---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Joel 3"
description: "CHAPTER 3   :-. GOD"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/joel/3"
---

CHAPTER 3

. GOD'S
VENGEANCE ON ISRAEL'S
FOES IN THE VALLEY
OF JEHOSHAPHAT. HIS
BLESSING ON THE CHURCH.

**1. bring again the captivity**—that
is, reverse it. The Jews restrict this to the return from Babylon.
Christians refer it to the coming of Christ. But the prophet
comprises the whole redemption, beginning from the return out of
Babylon, then continued from the first advent of Christ down to the
last day (His second advent), when God will restore His Church to
perfect felicity [CALVIN].

**2.** Parallel to [Zechariah 14:2](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/2);
[Zechariah 14:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/3); [Zechariah 14:4](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/4),
where the "Mount of Olives" answers to the "Valley of
Jehoshaphat" here. The latter is called "the valley of
blessing" (*Berachah*) ([Zechariah 14:4](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/4)). It lies between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives and has
the Kedron flowing through it. As Jehoshaphat overthrew the
confederate foes of Judah, namely, Ammon, Moab, c. ([Zechariah 14:4](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/4)), in this valley, so God was to overthrow the Tyrians,
Zidonians, Philistines, Edom, and Egypt, with a similar utter
overthrow ([Joel 3:4](../../../kjv/joel/3/4) [Joel 3:19](../../../kjv/joel/3/19)).
This has been long ago fulfilled; but the ultimate event shadowed
forth herein is still future, when God shall specially interpose to
destroy Jerusalem's last foes, of whom Tyre, Zidon, Edom, Egypt, and
Philistia are the types. As "Jehoshaphat" means "the
judgment of Jehovah," *the valley of Jehoshaphat* may be
used as a *general* term for the theater of God's final
judgments on Israel's foes, with an allusion to the judgment
inflicted on them by Jehoshaphat. The definite mention of the Mount
of Olives in [Zechariah 14:4](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/4), and the
fact that this was the scene of the ascension, makes it likely the
same shall be the scene of Christ's coming again: compare "this
same Jesus . . . shall so come *in like manner* as ye have seen
Him go into heaven" ([Acts 1:11](../../../kjv/acts/1/11)).
**all nations**—namely,
which have maltreated Judah.
**plead with them**—
([Isaiah 66:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/16); [Ezekiel 38:22](../../../kjv/ezekiel/38/22)).
**my heritage Israel**—
([Deuteronomy 32:9](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/9); [Jeremiah 10:16](../../../kjv/jeremiah/10/16)).
Implying that the source of Judah's redemption is God's free love,
wherewith He chose Israel as *His peculiar heritage,* and at the
same time assuring them, when desponding because of trials, that He
would plead their cause as His own, and as if He were injured in
their person.

**3. cast lots for my people**—that
is, divided among themselves My people as their captives by lot.
Compare as to the distribution of captives by lot ([Obadiah 1:11](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/11);
[Nahum 3:10](../../../kjv/nahum/3/10)).
**given a boy for . . .
harlot**—Instead of paying a harlot for her prostitution in
money, they gave her a Jewish captive boy as a slave.
**girl for wine**—So
valueless did they regard a Jewish girl that they would sell her for
a draught of wine.

**4. what have ye to do with me**—Ye
have no connection with Me (that is, with My people: God identifying
Himself with Israel); I (that is, My people) have given you no cause
of quarrel, why then do ye trouble Me (that is, My people)? (Compare
the same phrase, [Joshua 22:24](../../../kjv/joshua/22/24);
[Judges 11:12](../../../kjv/judges/11/12); [2 Samuel 16:10](../../../kjv/2-samuel/16/10);
[Matthew 8:29](../../../kjv/matthew/8/29)).
**Tyre . . . Zidon . . .
Palestine**— ([Amos 1:6](../../../kjv/amos/1/6);
[Amos 1:9](../../../kjv/amos/1/9)).
**if ye recompense me**—If
*ye injure Me* (My people), *in revenge* for fancied wrongs
([Ezekiel 25:15-17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/25/15-17)), I
will requite you in your own coin swiftly and speedily.

**5. my silver . . . my gold**—that
is, the gold and silver of My people. The Philistines and Arabians
had carried off all the treasures of King Jehoram's house ([2 Chronicles 21:16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/16);
[2 Chronicles 21:17](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/17)). Compare also [1 Kings 15:18](../../../kjv/1-kings/15/18);
[2 Kings 12:18](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/18); [2 Kings 14:14](../../../kjv/2-kings/14/14),
for the spoiling of the treasures of the temple and the king's palace
in Judah by Syria. It was customary among the heathen to hang up in
the idol temples some of the spoils of war as presents to their gods.

**6. Grecians**—literally,
"Javanites," that is, the Ionians, a Greek colony on the
coast of Asia Minor who were the first Greeks known to the Jews. The
Greeks themselves, however, in their *original descent* came
from Javan ([Genesis 10:2](../../../kjv/genesis/10/2); [Genesis 10:4](../../../kjv/genesis/10/4)).
Probably the germ of Greek civilization in part came through the
Jewish slaves imported into Greece from Phoelignicia by traffickers.
[Ezekiel 27:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/27/13) mentions *Javan*
and Tyre as trading in the persons of men.
**far from their border**—far
from Judea; so that the captive Jews were cut off from all hope of
return.

**7. raise them**—that is, I will
*rouse* them. Neither sea nor distance will prevent My bringing
them back. Alexander, and his successors, restored to liberty many
Jews in bondage in Greece [JOSEPHUS,
*Antiquities,* 13.5; *Wars of the Jews,* 3.9,2].

**8. sell them to . . . Sabeans**—The
Persian Artaxerxes Mnemon and Darius Ochus, and chiefly the Greek
Alexander, reduced the Phoelignician and Philistine powers. Thirty
thousand Tyrians after the capture of Tyre by the last conqueror, and
multitudes of Philistines on the taking of Gaza, were sold as slaves.
The Jews are here said to do that which the God of Judah does in
vindication of their wrong, namely, sell the Phoelignicians who sold
them, to a people "far off," as was Greece, whither the
Jews had been sold. The Sabeans at the most remote extremity of
Arabia Felix are referred to (compare [Jeremiah 6:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/20);
[Matthew 12:42](../../../kjv/matthew/12/42)).

**9.** The nations hostile to Israel
are summoned by Jehovah to "come up" (this phrase is used
because Jerusalem was on a *hill*) against Jerusalem, not that
they may destroy it, but to be destroyed by the Lord ([Ezekiel 38:7-23](../../../kjv/ezekiel/38/7-23);
[Zechariah 12:2-9](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/2-9); [Zechariah 14:2](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/2);
[Zechariah 14:3](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/3)).
**Prepare war**—literally,
*sanctify* war: because the heathen always began war with
religious ceremonies. The very phrase used of Babylon's *preparations*
against Jerusalem ([Jeremiah 6:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/4)) is
now used of the final foes of Jerusalem. As Babylon was then desired
by God to advance against her for her destruction, so now all her
foes, of whom Babylon was the type, are desired to advance against
her for *their own* destruction.

**10. Beat your ploughshares into
swords**—As the foes are desired to "beat their *ploughshares
into swords,* and *their pruning hooks into spears,*"
that so they may perish in their unhallowed attack on Judah and
Jerusalem, so these latter, and the nations converted to God by them,
after the overthrow of the antichristian confederacy, shall, on the
contrary, "beat their *swords into ploughshares,* and their
*spears into pruning hooks,*" when under Messiah's coming
reign there shall be war no more ([Isaiah 2:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/4);
[Hosea 2:18](../../../kjv/hosea/2/18); [Micah 4:3](../../../kjv/micah/4/3)).
**let the weak say, I am
strong**—So universal shall be the rage of Israel's foes for
invading her, that even the *weak* among them will fancy
themselves *strong* enough to join the invading forces. Age and
infirmity were ordinarily made valid excuses for exemption from
service, but so mad shall be the fury of the world against God's
people, that even the feeble will not desire to be exempted (compare
[Psalms 2:1-3](../../../kjv/psalms/2/1-3)).

**11. Assemble**—"Hasten"
[MAURER].
**thither**—to the valley
of Jehoshaphat.
**thy mighty ones**—the
warriors who fancy themselves "mighty ones," but who are on
that very spot to be overthrown by Jehovah [MAURER].
Compare "the mighty men" (). Rather, Joel speaks of God's really "mighty ones"
in contrast to the self-styled "mighty men" ([Joel 3:9](../../../kjv/joel/3/9);
[Psalms 103:20](../../../kjv/psalms/103/20); [Isaiah 13:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/13/3);
compare [Daniel 10:13](../../../kjv/daniel/10/13)). AUBERLEN
remarks: One prophet supplements the other, for they all prophesied
only "in part." What was obscure to one was revealed to the
other; what is briefly described by one is more fully so by another.
Daniel calls Antichrist a king, and dwells on his worldly conquests;
John looks more to his spiritual tyranny, for which reason he adds a
second beast, wearing the semblance of spirituality. Antichrist
*himself* is described by Daniel. Isaiah ([Daniel 10:13](../../../kjv/daniel/10/13)), Joel ([Daniel 10:13](../../../kjv/daniel/10/13)) and Zechariah ([Daniel 10:13](../../../kjv/daniel/10/13)), describe *his army* of heathen followers coming
up against Jerusalem, but not Antichrist himself.

**12.** See .
**judge all the heathen round
about**—that is, all the nations from all parts of the earth
which have maltreated Israel; not merely, as HENDERSON
supposes, the nations *round about* Jerusalem (compare [Psalms 110:6](../../../kjv/psalms/110/6);
[Isaiah 2:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/4); [Micah 4:3](../../../kjv/micah/4/3);
[Micah 4:11-13](../../../kjv/micah/4/11-13); [Zephaniah 3:15-19](../../../kjv/zephaniah/3/15-19);
[Zechariah 12:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/9); [Zechariah 14:3-11](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/3-11);
[Malachi 4:1-3](../../../kjv/malachi/4/1-3)).

**13.** Direction to the ministers
of vengeance to execute God's wrath, as the enemy's wickedness is
come to its full maturity. God does not cut off the wicked at once,
but waits till their guilt is at its *full* (so as to the
Amorites' iniquity, [Genesis 15:16](../../../kjv/genesis/15/16)),
to show forth His own long-suffering, and the justice of their doom
who have so long abused it ([Matthew 13:27-30](../../../kjv/matthew/13/27-30);
[Matthew 13:38](../../../kjv/matthew/13/38); [Matthew 13:40](../../../kjv/matthew/13/40);
[Revelation 14:15-19](../../../kjv/revelation/14/15-19)). For the
image of a harvest to be threshed, compare [Revelation 14:15-66](../../../kjv/revelation/14/15-66); and a wine-press, [Isaiah 63:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/3);
[Lamentations 1:15](../../../kjv/lamentations/1/15).

**14.** The prophet in vision seeing
the immense array of nations congregating, exclaims, "Multitudes,
multitudes!" a Hebraism for *immense multitudes.*
**valley of decision**—that
is, the valley in which they are to meet their "determined
doom." The same as "the valley of Jehoshaphat," that
is, "the valley *of judgment*" (see on ). Compare [Joel 3:12](../../../kjv/joel/3/12),
"there will I sit to *judge,*" which confirms *English
Version* rather than *Margin,* "threshing." The
repetition of "valley of decision" heightens the effect and
pronounces the awful *certainty* of their doom.

**15.** (See on ; [Joel 2:30](../../../kjv/joel/2/30)).

**16.** (Compare ). The victories of the Jews over their cruel foe
Antiochus, under the Maccabees, may be a reference of this prophecy;
but the ultimate reference is to the last Antichrist, of whom
Antiochus was the type. Jerusalem being the central seat of the
theocracy ([Psalms 132:13](../../../kjv/psalms/132/13)), it is
from thence that Jehovah discomfits the foe.
**roar**—as a lion ([Jeremiah 25:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/30);
[Amos 1:2](../../../kjv/amos/1/2); [Amos 3:8](../../../kjv/amos/3/8)).
Compare as to Jehovah's voice thundering, [Psalms 18:13](../../../kjv/psalms/18/13);
[Habakkuk 3:10](../../../kjv/habakkuk/3/10); [Habakkuk 3:11](../../../kjv/habakkuk/3/11).
**Lord . . . the hope of his
people**—or, "their refuge" ([Habakkuk 3:11](../../../kjv/habakkuk/3/11)).

**17. shall ye know**—experimentally
by the proofs of favors which I shall vouchsafe to you. So "know"
([Isaiah 60:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/16); [Hosea 2:20](../../../kjv/hosea/2/20)).
**dwelling in Zion**—as
peculiarly *your God.*
**holy . . . no strangers pass
through**—to attack, or to defile, the holy city ([Isaiah 35:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/35/8);
[Isaiah 52:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/1); [Zechariah 14:21](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/21)).
*Strangers,* or Gentiles, shall come to Jerusalem, but it shall
be in order to worship Jehovah there ([Zechariah 14:21](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/21)).

**18. mountains . . . drop . . .
wine**—figurative for *abundance of vines,* which were
cultivated in terraces of earth between the rocks on the sides of the
hills of Palestine ([Amos 9:13](../../../kjv/amos/9/13)).
**hills . . . flow with
milk**—that is, they shall abound in flocks and herds yielding
milk plentifully, through the richness of the pastures.
**waters**—the great
desideratum for fertility in the parched East ([Amos 9:13](../../../kjv/amos/9/13)).
**fountain . . . of . . . house
of . . . Lord . . . water . . . valley of Shittim**—The
blessings, temporal and spiritual, issuing from Jehovah's house at
Jerusalem, shall extend even to Shittim, on the border between Moab
and Israel, beyond Jordan ([Numbers 25:1](../../../kjv/numbers/25/1);
[Numbers 33:49](../../../kjv/numbers/33/49); [Joshua 2:1](../../../kjv/joshua/2/1);
[Micah 6:5](../../../kjv/micah/6/5)). "Shittim"
means "acacias," which grow only in arid regions: implying
that even *the arid desert* shall be fertilized by the blessing
from Jerusalem. So [Micah 6:5](../../../kjv/micah/6/5) describes the waters issuing from the threshold of the
house as flowing into the Dead Sea, and purifying it. Also in [Micah 6:5](../../../kjv/micah/6/5) the waters flow on one side into the Mediterranean, on the
other side into the Dead Sea, near which latter Shittim was situated
(compare [Psalms 46:4](../../../kjv/psalms/46/4); [Revelation 22:1](../../../kjv/revelation/22/1)).

**19. Edom**—It was subjugated by
David, but revolted under Jehoram (); and at every subsequent opportunity tried to injure
Judah. Egypt under Shishak spoiled Jerusalem under Rehoboam of the
treasures of the temple and the king's house; subsequently to the
captivity, it inflicted under the Ptolemies various injuries on
Judea. Antiochus spoiled Egypt (). Edom was made "desolate" under the Maccabees
[JOSEPHUS, *Antiquities,*
12.11,12]. The low condition of the two countries for centuries
proves the truth of the prediction (compare [Isaiah 19:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/19/1);
[Jeremiah 49:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/17); [Obadiah 1:10](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/10)).
So shall fare all the foes of Israel, typified by these two ([Obadiah 1:10](../../../kjv/obadiah/1/10), &c.).

**20. dwell for ever**— (), that is, be established as a flourishing state.

**21. cleanse . . . blood . . . not
cleansed**—I will purge away from Judah the extreme guilt
(represented by "blood," the shedding of which was the
climax of her sin, [Isaiah 1:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/15))
which was for long not purged away, but visited with judgments ([Isaiah 1:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/15)). Messiah saves from guilt, in order to save from punishment
([Matthew 1:21](../../../kjv/matthew/1/21)).

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