_For_, &c. This particle shows the connection of this chapter with the
latter part of the preceding: as if he had said, As an earnest of the
accomplishment of these predictions, my people shall be restored to
their own land, and then their enemies shall be humbled: see note on
Joel 2:28. _In those d... [ Continue Reading ]
_They have cast lots for my people_ It was customary with conquerors,
in those days, to divide the captives, taken in war, among themselves
by lot, and so did these enemies of the Jews. _And have given a boy
for a harlot_ By this is meant, that they exchanged, or gave away,
Jewish boys, instead of m... [ Continue Reading ]
_O Tyre, and Zidon_, &c. “When the Babylonians, the appointed
instruments of my vengeance, afflict my land, why do you also, and the
bordering nations, assist them? Do you take this occasion of avenging
the former victories of my people over you? If so, this your act of
revenge shall be speedily pun... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because ye have taken my silver and my gold_ Have taken out of my
temple the silver and golden vessels dedicated to my service; _and
have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things_ Hebrew, _my
desirable goodly things._ God's temple was several times despoiled of
its ornaments by the Chald... [ Continue Reading ]
_The children also of Judah, &c., have ye sold unto the Grecians _ The
descendants of Javan, Genesis 10:2; Genesis 10:5. They trafficked with
Tyre, and traded in slaves, Ezekiel 27:13. It was customary for the
merchants of the neighbouring countries, particularly of Tyre and
Sidon, to buy the childr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I will raise them_, &c. I will restore them, or their
posterity, out of their several captivities whither their enemies have
dispersed them. Grotius on this place mentions, that Alexander and his
successors set at liberty many Jews, who were slaves in Greece. Many
also, on occasion of Cyrus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles_ “God having foretold these
judgments against Tyre and Sidon, the Philistines, and the
neighbouring nations, who had used the Jews with injustice and
cruelty, proceeds here to confirm his people in the belief of the
certainty of their destruction; which he tells... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord_ After the prophet
has given warning, in the way of irony, to the nations to provide for
their defence by all possible means, and to assemble themselves
together from all parts, that they might strive with their united
force; he, in the conclusion... [ Continue Reading ]
_Put ye in the sickle_ Ye executioners of divine vengeance: begin to
reap; cut down sinners ripe for judgment; let the king of Assyria 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, A... [ Continue Reading ]
_Multitudes_, &c. These are Joel's words, exclaiming, with prophetic
warmth and agitation, _Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of
decision!_ As though he had said, See what astonishing numbers are
brought together for their destruction! The sentence, thus abrupt and
broken, is very strong and emph... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord shall roar out of Zion_ He shall strike the enemies of his
people with astonishment, as the roaring of the lion astonishes the
weaker beasts of the forest. _And the heavens and the earth shall
shake_ The destruction shall be as certain and dreadful as though
God's enemies were destroyed by... [ Continue Reading ]
_So shall ye know that I am the Lord dwelling in Zion_ Very graciously
present with you, and ever watching over you and delighting to save
you. _Then shall Jerusalem be holy_ After the church's enemies are
destroyed, the Messiah is come, and the remnant saved, the people of
God shall be holy. _There... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mountains shall drop down new wine_ Namely, the vines planted
upon the mountains. _The hills shall flow with milk_ So fruitful shall
the hills be, that milk shall abound everywhere. _And all the rivers_,
&c. These expressions are all figurative, and highly poetical, and,
according to Calmet, sy... [ Continue Reading ]
_Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom_, &c. These two people were
remarkable for the spite they bore to the Jews. The Egyptians were
their oppressors when they first became a nation, and afterward
exercised great cruelties upon them, during the reign of the Egyptian
kings who were Alexander's succe... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will cleanse their blood_, &c. The word _blood_ seems here to
signify pollution in general; and the promise implies, that God would
perfectly purge away the guilt and defilement of all the sins of his
people, by a free pardon and entire sanctification. Calmet, who
applies this to the times of the... [ Continue Reading ]