sign in sign up
<<
Home , Amos 4, Amos 5, Amos 9, Book of Joel, Joel (prophet), Joel 1

This complimentary copy of the book of is from The CEB Study , a recommended resource for Covenant Bible Study.

Several hundred leading biblical scholars were involved with the Common English Bible translation and as contributors to The CEB Study Bible. The Editorial Board includes Joel. B. Green (Fuller Theological Seminary), Seung Ai Yang (Chicago Theological Seminary), Mark J. Boda (McMaster Divinity College), Mignon R. Jacobs (Fuller Theological Seminary), Matthew R. Schlimm (University of Dubuque), Marti J. Steussy (Christian Theological Seminary), along with Project Director Stephens and Associate Publisher Paul N. Franklyn.

Features of The CEB Study Bible include: • Biblical text in the readable, reliable, and relevant Common English Bible translation • Major articles give readers an in-depth foundation from which to approach this unique resource: The Authority of Scripture (Joel Green), How We Got Our Bible ( G. Reid), Guidelines for Reading the Bible (Brian D. Russell), Chronology of the Bible (Pamela J. Scalise), and The Unity of the Bible (Marianne Meye Thompson) • In-depth sidebar articles • Verse-by-verse study notes • An introduction of each book helps readers see its structure and find significant sections • 21 full-color maps from National Geographic, with indexes • Additional in-text maps and informational charts • Comprehensive concordance • More than 200 full-color illustrations, photographs, maps, and charts

You may visit CEBStudyBible.com to see the latest bindings and find out more about the features, the CEB translation, and our contributors.

Joel

The is placed second in the Minor As with other , Joel sees the Lord Prophets, which are also called the Book of the at work in the circumstances of his day and Twelve. The first line identifies the book as a beyond. He describes future events as part of communication from the Lord to Joel, Pethuel’s the “day of the Lord” (:15; 2:1, 11, 31; see son. Nothing else is known about this Joel. 5:18-20; Obad 15; Zeph 1:7). The phrase The historical setting for Joel’s is doesn’t refer to a 24-hour period but to a deci- unclear. Unlike several other , sive time in the future. Joel uses similar terms no mention is made of major events or world for the future such as “in those days and in that powers such as or Babylon. Instead, the time” (:1) and “in that day” (Joel 3:18). He book speaks about Judah and and tells the message that God judges nations and uses the term “” to mean God’s people. Joel peoples and will ultimately deliver Judah and is familiar with the priesthood and temple ser- Jerusalem on such a “day.” vice in Jerusalem. Perhaps his references in Joel A striking feature of the book is its depic- 2:6-8 to selling people to and Sabeans tion of a locust plague. The deadly effects of (an Arab tribe) fit best in the 5th century BCE the locusts are used to impress readers with during Persian control of the region. The refer- God’s judgment in the historical process and ence in Joel 3:1 to those sent away from Judah to remind them there is more of that to come. and Jerusalem likely refers to the Babylonian Locusts may also symbolically refer to human campaigns in Judah in the early 6th century threats to the well-being of Judah and Jerusa- BCE and the waves of people sent into exile at lem. In either case, people of the ancient world that time. These data suggest that Joel was a were terrified of locust plagues, because the in- post-exilic prophet living in Jerusalem. sects could ruin fields and crops (see :9).

Middle Eastern locusts (Joel 1:4) iStockPhoto

29_CEB_Study_Joel.indd 1445 5/31/13 9:19 AM 1446 OT joel Introduction

In response, Joel urges his audience to consider the assault (:10; 3:15). Both heaven and prayer, lament, fasting, and heartfelt return to earth will have signs that God is at work (Joel the Lord. His plea to “tear your hearts and not 2:28-31). Hills will drip with wine and flow with your clothing” (Joel 2:13) is a classic call to the milk (Joel 3:18) when Judah is restored. Joel people for sincere change. shares some words and themes with Amos The outline of the book shows a blend of and , the two books that come after judgment and deliverance. Joel uses meta- it in the order of the Minor Prophets. For ex- phors and symbols to describe events of the ample, compare Joel 3:16 with :2 and past and the future. Locusts are like a fierce na- Joel 3:19 with Obadiah’s longer description of tion, the bite of lions, and fire (Joel 1:6, 19-20; . This may mean that the three books 2:2-7). The earth and heavens shake, with the were read alongside each other to reinforce sun, moon, and stars showing the effects of common prophetic themes.

I. Locust Plague and a Call to Return to the Lord II. Future Deliverance and Judgment (2:28–3:21) (1:1–2:27) A. Spirit and (2:28-29) A. Plague and lament (1:1-12) B. Signs of the times (2:30-32) B. Fasting and prayer (1:13-20) C. Days of restoration and judgment among the C. Locusts signal (2:1-11) nations (3:1-8) D. A call to return to the Lord (2:12-17) D. Judgment of nations in Jerusalem (3:9-15) E. The Lord returns to the land and people E. Deliverance for the Lord’s people (3:16-21) (2:18-27)

J. Andrew Dearman

29_CEB_Study_Joel.indd 1446 5/31/13 9:19 AM Joel 1:13 1447 OT

Song of lament 1:2 Hos 5:1; Jl 2:2 The Lord’s word that came to Joel, Pethuel’s son: 1:3 Ex 10:2 2 1 Hear this, elders; 1:4 Dt 28:38; Ps 78:46; pay attention, everyone in the land! Jl 2:25; Am 4:9; Has anything like this ever happened in your days, Na 3:15 or in the days of your ancestors?a 1:5 Jl 3:3 3 1:6 Jl 2:2, Tell it to your children, Jl 2:25; Rev 9:8 and have your children tell their children, 1:7 Is 5:6; Jer 8:13; and their children tell their children. Hos 2:12; 4 What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. Jl 1:12; Am 4:9 What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten. 1:10 Is 24:4 b 1:13 1Ki 21:27; And what the hopping locust left, the devouring locust has eaten. Jer 4:8; Jl 1:9, 5 Wake up, you who drink too much, and weep. Jl 2:17; Jon 3:5 Scream over the sweet wine, all you wine drinkers, because it is snatched from your mouth; 6 because a nation, powerful and beyond number, has invaded my land.

Its teeth are like lions’ teeth; its fangs are like those of a lioness. 7 It has destroyed my vines, splintered my fig trees, stripped off their bark and thrown it down; their branches have turned white. 8 Lament like a woman dressed in funeral clothing, one who has lost the husband of her youth. 9 The grain offering and the drink offering are gone from the Lord’s temple. The priests and the Lord’s ministers mourn. 10 The fields are devastated, the ground mourns; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine dries up, the olive oil fails. 11 Be shocked, you farmers; howl, you vinedressers, over the wheat and the barley, for the crops of the field are destroyed. 12 The grapevine is dried up; the fig tree withers. Pomegranate, palm, and apple—all the trees of the field are dried up. Joy fades away from the people.c Call to mourn 13 Dress for a funeral and grieve, you priests; lament, ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in funeral clothing, servants of my God,

aOr your fathers bThe Heb uses several different words for locust; none of the meanings are identical. cOr from the sons of men; cf 2:1 Heb the people of the land

1:1-12 The prophet calls attention to the terrible effects of Joel is familiar with the agricultural produce of Judah and a mighty locust plague. Joel uses the plague as a reason to its importance for the life of the people. call people to pray and to return to God. 1:8 funeral clothing: The locusts will bring death, and 1:4 Locusts move fast in eating crops and plants. They join the people of Judah are compared to a young widow in quick movements with strong appetites. mourning. 1:5 you who drink too much: Those who enjoy wine will 1:9 priests . . . ministers: Priests serve at the temple in Jeru- lose their drink. They will go from the delight of drink to salem. They “minister” before the Lord and on behalf of the the shock of loss. people. They won’t have offerings to present to the Lord, 1:6 These images describe an overwhelming power that and they should mourn for themselves and for the people. invades the nation. The locusts are like an army, and they See Joel 1:13. eat like lions. See Joel 2:4-11. 1:13-20 The Lord’s people should gather at the temple 1:7-12 These verses list the various parts of Judah that and pray because of the terrible things to come. the locusts devastate, including crops, people, and farms. 1:13-14 Joel calls for a special assembly at the temple There are grains for bread and fruits from trees and vines. where people and priests mourn and pray. They won’t

29_CEB_Study_Joel.indd 1447 5/31/13 9:19 AM 1448 OT Joel 1:14

1:14 2Ch 20:3; because the grain offering and the drink offering Jl 2:12, Jl 2:15, Jl 2:16; Jon 3:8 have gone from the temple of your God. 1:17 Is 17:10, 14 Demand a fast, Is 17:11; Mal 2:3 request a special assembly. 1:19 Ps 50:15; Gather the elders and all the land’s people Jer 9:10; Am 7:4 2:3 Gn 2:8; to the temple of the Lord your God, Is 51:3; and cry out to the Lord. Eze 28:13, Eze 31:9, Eze 36:35 Time of suffering 15 What a terrible day! The day of the Lord is near; it comes like chaos from the Almighty.d 16 Isn’t the food cut off right before our eyes? Aren’t joy and gladness also gone from our God’s house? 17 The grain shrivels under the shovels;e the barns are empty. The granaries are in ruin because the grain has dried up. 18 How the animals groan! Herds of cattle are in distress because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep pant. The prophet’s prayer 19 To you, Lord, I cry, for fire has completely destroyed the pastures of the wilderness; and flames have burned all the trees of the field. 20 Even the field’s wild animals cry to you because the streams have dried up; the fire has completely destroyed the meadows of the wilderness. Announcement of alarm and peril Blow the horn in ; 2 give a shout on my holy mountain! Let all the people of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is near— 2 a day of darkness and no light, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread out upon the mountains, a great and powerful armyf comes, unlike any that has ever come before them, or will come after them in centuries ahead. 3 In front of them a fire consumes; and behind them a flame burns. Land ahead of them is like Eden’s garden, but they leave behind them a barren wasteland; nothing escapes them. 4 They resemble horses, and like warhorses they charge, 5 like the rumbling of chariots.

dHeb Shaddai eHeb uncertain fOr a great and strong people

have the grain and drink offerings from the fields, so they It could be a metaphor and refer to what the locusts eat should cry out to the Lord. This follows up the thought ex- (see Joel 2:3-5). pressed in Joel 1:9. 2:1-11 These verses describe in detail the locust destruc- 1:15 day of the Lord: Chaos is coming to the land, and it tion coming on the day of the Lord. They use various im- is the Lord’s work. The “day” is a decisive moment or time. ages to show the effects of the locust. 1:17-18 grain . . . animals: The lack of grain affects ani- 2:1 horn: A horn signals a public alarm. Here it alerts the mals as well as people. Sheep and goats graze on the nation to the coming of the day of the Lord (see Hos 5:8). stubble in grainfields after harvest. Now they will have 2:2 clouds and thick darkness: main features of the day of less to eat. the Lord. :18-20 describes judgment to come on 1:19-20 fire: The destruction by fire may refer to wildfires the day of the Lord in similar language. that can break out when fields are stripped of their crops. 2:3 Eden’s garden: the fruitful land of Judah. But destruction

29_CEB_Study_Joel.indd 1448 5/31/13 9:19 AM Joel 2:15 1449 OT

They leap on the mountaintops— 2:5 Is 5:24; The Israelites, fol- Na 1:10, Na 3:2; like the crackling of a fire’s flame, Mourning Customs Rev 9:9 lowing customs from the ancient world, em- devouring the stubble; 2:10 Is 13:10; ployed ritual forms to display their sorrow Eze 32:7; like a powerful army ready for battle. Jl 2:31, Jl 3:15; over pain and suffering, death, their return 6 In their presence, peoples shake with fear; Mt 24:29 to the Lord concerning sin, or their horror at 2:11 Jl 2:25, all faces turn red with worry. blasphemy. These ritual acts included fast- Jl 2:31, Jl 3:16; 7 Mal 3:2; Like warriors they charge; ing, tearing clothes, wearing rough goat hair Rev 6:17 like soldiers they climb the wall. garments, sprinkling dirt or ashes upon their 2:12 Dt 4:30; 1Sa 7:3; Each keeps to their own path; heads, shaving or pulling out hair and beards, Is 22:12; they didn’t change their course. and chanting laments. For examples, see Hos 12:6; Jl 1:14 8 1:20; 4:1-3; 3:1-9; 2 1:2; 2:13 Ex 34:6; They don’t crowd each other; Ps 34:18, each keeps to their own path. 9:3. Ps 51:17; Is 57:15; Jon 4:2 Even if they fall among the weapons, 2:14 Jl 1:9, they won’t stop. Jl 1:13; 9 Am 5:15; They rush upon the city; they run upon the walls. Jon 3:9; They climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves. Hg 2:19 10 2:15 Nm 10:3; The earth quakes before them; Jl 1:14, Jl 2:1 the heavens shake. The sun and the moon are darkened; the stars have stopped shining, 11 because the Lord utters his voice at the head of his army. How numerous are his troops! Mighty are those who obey his word. The day of the Lord is great; it stirs up great fear—who can endure it? Change your hearts 12 Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with sorrow; 13 tear your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, very patient, full of faithful love, and ready to forgive. 14 Who knows whether he will have a change of heart and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? 15 Blow the horn in Zion; demand a fast; request a special assembly.

will come to it. According to Joel 3:21, Judah will again be tore his clothing after hearing the contents of a scroll like a garden. found during temple repairs. He then led the people 2:11 the Lord utters his voice: The Lord is at the head of the in a ceremony to return to the Lord (2 Kgs 22:8–23:3). invading army and speaks for it. See Joel 3:16 for a similar Joel knows that people will show signs of sorrow such claim. as weeping and fasting at the temple. He urges them 2:12-17 In light of the difficult circumstances, the prophet to make sincere and lasting changes and not simply calls the people to return to the Lord in a special assembly. outward signs. merciful and compassionate: The Lord The priests should lead them in fasting and public worship is ready to forgive. The prophet reminds the people at the temple, where all can seek a renewed relationship of this core belief. When the Israelites failed in the wil- with the Lord. derness and made a gold calf, judgment came upon 2:12 now . . . return: There is still time to return. Sorrow and them (Exod 32–34). Nevertheless, the Lord offered weeping come with the call. The heart represents the in- them mercy and forgiveness (Exod 34:6-7). Jonah 4:2 tentions, desires, and expectations of a person. Note the describes the Lord’s mercy in similar terms. calls in Deuteronomy 6:5 and 10:12 for Israelites to love 2:14 Forgiveness is God’s free choice. Even at this late date and serve the Lord with “with all your heart.” under- God may still give a blessing to the distraught people, stands this to be the first and greatest commandment based on their heartfelt response to God. (Matt 22:37-38). 2:15-17 Everyone should participate in the special assem- 2:13 tear your hearts: In the ancient world people bly. The altar for sacrifice is in the courtyard in front of the would tear their clothing to show that they were sorry door to the temple. The priests stand between the altar and wanted a change of circumstances. King Josiah and the temple when leading worship. See Joel 2:1.

29_CEB_Study_Joel.indd 1449 5/31/13 9:19 AM 1450 OT Joel 2:16

2:16 Ps 19:5; 16 Jl 1:14 Gather the people; 2:17 Ps 79:10, prepare a holy meeting; assemble the elders; Ps 115:2; Eze 8:16 gather the children, even nursing infants. 2:21 Ps 126:3; Let the groom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Is 54:4; 17 Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the Lord’s ministers, weep. Zep 3:16, Zep 3:17 Let them say, “Have mercy, Lord, on your people, 2:22 Ps 65:12; and don’t make your inheritance a disgrace, Jl 1:18; Zec 8:12 an example of failure among the nations. 2:23 Lv 26:4; Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ” Ps 149:2; Hab 3:18; Zec 10:1, Words of compassion and promise Zec 10:7 18Then the Lord became passionate about this land,g and had pity on his people. 2:25 Jl 1:4; 19 Am 4:9 The Lord responded to the people: 2:26 Is 62:9 See, I am sending you the corn, new wine, and fresh oil, and you will be fully satisfied by it; and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations. 20 I will remove the northern army far from you and drive it into a dried-up and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its rear into the western sea. Its stench will rise up; its stink will come to the surface. The Lord is about to do great things! 21 Don’t fear, fertile land; rejoice and be glad, for the Lord is about to do great things! 22 Don’t be afraid, animals of the field, for the meadows of the wilderness will turn green; the tree will bear its fruit; the fig tree and grapevine will give their full yield. 23 Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the Lord your God, because he will give you the early rain as a sign of righteousness; he will pour down abundant rain for you, the early and the late rain, as before.h 24 The threshing floors will be full of grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil. 25 I will repay you for the years that the cutting locust, the swarming locust, the hopping locust, and the devouring locust have eaten— my great army, which I sent against you. 26 You will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has done wonders for you; and my people will never again be put to shame.

gOr then the Lord became jealous for his land hOr at the first

2:17 inheritance: Israel is God’s family (Exod 4:22; Hos 11:1). name for Jerusalem. In the ancient world, cities and land As such, they’re also God’s inheritance (Deut 32:8-9). were widely spoken of as female persons. Other biblical 2:18-27 Forgiveness and restoration will come. The locust writers speak of Jerusalem or Zion as a mother with chil- plague will go away, the land will be fertile again, and God dren (Isa 49:21-22; 50:4; Ps 87:5-6; Gal 4:26-27). will bless the people. 2:26-27 shame: or “disgrace” (Joel 2:17, 19). It is the 2:19 disgrace: In Joel 2:17 the people cried out concerning people’s condition when they fail the Lord. Here the Lord their disgrace among the nations. The Lord will remove it promises to remove their shame. midst of Israel: The tem- from them and bring back the lost crops (Joel 1:9-13). ple in Jerusalem was the Lord’s house, representing the 2:20 northern army: The locust army (see Joel 2:2, 23) divine presence in the midst of Israel. People went up to will die. Jerusalem to worship and to meet the Lord. In Joel 2:27, 2:21-22 fertile land . . . animals of the field: On the Lord’s Joel promises that the people will again know that the behalf, the prophet speaks to the land and to the wild ani- Lord is in their midst (see Zeph 3:17). This is an important mals that inhabit it (see Joel 1:20). The land will be fruitful theme in the prophetic books. After judgment the land of and support all who live on it. Israel will be restored, and the people will know that the 2:23 Children of Zion: the people of Judah. Zion is another Lord is with them.

29_CEB_Study_Joel.indd 1450 5/31/13 9:19 AM Joel 3:9 1451 OT

27 2:28 Is 32:15, You will know that I am in the midst of Israel, Is 44:3; and that I am the Lord your God—no other exists; Eze 39:29; Zec 12:10; never again will my people be put to shame. Ac 2:17 28 After that I will pour out my spirit upon everyone; 2:29 1Co 12:13; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Ga 3:28 2:30 Mt 24:29; your old men will dream dreams, Mk 13:24; Lk 21:11, and your young men will see visions. Lk 21:25; 29 In those days, I will also pour out my spirit on the male and female slaves. Ac 2:19 30 2:31 Is 13:10; I will give signs in the heavens and on the earth—blood and fire and columns of smoke. Jl 2:10; Mal 4:1; 31 Mt 24:29; The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood before the great and dreadful Rev 6:12 32 day of the Lord comes. But everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved; for on 2:32 Is 46:13; Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be security, as the Lord has promised; and in Jeru- Obad 1:17; Mi 4:7; Ro 9:27, salem, the Lord will summon those who survive. Ro 10:13 3:1 Jer 16:15, Judgment on the nations Jer 30:3; Truly, in those days and in that time, I will bring back to Judah and Jerusalem those who Am 9:14 3:2 2 Jl 3:12, 3were sent away. I will gather all the nations, and I will bring them to the Jl 3:14; Zep 3:8; Valley. There I will enter into judgment with them in support of my people and my pos- Zec 14:2 3:9 Is 8:9; session, Israel, which they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land, Jer 46:4 3and have cast lots for my people. They have traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, which they drank down. 4What are you to me, Tyre and , and all the regions of ? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, then in a flash I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads. 5You have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. 6You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, removing them far from their own border. 7But now I am calling them from the places where you have sold them, and I will repay you for your deeds. 8I will sell your sons and your daughters as a possession of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away; for the Lord has spoken. Declaration of war 9 Announce this among the nations: Prepare a holy war, wake up the warriors; let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up!

2:28-32 The reversal of Israel’s shame will lead to even also brings judgment on neighboring states and peoples. greater things. On a decisive day the Lord’s spirit will be They are judged for scattering Israel among the nations on young and old alike, and everyone can have the role and for selling them as slaves. of prophet. There will be signs in the heavens, and people 3:2 Jehoshaphat: means “the Lord judges.” Jehoshaphat will call on the name of the Lord. This passage is quoted Valley may have been the name of one of the valleys or in :17-21 to interpret the events of Day. open areas around Jerusalem, or a symbolic name for such 2:28-29 my spirit: In the future God’s presence is poured an area. Joel mentions it again in Joel 3:12 and also a “val- out on all the people. In the beginning God’s spirit ley of judgment” in Joel 3:14, which is probably the same moved over creation (Gen 1:2). The spirit spoke to and place. Jewish and Christian traditions have identified the through prophets (Isa 42:1; 61:1-4; Ezek 2:1-2; 37:1), giv- valley directly east of the Jerusalem temple mount with ing them inspiration and guidance. Eventually men and Jehoshaphat Valley. This is the of the NT. women, young and old, slave and free, will have this 3:4 Tyre, Sidon, Philistia: The people of these communi- experience. ties on or near the Mediterranean coast were traders over 2:30-31 great and dreadful day: Joel refers elsewhere to land and sea. They were involved in selling Israelites into decisive events as happening on the day of the Lord (Joel slavery. See Amos 1:6-10. deeds back upon your own heads: 1:15). Not only will people prophesy and have dreams, the The evil done to God’s people will come back in kind upon heavens and earth will show signs that point to judgment those who did it. Note also the promise in Joel 3:7 that and deliverance to come. God will repay evil deeds. 2:32 the Lord’s name: A person’s name in Hebrew culture 3:8 Sabeans: an Arab tribal group involved in long- stands for his or her identity. So it is with God’s name. distance trade, whose homeland was located in southern The psalmist celebrates that help comes in the “name of Arabia (modern Yemen) according to ancient Near East- the Lord” (Ps 124:8) and that one can “call on the Lord’s ern sources. The queen of (1 Kgs 10:1-10) was from name” for deliverance and by giving thanks (Ps 116:4, 13). this region. On the day to come people will call on the Lord’s name 3:9-15 These verses follow up the judgment previously for salvation. The Lord will deliver those in Jerusalem and described for the day of the Lord. The prophet announces on Mount Zion, the hill in Jerusalem where the temple that judgment is coming on evildoers and that it will take is located. place in Jerusalem. 3:1-8 God’s future deliverance of Judah and Jerusalem 3:9 holy war: Bringing evildoers to justice is God’s work.

29_CEB_Study_Joel.indd 1451 5/31/13 9:19 AM 1452 OT Joel 3:10

3:10 Is 2:4, 10 Is 18:5; Mi 4:3; Beat the iron tips of your plows into swords Zec 12:8 and your pruning tools into spears; 3:11 Is 13:3; Eze 38:15 let the weakling say, “I am mighty.” 11 3:12 Ps 96:13, Come quickly, all you surrounding nations; Ps 98:9; Is 2:4, gather yourselves there; Is 3:13; Jl 3:2 3:13 Is 63:3; bring your mighty ones, Lord. Jer 51:33; 12 Let the nations prepare themselves, and come up to the Jehoshaphat Valley; Hos 6:11; Mt 13:39; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Rev 14:15 13 Cut with the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. 3:14 Is 34:2; Jl 1:15, Jl 2:1, Go and crush grapes, for the winepress is full. Jl 3:2 The jars overflow with wine, for their wickedness is great. 3:15 Is 13:10; 14 Eze 32:7; Jl 2:10, Crowd after crowd fills the valley of judgment, Jl 2:31; Mt 24:29 for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of judgment. 15 3:16 Ps 46:1; The sun and the moon are darkened; Jer 25:30; Eze 38:19; the stars have ceased shining. Hos 11:10; Am 1:2 Salvation for God’s people 3:18 Is 30:25; 16 The Lord roars from Zion, Eze 47:1; Am 9:13; and utters his voice from Jerusalem; Rev 22:1 the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge for his people, a shelter for the people of Israel. 17 So you will know that I am the Lord your God, settle down in Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, and never again will strangers pass through it. 18 In that day the mountains will drip sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah will flow with water; a spring will come forth from the Lord’s house and water the Shittim Valley. 19 will become desolate and Edom a desolate wilderness. This is because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they have shed innocent blood. 20 But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem for all generations. 21 I will forgive their bloodguilt, which I had not forgiven. I will act on their account; I will not pardon the guilty.

The Lord dwells in Zion.

3:10 plows . . . spears: Iron tools were valuable possessions 3:16 Biblical writers occasionally refer to the Lord as a lion. in the ancient Near East. Some farmers didn’t have iron Both Joel and Amos (Amos 1:2) have the Lord roar[ing] weapons in addition to their tools. They went to a met- from Zion. refuge: often refer to the Lord as the alworker to heat their plows and hooks to reshape them refuge of people (Pss 5:11; 14:6). The fortifications of Je- for weapons (1 Sam 13:19-22). One did this only in excep- rusalem reinforced this image for God (Pss 28:8; 31:2, 4; tional circumstances. When and predict the 48:9-14; 125:1-5). end of human warfare, they speak of nations coming to 3:18-21 Joel mixes a poetic description of blessed- Jerusalem for divine instruction and then beating their ness for Israel and Jerusalem with prophecies that God swords and spears into plows and pruning tools (Isa 2:2-4; will judge Egypt and Edom for their oppression. Other Mic 4:1-4). prophets single out Edom for its particularly harsh treat- 3:11-15 The nations will gather for judgment in Jerusalem. ment of God’s people (Obad; Mal 1:2-5). :13-15 The exercise of judgment is like that of harvesting crops. predicts future blessings similar to those in Joel’s conclu- 3:16-21 The Lord will finish the time of judgment in Je- sion. Zechariah (Zech 13:1; 14:8) and (Ezek 47:1-12) rusalem (Zion) and then will provide peace and blessing join Joel with prophecies of new water sources in a future for Israel. Jerusalem.

29_CEB_Study_Joel.indd 1452 5/31/13 9:19 AM