and a refuge to the children of Israel. 92
90 Out of Zion Y^eH^oW^aH will roar mightily. Out of Jerusalem He utter His Voice: Or, DAR: And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; YLT: And Jehovah from Zion doth roar, and from Jerusalem giveth forth His voice. [Jeremiah 25:30; Amos 1:2] On such a “voice” see 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
91 The heavens and the earth will tremble: Or, JPS: and the heavens and the earth shall shake; LXX: and the heaven and the earth shall be shaken. See notes on Isaiah 13:13. [Haggai 2:6, 21] The LXX Greek is KAI SEISTHESETAI HO OURANOS KAI HE GEN. The shaking [or, seismic activity] in heaven and earth are included in the prophetic context of the Return of Messiah. [Matthew 24:29; Luke 21:26; Revelation 6:12; 11:12, 13, 19; 16:18]

92 Y^eH^oW^aH will be a protective shelter to His people, and a refuge to the children of Israel: Or, DAR: and Jehovah will be a shelter for his people, and the refuge of the children of Israel; LXX: but the Lord shall spare his people, and shall strengthen the children of Israel. [Psalm 18:2] Compare notes on Matthew 24:22 and Revelation 7:15.
JL3:17 Then all of you people will realize that I Y^eH^oW^aH am your God who dwells in Zion My holy mountain. And so Jerusalem will be holy, and foreigners will no longer pass through her. 93
93 Then all of you people will realize that I Y^eH^oW^aH am your God who dwells in Zion My holy mountain. And so Jerusalem will be holy, and foreigners will no longer pass through her: Or, DAR: And ye shall know that I, Jehovah, am your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain; and Jerusalem shall be holy, and no strangers shall pass through her any more; YLT: And ye have known that I am Jehovah your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain, And Jerusalem hath been holy, And strangers do not pass over into it again. [Psalm 9:16; Isaiah 4:3; Zechariah 8:3]

Joel 3:18-21 – Blessings on Judah and Revenge on Egypt and Edom

JL3:18 During that time it will happen that the mountains will drip sweet wine, and the hills will deluge with milk. All the canals of Judah will flood with water, 94 and out of the House of Y^eH^oW^aH a fountain will flow, 95 watering the desert ravine of the acacias. 96
94 During that time it will happen that the mountains will drip sweet wine, and the hills will deluge with milk. All the canals of Judah will flood with water: Or, DAR: And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the water-courses of Judah shall flow with waters; LXX: And it hath come to pass, in that day, Drop down do the mountains juice, And the hills do flow with milk, And all streams of Judah do go with water. [Zechariah 9:17]
95 Out of the House of Y^eH^oW^aH a fountain will flow: Or, LXX: and a fountain [PEGE] shall go forth of the house of the Lord. The language is similar to the thought at Revelation 22:1 though there it is a river. The LXX Greek for “fountain” PEGE occurs at Revelation 7:17 [PEGAS] and at Revelation 21:6 [PEGES].
96 Watering the desert ravine of the acacias: Or, LXX: and water the valley of flags; JPS: and shall water the valley of Shittim; NJB: Gorge of the Acacias. The Hebrew SHITTIYM means “acacias.” [Isaiah 41:19] At Ezekiel 47:1, 8 the waters flow into the Arabah [desert].
JL3:19 Because of the violence done to the children of Judah Egypt will turn into a desolate [wilderness], 97 and Edom will change into the most desolate of deserts, for they shed innocent blood in their own land. 98
97 Because of the violence done to the children of Judah Egypt will turn into a desolate [wilderness]: Or, DAR: Egypt shall be a desolation. Modern Egypt is essentially a desert though evidence points to an earlier fertile condition. [Isaiah 19:1]
98 And Edom will change into the most desolate of deserts, for they shed innocent blood in their own land: Or, DAR: for the violence against the children of Judah, in that they have shed innocent blood in their land; LXX: because they have shed righteous blood in their land. [Jeremiah 49:17; Ezekiel 25:13; Amos 1:11]
JL3:20 But Judah will remain throughout future periods of time, and Jerusalem to generation after generation. 99
99 Judah will remain throughout future periods of time, and Jerusalem to generation after generation: Or, DAR: Judah shall abide for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation; RHM: age-abidingly; YLT: Judah to the age doth dwell; LXX: Judea shall be inhabited for ever [AIONA]. [Psalm 48:8; Isaiah 60:15] It is unlikely the prophet means Jerusalem will never again be destroyed for that is what happened in fulfillment of the Nazarene’s own prophecy. [Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:20-24]

JL3:21 Their unavenged blood will be avenged, for Y^eH^oW^aH is dwelling in Zion. 100
100 Their unavenged blood will be avenged, for Y^eH^oW^aH is dwelling in Zion: Or, DAR: And I will purge them from the blood from which I had not purged them: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion; JPS: And I will hold as innocent their blood that I have not held as innocent; and the LORD dwelleth in Zion; YLT: And I will make inquisition for their blood, and will by no means leave it unavenged: and the Lord shall dwell in Sion. [Psalm 103:10; Isaiah 4:4; Ezekiel 36:25; Micah 7:19] There are a variety of views on the phrase.

Mark Heber Miller