Commentary on Joel

The primary reference is to the impending invasion by Assyria, but the fuller picture is of the day of the Lord. The Assyrian invasion was but a shadow of something far more terrible to come. The devastation by the invading Assyrians fulfills the prophecy, but a complete and greater fulfillment will occur in the day of the Lord.

Joel Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)

In chapters 2 and 3, Joel spans the centuries and gives to us, by inspiration, a detailed description of the time that will close this age and usher in the next. The armies will surround Jerusalem. As the locusts had attacked and destroyed the land, and as the nations of Babylon and Assyria would attack and destroy, so the endtime will be characterized by warfare and destruction. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened'' Mat Men have always failed to take Jehovah into account. Read again the story of Sennacherib and the Assyrians [2Kings All of this is a picture of what will happen in the future. Joel declared the intent of Jehovah when he wrote, ''I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and will judge them there for My people and for My heritage, Israel We know that many of the signs accompanying the prediction were not witnessed on the day of Pentecost.

There was no blood or fire or vaporous smoke. The sun was not turned into darkness, nor the moon into blood. These signs did not follow the coming of the Spirit in Peter's day because Israel was not repentant and obedient. But they will appear just before the glorious return of Christ. They will surely be seen in that future day. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; for He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem'' Isaiah 2: Joel sets forth the mighty works of Jehovah, our Lord Jesus Christ, both in judgment and blessing upon His covenant people, Israel.

He ''shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel'' Joel 3: First, the good news - Calvin's prayers are excellent, and are very convicting - Suggestion: Read them aloud, very slowly and as a sincere prayer to the Almighty God. On the other hand the careful Berean Acts Furthermore, he makes no mention of a future Millennial Reign of Messiah as described in passages like Joel 3: Commenting on Joel 3: Contrast commentaries such as Driver below Joel 3: This resource is listed because it has numerous commentary notes that relate to the OT Prophetic Books.

See Gaebelein's longer commentary below. Be cautious Acts Does not always interpret the Scripture Literally and sometimes replaces Israel with the Church note. Comment on this Commentary: John Gill unfortunately all too often offers a non-literal interpretation in the Old Testament especially the prophetic books as shown in the following example from Joel 3: Yet there is nothing in the context that allows for the spiritualizing Jerusalem.

The interpretation as a literal city is clear from the context. Comments of this ilk can be very misleading and cause one to completely miss God's intended meaning of the passage being studied! John Calvin, Matthew Henry and Adam Clarke are among a number of older commentators who exhibit a similar propensity to identify OT references to the literal nation of Israel as references to the New Testament church.

Jamieson's commentary is generally more literal see his notes on 3: The best rule to apply in the interpretation of the OT especially the prophetic passages is to remember the maxim that if the plain sense of the text the literal sense makes good sense in context, seek to make no other sense lest it turn out to be nonsense! James Rosscup writes "This work supplies much help on matters of the text, word meaning, resolving some problems, etc. Some have found it one of the most contributive sources in getting at what a text means.

An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works. For example, his interpretation of "Jerusalem will be holy" Joel 3: To make the beloved literal holy city of God "the church" is nonsense and makes the text almost impossible to comprehend See Tony Garland's article - Rise of Allegorical Interpretation. So why is Henry even listed? But " Caveat emptor!

Millennium and the Israel of God. Does Not always interpret literally. While Keil and Delitzsch generally in my opinion interpret the text literally, unfortunately they also occasionally spiritualize the text as attested by their comments on Joel 3: Note also the non-literal interpretations of Joel 3: It is noteworthy that these three commentators end up with different interpretations Henry and Gill differ from Keil in stating that Jerusalem is actually the church!

See discussion of the Rise of Allegorical Interpretation. To the contrary, there is nothing in the text or context of Joel 3: To be sure, the "hills will drip with sweet wine" is figurative language, but remember that even figurative language has a literal meaning and in this context this description speaks of the extreme fertility of the land that will follow the Lord's return Joel 3: When one begins to spiritualize God's Word, the range of interpretations is limitless as illustrated in the previous paragraph.

Literal interpretation is always the safest road to accurate interpretation. Remember that commentaries even those that are conservative and literal should be secondary resources. It is always best to first make your own observations of the Scriptures and arrive at your own interpretation see Inductive Bible Study before consulting the commentaries.

In so doing, you will be better prepared to " comment on the commentaries "! See Consult Conservative Commentaries. Arno Gaebelein who wrote in the early 's is an excellent expositor of the prophetic books because he assiduously adheres to the literal approach to interpretation. Compare his comments on the same passage Joel 3: It is the literal Zion and not something spiritual. The exact opposite of Keil and Delitzsch! Even good expositors of the Bible have missed the mark.

One good commentator says: James Rosscup writes that "This Keil and Delitzsch is the best older, overall treatment of a critical nature on the Old Testament Hebrew text verse by verse and is a good standard work to buy. The student can buy parts or the whole of this series. Sometimes it is evangelical , at other times liberal ideas enter. Complete Commentary of Joel on one zip file.

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Search by book You can also search by chapter like: John 1 or Gen. The locust plague was only a forerunner of much greater judgment in the coming day of Yahweh. This judgment would take the form of an invading army 2: All of the prophets build upon common themes of the call to repentance, judgment of the nations and eventual blessing for Israel.

It is possible, indeed probable, that 2: The context clearly calls for Messiah's presence 2: Summary Outline of Joel I. The locust plague--calling for repentance Joel 1: The invader from the North--calling for repentance Joel 2: The day of Yahweh revealed Joel 2: The Witness of Joel By many scholars Joel is regarded as the oldest of the writing prophets, and thus the first to use the term "the day of the LORD," so often taken up in the prophetic literature.

Thus who but the Messiah could speak in Joel 1: He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree; he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white. Again in Chapter 2, we read: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit" Joel 2: Christians, according to Hebrews 12, have come to Mount Zion. They are in the good of the Kingdom of GOD. Seven times does Joel bring in Zion as GOD's resource, when the utter failure of man is made evident, as historically Zion does not appear in Scripture till everything established by GOD and committed to human responsibility had broken down; Priesthood in the house of Eli; the prophet in the evil sons of Samuel; the monarchy in the hands of Saul; the ark in captivity, and then hidden away in Kirjath-jearim, neglected and forgotten, etc.

Then Zion became the center of the national and religious life of Israel. In our generation areas having the potential for a locust outbreak are monitored by international agencies using satellite reconnaissance and other technology; incipient swarms are met by aircraft and trucks carrying powerful pesticides.

However, if the locusts are not destroyed or contained shortly after the hatch, once the swarm has formed, control efforts are minimally effective even today. For example, in the civil war in Chad prevented international cooperation in attacking the hatch, and a destructive swarm spread throughout North Africa devastating some of the poorest nations and threatening Europe as well. It is difficult for modern Western people to appreciate the dire threat represented by a locust plague in earlier periods.

Such outbreaks had serious consequences for the health and mortality of an affected population and for a region's economy. Scarcity of food resulting from the swarm's attack would bring the population to subsistence intake or less, would make the spread of disease among a weakened populace easier, would eliminate any trade from surplus food products, and would stimulate high inflation in the costs of food products.

It was only in that the mystery of the locust was solved. Prior to this date researchers wondered what became of the locust during the years in which there were no outbreaks. Uvarov demonstrated that the swarming locust was none other than an ordinary species of grasshopper. However, when moisture and temperature conditions favored a large hatch, the crowding, unceasing contact, and jostling of the nymphs begin to stimulate changes in coloration, physiology, metabolism, and behavior, so that the grasshopper nymphs make the transition from solitary behavior to the swarming gregarious and migratory phases of the dreaded plague.

Plagues continue as long as climatic conditions favor the large hatches. Once entering their gregarious phase, swarms, of locusts can migrate great distances and have even been observed twelve hundred miles at sea. The swarms can reach great sizes: If one assumes that Joel was written around BC, then the coming army could be the Assyrians or Babylonians. The following diagram would depict this view. It will be a utopia. We also have another promise to the Jews.

The destruction that locusts can cause is almost unbelievable. They strip all crops and green vegetation. In 15 minutes they can completely strip a tree of its leaves. A Desert Locust swarm that crossed the Red Sea in was estimated to cover square miles. Such swarms are like dark clouds dense enough to hide the sun and they contain countless millions of these "grasshoppers. An Even Greater Judgment - God used this locust judgment to point to an even greater judgment that would come in the future. Joel has much to say about this future time of judgment.

See also G Campbell Morgan's application of following passages in Joel. Understanding the Book of Joel. Lewis described pain as God's megaphone. That is true on the personal level and sometimes it is also true on the national level. The story of the Old Testament is a story of the people of God falling away and then being judged for their sins and then coming back in repentance. It happened again and again in a repeating cycle. If you are a parent, then you understand this process. We went through it when we were raising our daughter.

She would be warned of the consequences of disobedience. Then she would disobey. And then would come "the Day of the Father. God warns and sends His prophets and eventually He says, "Enough is enough. And then God took a little bug and demonstrated His power. The event that began Joel's prophecy was a plague of locust. That doesn't mean too much to us today, but in that day this sort of thing could be devastating. It was an agricultural economy and a locust invasion meant that everyone who starve. If you do not read this chapter through the eyes of faith, then you will only see bugs.

But if you look to see what is really happening here, you will learn that these locusts are really the army of God.

Commentaries on Joel

They are to be a lesson to future generations. I did not live through the Great Depression. But my grandmother and my wife's grandparents did and they told me what it was like. Joel tells people to do the same thing. They are to ask whether there has ever been a time as bad as this. Does not always interpret the Scripture Literally. Conservative notes from Dr Morris who approaches the text seeking it's literal meaning in the context.

See all devotionals on one page. James Rosscup writes "This work originally appeared in The present publication is set up in two columns to the page with the text of the Authorized Version reproduced at the top. Scripture references, Hebrew words, and other citations are relegated to the bottom of the page. The work is detailed and analytical in nature.

Instructions to Students

Introduction, background and explanation of the Hebrew are quite helpful. Pusey holds to the grammatical-historical type of interpretation until he gets into sections dealing with the future of Israel, and here Israel becomes the church in the amillennial vein. One needs to be a Berean as these notes do not always render a literal interpretation and in fact "shy away" from mention of the Messianic Age, the Millennium , as shown by comparing Reformation Study Bible RSB Notes on Joel 3: John MacArthur who does accept a literal Millennium.

RSB note on Joel 3: The temple itself will be the source of a life-giving stream Ezek. MSB note on Joel 3: Eze 40—48 at Jerusalem. God has promised a future time when His glory in Judah will not be eclipsed. This time of ultimate peace and prosperity will be experienced after Christ conquers the world and sets up His millennial kingdom on earth cf.

MacArthur does not list Revelation If you are not familiar with the great saint Charles Simeon see Dr John Piper's discussion of Simeon's life - you will want to read Simeon's sermons after meeting him! Charles Simeon lived from and was an excellent, conservative expositor - notice that he interprets the text literally despite preaching in the 's, and thus he stillinterpreted the Millennium as the Millennium! Read his literal interpretation - "THE return of the Jews to their own land at some future period seems to be predicted so plainly Ed: What a contrast with many modern commentators who seem to find this interpretation enigmatic and confusing, primarily because they have replaced Israel with the Church!

As for their future conversion to the faith of Christ, that is absolutely certain. But previous to their final settlement in their own land, there will be a violent contest with them in Palestine: James Rosscup writes "Though old this is well-written and often cited, with many good statements on spiritual truths. Users will find much that is worthwhile, and sometimes may disagree , as when he sees the Jonah account as allegorical Ed: For centuries men have been looking for the principle upon which all the events of history turn, and ever since the dawn of history there have been many guesses about what that controlling principle is.

Long ago, the great Greek philosophers came up with the idea that history moves in cycles; and a leading modern historian, Arnold Toynbee, agrees with that. Aristotle also said that history follows this kind of course. He said that first a tyrant rises, a man of iron, who seizes control of a nation or a group of people and rules until his dynasty ends. We know little of the prophet Joel beyond a few personal details contained in the book itself. He identified himself as the son of Pethuel, preached to the people of Judah, and expressed a great deal of interest in Jerusalem.

Joel also made several comments on the priests and the temple, indicating a familiarity with the center of worship in Judah Joel 1: Joel often drew upon natural imagery—the sun and the moon, the grass and the locusts—and in general seemed to understand the reality that truth must have an impact on us in the real world. Dating the writing of the book of Joel remains one of the most difficult tasks for Old Testament scholars because unlike most prophetic writers, Joel gave no explicit indication of his time period.

In particular, Joel refrained from mentioning the current ruling kings. Upon her death, she left only her young son, Joash, to rule. But because Joash was too young to rule, the priest Jehoida ruled in his place until he came of age. So if Joel prophesied during this caretaking period, it would make sense that he mentioned no official king. The book of Joel also makes ample mention of priests, temple rituals, and nations, such as Phoenicia, Philistia, Egypt, and Edom, that were prominent in the late ninth century BC.

All of this points to a date of approximately BC or soon after, making Joel one of the earliest writing prophets, as well as a contemporary of the prophet Elisha. The book focuses its prophetic judgment on the southern kingdom of Judah with frequent references to Zion and the temple worship Joel 1: Rooted in such vibrant and physical imagery, this time of ultimate judgment, still future for us today 2 Thessalonians 2: Using what was at that time the well-known locust plague in Judah, Joel capitalized on a recent tragedy to dispense the Lord's message of judgment and the hope of repentance.

In referring to the terrible locust plague, Joel was able to speak into the lives of his listeners and imprint the message of judgment into their minds, like a brand sears the flesh of an animal.

1. Commentary on Joel 1 by Matthew Henry.
2. Undskyldninger.
3. Where are we?!
4. Still Hot and Juicy.

One commentator notes that the day of the Lord, which is a reference not to a single day only but to a period of judgment and restoration, consists of three basic features:. We find each of these elements in the book of Joel, as it offers one of the most complete pictures in Scripture of this ultimately redemptive event Joel 2: Visions of the future, such as the kind we find in Joel or even in the pages of the more well-known book of Revelation, can often seem remote from our day-to-day existence. However, their vivid pictures of destruction should serve to awaken us from our spiritual stupor.