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Joel 2

World English Bible

WEB

1Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is close at hand: 2A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. 3A fire devours before them, and behind them, a flame burns. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them, a desolate wilderness. Yes, and no one has escaped them. 4Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, and they run as horsemen. 5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array. 6At their presence the peoples are in anguish. All faces have grown pale. 7They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course. 8One doesn’t jostle another. They each march in their own path. They burst through the defenses and don’t break ranks. 9They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves. 10The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. 11Yahweh thunders his voice before his army, for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome, and who can endure it? 12“Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.” 13Tear your heart and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. 14Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God. 15Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. 16Gather the people. Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts. Let the bridegroom go out of his room, and the bride out of her chamber. 17Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, and don’t give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” 18Then Yahweh was jealous for his land, and had pity on his people. 19Yahweh answered his people, “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. 20But I will remove the northern army far away from you, and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things. 21Land, don’t be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh has done great things. 22Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. 23“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh, your God; for he gives you the early rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the early rain and the latter rain, as before. 24The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you. 26You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied, and will praise the name of Yahweh, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed. 27You will know that I am among Israel, and that I am Yahweh, your God, and there is no one else; and my people will never again be disappointed. 28“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. 29And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit. 30I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. 31The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. 32It will happen that whoever will call on Yahweh’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Joel Chapter 2 presents a powerful call to repentance and a vivid description of the Day of the Lord. The chapter begins with a warning of an impending locust plague, which serves as a metaphor for a great army that will come upon the land, bringing devastation. The imagery of the locusts is striking, as they are described as a mighty army that leaves nothing in their wake, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. The people are urged to sound the alarm and gather for a solemn assembly, calling for fasting and prayer to seek God's mercy. This call to repentance is crucial, as it highlights the need for the people to turn back to God with all their hearts, demonstrating genuine sorrow for their sins (#repentance).

The chapter then shifts to the promise of restoration. God, in His mercy, assures the people that if they return to Him, He will restore what the locusts have eaten. This restoration is not just physical but also spiritual, as God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people, fulfilling the prophecy that will later be referenced in the New Testament during Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21). The outpouring of the Spirit signifies a new era of divine presence and empowerment for God’s people. The chapter concludes with a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty, as He will judge the nations and protect His people, reaffirming His covenant relationship with them. This chapter serves as a reminder of both the seriousness of sin and the hope found in God's grace and restoration. #Joel #DayOfTheLord #Repentance #Restoration

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Referenced by

  1. Judges 20:26v12In Judges 20:26, the Israelites fast and offer sacrifices, seeking God's favor after their defeat. This is akin to Joel 2:12-13, where God calls for fasting and repentance. Both passages highlight the theme of repentance and seeking God's mercy.
  2. 2 Chronicles 30:9v132 Chronicles 30:9 emphasizes God's mercy and willingness to forgive if the people return to Him, echoing the call to repentance and God's gracious nature in Joel 2:13.
  3. Esther 4:3v12Esther 4:3 describes the Jews mourning, fasting, and weeping in response to the decree against them, similar to the call for repentance and fasting in Joel 2:12-13 as a response to impending judgment.
  4. Psalms 79:10v17Psalm 79:10 and Joel 2:17 both address the concern of the nations questioning God's power and presence, urging God to act to uphold His honor.
  5. Isaiah 22:12v12Isaiah 22:12 calls for weeping and mourning, similar to Joel 2:12-13, which urges repentance and turning to God with fasting and weeping.
  6. Isaiah 32:15v28Isaiah 32:15 speaks of the Spirit being poured out from on high, which is paralleled in Joel 2:28-29 where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people.
  7. Isaiah 44:3v28Isaiah 44:3 promises the outpouring of God's Spirit, which is echoed in Joel 2:28-29, where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people, a prophecy fulfilled at Pentecost in Acts 2.
  8. Ezekiel 30:3v1Ezekiel 30:3 speaks of the 'day of the LORD,' a time of judgment and darkness, which is similarly described in Joel 2:1-2 as a day of darkness and gloom, emphasizing the theme of divine judgment.
  9. Ezekiel 39:29v28Ezekiel 39:29 promises that God will not hide His face from Israel anymore and will pour out His Spirit, which aligns with Joel 2:28-29 where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all flesh.
  10. Hosea 14:1v12Hosea 14:1 calls Israel to return to the Lord, echoing Joel 2:12-13, which also urges repentance and returning to God with all one's heart.
  11. Amos 5:18v31Amos 5:18 warns against desiring the 'day of the Lord,' a theme also found in Joel 2:31, which describes the day as 'great and terrible.' Both highlight the day as one of judgment.
  12. Amos 8:9v31Amos 8:9 predicts a day when the sun will go down at noon, a sign of divine judgment, which is echoed in Joel 2:31 where the sun turning to darkness precedes the great and terrible day of the Lord.
  13. Obadiah 1:17v32Obadiah 1:17 promises deliverance on Mount Zion, which aligns with Joel 2:32, where deliverance is promised for those who call on the name of the Lord.
  14. Zephaniah 1:14-15v1Zephaniah 1:14-15 describes the great day of the Lord as a day of wrath, distress, and anguish, which parallels Joel 2:1-2's depiction of the day of the Lord as a day of darkness and gloom.
  15. Acts 2:4v28Acts 2:4 describes the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, fulfilling the prophecy in Joel 2:28-29 about God pouring out His Spirit on all people.
  16. Romans 10:13v32Romans 10:13 quotes Joel 2:32, affirming that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, highlighting the universality of salvation.
  17. Revelation 6:12v31Revelation 6:12 describes cosmic disturbances, echoing Joel 2:31's prophecy of the sun turning to darkness and the moon to blood before the Day of the Lord.

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