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Joel 3

World English Bible

WEB

1“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land, 3and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. 4“Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head. 5Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my finest treasures into your temples, 6and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border. 7Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head; 8and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for Yahweh has spoken it.” 9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up. 10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’ 11Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together.” Cause your mighty ones to come down there, Yahweh. 12“Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 13Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.” 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near in the valley of decision. 15The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. 16Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel. 17“So you will know that I am Yahweh, your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain. Then Jerusalem will be holy, and no strangers will pass through her any more. 18It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters; and a fountain will flow out from Yahweh’s house, and will water the valley of Shittim. 19Egypt will be a desolation and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed, for Yahweh dwells in Zion.”

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

Overview

Joel Chapter 3 presents a powerful vision of God's ultimate judgment and restoration. The chapter begins with a prophetic declaration of the Lord's judgment against the nations for their treatment of Israel. God promises to gather all nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, where He will contend with them for His people, Israel, and for His heritage, the #childrenofIsrael. This gathering signifies a time of reckoning, where the injustices done to God's people will be addressed, fulfilling the promise of divine justice. The imagery of the harvest is used, indicating that the time for reaping the consequences of their actions has come, as seen in verses like Joel 3:13, which states, "Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; go in, tread, for the winepress is full.", emphasizing the urgency of God's judgment.

The chapter concludes with a promise of restoration and blessing for Israel. God assures His people that after the judgment, He will dwell in Zion, His holy mountain, and that Jerusalem will be holy. The nations that once oppressed Israel will face their fate, while God's people will experience His presence and protection. This restoration is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His covenant and His desire to bring His people back to Himself. The final verses highlight the transformation of the land, where the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk, symbolizing abundance and peace. Joel 3 serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration for His people, the #Israelites.

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Referenced by

  1. Isaiah 2:4v10Isaiah 2:4 speaks of turning swords into plowshares, symbolizing peace, while Joel 3:10 reverses this imagery, highlighting the contrast between God's judgment and peace.
  2. Ezekiel 38:16v2Ezekiel 38:16 speaks of God bringing Gog against His land so that the nations may know Him. Joel 3:2 also describes God gathering nations for judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, highlighting God's sovereignty and purpose in judgment.
  3. Amos 1:2v16Both Amos 1:2 and Joel 3:16 describe the LORD roaring from Zion, indicating God's powerful voice of judgment and presence emanating from Jerusalem.
  4. Amos 9:13v18Amos 9:13 describes a time of abundant blessing and prosperity, similar to the imagery in Joel 3:18, where the mountains drip with sweet wine, symbolizing God's future blessings and restoration.
  5. Obadiah 1:15v14Obadiah 1:15 declares the day of the Lord is near for all nations, similar to Joel 3:14, which speaks of the multitudes in the valley of decision on the day of the Lord.
  6. Revelation 14:19v13Revelation 14:19 describes the angel harvesting the earth with a sickle, which parallels Joel 3:13 where the harvest is ripe and the winepress is full, symbolizing judgment.
  7. Revelation 16:16v2Revelation 16:16 mentions Armageddon, the gathering place for the final battle, which is paralleled by the gathering of nations in the Valley of Jehoshaphat in Joel 3:2.

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