Bible Class Notes on Joel Chapter Three
Judgment Against the Nations, vv 1-16
Restoring the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, vv 1-3
“In those days and at that time”—when the events mentioned in Joel 2:28ff come to pass.
“I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem.” The King James Version and New King James Version read: “When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem.” However, the idea seems to be somewhat broader—God would restore the fortunes. Some captives never did get to come back.
God would gather the nations. “All the nations” refers to those nations which participated in and benefited from the conquest of Judah. These nations would be brought into the “Valley of Jehoshaphat.” The phrase “Valley of Jehoshaphat” only occurs here in Scripture. “Jehoshaphat” means “the LORD judges.” This is not a literal valley, but it is a symbolic valley where God judges wrongdoing.
God would enter into judgment against the nations. He would do so on account of “my people, and my heritage Israel.” Notice God’s deep concern for his people; he calls them “my people,” “my heritage,” and “my people.” Israel is called “my land.” By mistreating Israel, the nations had mistreated God.
Why God would enter into judgment against the nations. They had scattered the Israelites among the nations—this obviously refers to the Babylonian deportations of 597 and 587 BCE. The nations had divided up the land. Generally, when one nation overtook another, the conqueror would divide up the land and import new citizens. However, the Babylonians did not do this. This apparently refers to the seizure of Israel by surrounding countries. The nations had cast lots for the people. The nations had sold boys to hire prostitutes. The nations had sold girls for wine—they had used God’s own possession for lewdness.
Judgment against Tyre, Sidon, and the regions of Philistia, vv 4-8
God here enters into judgment against Tyre, Sidon, and the regions of the Philistines. Here, God plays the role of the plaintiff in a lawsuit where he questions the defendant. Later, he will play the role of the judge. God wants these nations to know that if they are trying to punish him, he will punish them “swiftly and speedily.”
They had taken God’s silver and gold. The silver and gold here undoubtedly refer to vessels used in worship. They had carried these items into their temples. Temples were often used to store foreign booty (1 Sam 5:2; 31:10). This would show that the true God was not as powerful as their pagan gods. They would in turn use these items in their own worship.
They had sold God’s people to the Greeks—this is the only record of this occurring.
God would see that they were sold into slavery. God would requite from them captivity because they had sold his people into captivity. The Sidonians were sold into slavery by Artaxerxes III in 345 BCE. The Tyrians and the people of Gaza in Philistia were sold into slavery by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. No doubt some Israelites were among those who bought these slaves. The Sabeans were famous slave traders from southwest Arabia.
“The LORD has spoken”—this will surely take place.
The call to war, vv 9-12
In the next few verses, God encourages the nations to prepare for war against him.
God tells his messengers (who are not identified) what to proclaim among the nations. They are to prepare for war. All the men who can fight are to fight. The mighty men are to fight. The “men of war” are to fight. Even the weak are to fight.
They are to beat their plowshares into swords and their pruning hooks into spears. This is an ironic reversal of Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3. The people are to use whatever weapons they can find to fight against God.
The nations are to gather in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there God will judge the nations.
God has called the nations to come and fight him, but the nations have no hope.
Judgment executed against the nations, vv 13-16
God now calls upon his messengers to execute his judgment against the nations. They are to use the sickle—This picture of judgment is used in Isaiah 17:5. They are to tread in the wine press—This picture of judgment is used in Isaiah 63:3. The vats overflow, because the wickedness of these nations is great.
There are multitudes in the valley of decision. The repetition of “multitudes” shows the great number of people in the valley of decision. They are not the ones who are deciding—God is. God is deciding what to do with these multitudes.
The sun, moon, and stars withhold their light. God has come near. God’s presence is a frightening experience.
While the Lord announces his judgment, the heavens and earth quake.
The Lord is a refuge for his people. The word “refuge” literally means a shelter from the storm or rain (Is 4:6; 25:4; Job 24:8). The idea here is that God will protect his people from the judgment coming upon the nations.
The Lord is a stronghold for his people. The word “stronghold” is used in military settings. The place where the king would go during conflict is the “fortress” (Dan 11:7, 10, 19). The idea here is that God is security and safety for his people.
Blessings for Judah, vv 17-21
The people would know God, v 17
The people would know God who dwells in Zion.
Since God dwells in Zion, it is called “my holy mountain.”
Jerusalem shall be holy.
Strangers would never again pass through it. “Stranger” seems to refer to someone who is ungodly. This could be a reference to the church—that no one ungodly will be a member of the church. This could also be a reference to the “new Jerusalem” in which nothing unclean shall enter.
The blessings to come, v 18
- The mountains shall drip with sweet wine. Sweet wine had been cut off (Joel 1:5).
- The hills shall flow with milk.
- The stream beds shall flow with water. The beasts had groaned because the streams had been dried up (Joel 1:18, 20).
- A fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD. At one time, the temple had been a place of sadness (Joel 1:13, 16).
- The fountain of the LORD’s house shall water the valley of Shittim. While Israel dwelt at Shittim, they turned to Baal (Num 25). This fountain from the temple shall purge Israel of that sin.
Judgment against Jerusalem and Edom, v 19
Egypt shall become a desolation.
Edom shall become a desolate wilderness.
God will judge them because they have sinned against Israel. Egypt did this on several occasions (1 Ki 14:25-26; 2 Ki 23:29). Edom did this on the day Jerusalem was destroyed (Ob 11).
In contrast, Judah shall be inhabited forever, v 20
This clearly refers to heaven, God’s habitation.
Threat and promise, v 21
God will avenge blood and not clear the guilty.
But he dwells in Zion, heaven. He, therefore, has the right to exact judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- Read Joel through three times.
- God saw Israel as belonging to him—“my people,” “my heritage.” What implications does this have for how the Lord sees the church?
- God repaid Tyre, Sidon, and the regions of Philistia with the same judgment they gave. When God judges for the final time, will he judge any differently or will he still give people the judgment they gave others?
- Why would God have the nations gather for war just to destroy them?
- How is the Lord a refuge and a stronghold for his people?
This Bible class was originally taught by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at the Owingsville church of Christ in Owingsville, Kentucky.