Joel, Chapter 2, verses 12-26
12 He exhorteth to repentance, 15 prescribeth a fast, 18 promiseth a blessing thereon, 21 He comforteth Zion with present3 This chapter has been partly fulfilled in the several deliverances of the Jews, and will have its full accomplishment at the great day. It contains a prophecy of God reckoning with the enemies of his people, Joe 3:1-8.
Of his openly judging all nations, Joe 3:9-17.
And of the provision he has made for his people, Joe 3:18-21.
3:12 The heathen - The several nations in their appointed time, perhaps the Assyrians first under Salmaneser, next under Sennacherib, both of whom came up to the valley of Jehoshaphat.For there - In the midst of my people to plead with, condemn and punish the heathen round about Judea.
3:13 Put ye - Ye executioners of divine vengeance: begin to reap, cut down sinners ripe for judgment; let Tiglath Pilneser and his soldiers cut down Syria and its king, for their violence against my people.Let Cyaxares and his armies cut down Assyria.Let Nebuchadnezzar cut down Moab, Ammon, mount Seir, Egypt, Tyre, Zidon and the Philistines; after this let Cyrus reap down the ripened Babylonians, and Alexander the Medes and Persians.And let the divided Grecian captains cut down one another, 'till the Romans cut them down. And when this is done God will have mighty ones still to cut down his enemies, 'till the final judgment wherein they all shall for ever be destroyed. Get you down - In another metaphor the prophet declares the cutting off the church's enemies. The press - As the grapes in the press are trod, so the enemies of God's people, are to be trodden in the wine - press of God's displeasure. Overflow - The blood of slaughtered men runs as wine prest out, in greater abundance than the vats can hold. Is great - The violence and all manner of sins of these kingdoms is grown exceeding great.
3:14 In the valley of decision - Where God having gathered them, decided their quarrels, and by the conqueror punish the conquered for their sins against God and his people. The day - The day of vengeance.
3:16 Shall roar - He will strike the enemy with astonishment as the roaring of the lion astonishes the weaker beasts of the forest.
3:17 Dwelling - Very graciously present with you, and ever watching over you, and delighting to save you. Then - After her enemies are destroyed and the remnant is saved, and the Messiah is come; for to him and his days these things ultimately refer. Jerusalem - The church of Christ. Strangers - No profane or unclean person shall pass through it, or be found in it any more for ever.
3:18 The mountains - The vines planted upon the mountains.Shall flow - So fruitful shall the hills be, that milk shall abound every where. A fountain - The prophet alludes to those waters which were conveyed from some spring through conduit pipes towards the altar.This no doubt is a shadow of the purifying blood of Christ, and his sanctifying spirit and word. And in that it is said to come from the house of the Lord, it intimates that this saving grace shall be first preached from Jerusalem, and by the church, which is the house of God, shall be published to others. Shittim - Was a place in the plains of Moab. These spiritual waters shall flow down to the dry and thirsty, the barren and fruitless Gentiles, and make them fruitful.
3:19 Egypt - By Egypt we may understand all the enemies of the church who carry it toward the church, as Egypt carried it toward Israel. Edom - Edom was an implacable enemy to Judah in his greatest distress. And all who come under Edom's character are here threatened under this name. Judah - The people of God.
3:20 Judah - The redeemed of the Lord, his church.
3:21 And I will cleanse - Purge away both by the spirit of sanctification and by free pardon in the blood of the redeemer.Their blood - Their sinfulness, which before I had not taken away.
2 A farther description of the desolation of the land, Joe 2:1-11.
An earnest call to repentance, Joe 2:12-17.
A promise of all good things to the penitent, Joe 2:18-27.
A prophecy of the Messiah's kingdom, Joe 2:28-32.
2:13 And repenteth him - He turneth from executing the fierceness of his wrath.
2:14 He will return - God doth not move from one place to another; but when he withholds his blessings, he is said to withdraw himself.And so when he gives out his blessing, he is said to return.And leave a blessing behind him - Cause the locusts to depart before they have eaten up all that is in the land.
2:16 The children - Though they understand little what is done, yet their cities ascend, and God with pity looks on their tears.These that suck - Their cries and tears may perhaps move the congregation to more earnest supplication to God for mercy.So the Ninevites, Jon 3:7-8. The bridegroom - Let the new married man leave the mirth of the nuptials and afflict himself with the rest.
2:17 The porch - That stately porch built by Solomon, Ki1 6:3.The altar - The altar of burnt - offering, which stood at some distance from this porch, and here are the priests commanded to stand, fasting and praying, whence they might be heard and seen by the people in the next court, in which the people were wont to pray.To reproach - Famine, though by locusts is a reproach to this thine heritage; it will be greater reproach to be slaves to the nations signified by the locusts, therefore in mercy deliver us from both one and the other.
2:20 The northern army - That part of the locusts which are toward the north. With his face - The van of this army shall be driven into the dead sea, east of Jerusalem. The hinder part - The rear of this army shall be driven into the west sea. His stink - The stench of these locusts destroying and lying putrified on the face of the earth, or the corpses of the Assyrians slain and unburied.
2:22 Their strength - Bring forth as much as they are able to stand under.
2:23 The former rain - The autumn rain which is needful to mellow the earth and fit it to receive the corn. The latter rain - Needful to bring forward and ripen the fruits, accounted the latter rain because these husbandmen and vine - dressers reckoned from seed time to spring and harvest.The first month - That is, our March.
2:24 The fats - The vessels into which the liquor ran out of the press.
2:25 Restore - Make up to you.
2:26 Wondrously - In one year giving as much as the locusts wasted in the years foregoing. Ashamed - Neither disappointed of your hopes, nor necessitated to seek relief among the heathen.