Joel 3 Study Notes: The LORD Judges the Nations
The LORD gathers the nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them for scattering His people and dividing His land, and He charges Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia with selling Judah's people. He calls the nations to a hopeless war, shelters His people, and promises a holy Jerusalem and His lasting presence in Zion.
General
What picture of abundance does 3:18 give for that day?
Answer: Hills flowing with milk and a spring from the LORD's house
In contrast with the parched land of chapter 1, where the vines failed and the streams dried up (1:10-12, 20), 3:18 pictures overflowing plenty: mountains dripping with sweet wine, hills flowing with milk, every streambed of Judah running full, and a spring flowing out from the LORD's house to refresh the Valley of Acacias. Life and blessing come from the place where God dwells. Ezekiel sees waters streaming out from beneath the temple (Ezekiel 47:1), Zechariah sees living water flowing out of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:8), and John sees the river of life-giving water streaming from God's throne and the Lamb's (Revelation 22:1).
- Joel 3:18 (BSB)“And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias.”On that coming day the land overflows with plenty and a spring flows from the LORD's house.
- Ezekiel 47:1 (BSB)“Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.”Ezekiel sees water coming out from under the temple and flowing outward.
- Zechariah 14:8 (BSB)“And on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the Eastern Sea and the other half toward the Western Sea, in summer and winter alike.”Zechariah foresees living water going out from Jerusalem in every season.
- Revelation 22:1 (BSB)“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb”John is shown a crystal-clear river of life coming from the throne shared by God and the Lamb.
Theological
What image of plenty does 3:18 attach to the LORD's house?
Answer: Hills flowing with milk and a spring from the LORD's house
Joel's closing vision reverses the drought of chapter 1 (1:10-12, 20): sweet wine drips from the mountains, hills flow with milk, Judah's streambeds run full, and a spring issues from the LORD's house to refresh the Valley of Acacias (3:18). The source of renewed life is the sanctuary, the place of God's presence. The same motif of waters flowing from the temple appears in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 47:1) and Zechariah (Zechariah 14:8) and reaches its fullest expression in the river of life streaming from the throne shared by God and the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).
- Joel 3:18 (BSB)“And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the streams of Judah will run with water, and a spring will flow from the house of the LORD to water the Valley of Acacias.”On that coming day the land overflows with plenty and a spring flows from the LORD's house.
- Ezekiel 47:1 (BSB)“Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.”Ezekiel sees water coming out from under the temple and flowing outward.
- Zechariah 14:8 (BSB)“And on that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the Eastern Sea and the other half toward the Western Sea, in summer and winter alike.”Zechariah foresees living water going out from Jerusalem in every season.
- Revelation 22:1 (BSB)“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb”John is shown a crystal-clear river of life coming from the throne shared by God and the Lamb.
General
According to 3:13, why is the winepress full and the vats overflowing?
Answer: Because the nations' evil is so great
The LORD sits to judge the surrounding nations at the Valley of Jehoshaphat (3:12). Judgment is pictured as a harvest: swing the sickle because the crop is ripe, and tread the grapes because the press is full, since their evil is great (3:13). Multitudes crowd into that valley of decision, because the LORD's day is close at hand there, and in that valley it is the LORD who gives the verdict (3:12, 14). Revelation uses the same harvest pictures of sickle and winepress for God's final judgment (Revelation 14:15, 19), and in His parable of the weeds Jesus calls the harvest the close of the age (Matthew 13:39).
- Joel 3:12-14 (BSB)“Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”The LORD sits to judge the nations, calling for the harvest and the winepress because their evil is great.
- Revelation 14:15 (BSB)“Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest, for the crop of the earth is ripe.””An angel calls for the sickle to reap because the earth's harvest is ripe.
- Revelation 14:19 (BSB)“So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.”An angel reaps the earth's vintage and casts it into the great press of divine wrath.
- Matthew 13:39 (BSB)“and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”Jesus explains that the harvest stands for the close of the present age.
Theological
What reason does 3:13 give for the ripeness of the harvest and the overflowing vats?
Answer: Because the nations' evil is so great
Having summoned the nations, the LORD takes His seat as Judge at the Valley of Jehoshaphat (3:12). The judgment is depicted as harvest and vintage: the sickle is to be put in because the crop is ripe, the grapes trodden because press and vats overflow, for their evil is great (3:13). The multitudes in that valley of decision face the LORD's verdict, since His day is near (3:14). Revelation takes up the same sickle and winepress imagery for final judgment (Revelation 14:15, 19), and in His parable of the weeds Jesus interprets the harvest as the close of the age (Matthew 13:39).
- Joel 3:12-14 (BSB)“Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”The LORD sits to judge the nations, calling for the harvest and the winepress because their evil is great.
- Revelation 14:15 (BSB)“Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest, for the crop of the earth is ripe.””An angel calls for the sickle to reap because the earth's harvest is ripe.
- Revelation 14:19 (BSB)“So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.”An angel reaps the earth's vintage and casts it into the great press of divine wrath.
- Matthew 13:39 (BSB)“and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.”Jesus explains that the harvest stands for the close of the present age.
General
What does the LORD say will be true of Jerusalem in 3:17?
Answer: It will be holy, and foreigners will never again overrun it
The LORD says His people will know that He is their God, who lives in Zion, His holy mountain (3:17). Because He lives there, Jerusalem will become holy, meaning set apart for Him, and foreigners will never again pass through to conquer it (3:17). The city's holiness comes from the presence of the holy God. Isaiah likewise calls Jerusalem a holy city the unclean may not enter again (Isaiah 52:1), Zechariah hears the LORD promise to come back to Zion and live in Jerusalem so that its mountain bears the name Holy Mountain (Zechariah 8:3), and a psalm rejoices that God is within His city so that it will not be shaken (Psalm 46:4-5).
- Joel 3:17 (BSB)“Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, never again to be overrun by foreigners.”The LORD who lives in Zion will make Jerusalem holy and safe from foreign invaders.
- Isaiah 52:1 (BSB)“Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.”Isaiah calls Jerusalem to rise as a holy city that the unclean will not enter again.
- Zechariah 8:3 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.””The LORD promises to come back and live in Jerusalem, whose mountain will be called holy.
- Psalm 46:4-5 (BSB)“There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns.”The psalm describes God's city as secure because He is present within her.
Theological
What future condition of Jerusalem does 3:17 announce?
Answer: It will be holy, and foreigners will never again overrun it
The knowledge of God promised in 3:17 centers on His dwelling in Zion, His holy mountain, and its consequence: Jerusalem will become holy, never again trampled by foreigners. Holiness here is derivative, flowing from the presence of the holy God among His people. Isaiah speaks of Jerusalem as a holy city the unclean will not enter (Isaiah 52:1), Zechariah of the LORD's return to dwell in Jerusalem so that its mountain is named holy (Zechariah 8:3), and Psalm 46 of the city made secure because God is present in it (Psalm 46:4-5).
- Joel 3:17 (BSB)“Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, never again to be overrun by foreigners.”The LORD who lives in Zion will make Jerusalem holy and safe from foreign invaders.
- Isaiah 52:1 (BSB)“Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.”Isaiah calls Jerusalem to rise as a holy city that the unclean will not enter again.
- Zechariah 8:3 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.””The LORD promises to come back and live in Jerusalem, whose mountain will be called holy.
- Psalm 46:4-5 (BSB)“There is a river whose streams delight the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her; she will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns.”The psalm describes God's city as secure because He is present within her.
General
Why does 3:19 say Egypt and Edom will become desolate?
Answer: For the violence they did to Judah and the innocent blood they shed
Egypt and Edom will be left desolate because of their violence against Judah, whose land they stained with innocent blood (3:19). In contrast, Judah will be lived in forever and Jerusalem through all generations (3:20). The LORD promises to avenge the blood He has not yet avenged, and the book closes with the reminder that the LORD lives in Zion (3:21). The last word of Joel is God's presence with His people. Moses sang that God would take vengeance for His children's blood (Deuteronomy 32:43), and Revelation pictures God living among His people as their God (Revelation 21:3).
- Joel 3:19-21 (BSB)“Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood. But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will avenge their blood, which I have not yet avenged.” For the LORD dwells in Zion.”Egypt and Edom are judged for shedding Judah's blood, while Judah endures and the LORD lives in Zion.
- Deuteronomy 32:43 (BSB)“Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.”Moses' song closes with God promising to repay His enemies for the slain among His people.
- Revelation 21:3 (BSB)“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.”John hears that God's dwelling is now with His people and He will be their God.
Theological
What reason does 3:19 give for the desolation of Egypt and Edom?
Answer: For the violence they did to Judah and the innocent blood they shed
Egypt and Edom are sentenced to desolation for violence against Judah and the innocent blood shed in its land (3:19), while Judah and Jerusalem are promised permanent habitation through all generations (3:20). The LORD pledges to avenge blood not yet avenged, and the book ends on the note of divine presence: the LORD lives in Zion (3:21). Moses' song had promised that God would avenge His children's blood (Deuteronomy 32:43), and the hope of God dwelling with His people finds its fullest form in Revelation 21:3.
- Joel 3:19-21 (BSB)“Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood. But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will avenge their blood, which I have not yet avenged.” For the LORD dwells in Zion.”Egypt and Edom are judged for shedding Judah's blood, while Judah endures and the LORD lives in Zion.
- Deuteronomy 32:43 (BSB)“Rejoice, O heavens, with Him, and let all God’s angels worship Him. Rejoice, O nations, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His children. He will take vengeance on His adversaries and repay those who hate Him; He will cleanse His land and His people.”Moses' song closes with God promising to repay His enemies for the slain among His people.
- Revelation 21:3 (BSB)“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.”John hears that God's dwelling is now with His people and He will be their God.
General
According to 3:2, why will the LORD bring the nations into judgment at the Valley of Jehoshaphat?
Answer: For scattering His people Israel and dividing up His land
Chapter 3 looks ahead to the time when the LORD restores the fortunes of Jerusalem and Judah (3:1). Then He will summon every nation into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and put them on trial for what they did to His people, His inheritance: they scattered Israel among the nations and carved up His land (3:2). They also cast lots over His people and treated their children as goods to be traded (3:3). The LORD counts harm done to His people as harm done to Him; Zechariah says that harming them is like striking at the LORD's own eye (Zechariah 2:8). Jesus likewise pictures all the nations gathered before Him for judgment (Matthew 25:31-32).
- Joel 3:1-2 (BSB)““Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land.”When the LORD restores Judah, He will gather the nations to the valley and judge them for scattering His people and dividing His land.
- Zechariah 2:8 (BSB)“For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—”The LORD says that harming His people is like striking at the most tender part of His own eye.
- Matthew 25:31-32 (BSB)“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”Jesus pictures every nation assembled before His throne to be judged.
Theological
On what charge does the LORD arraign the nations at the Valley of Jehoshaphat (3:2)?
Answer: For scattering His people Israel and dividing up His land
The oracle opens with restoration: when the LORD reverses the captivity of Jerusalem and Judah (3:1), He will gather all nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and enter into judgment with them on behalf of His people and inheritance, whom they dispersed, and His land, which they apportioned (3:2), even casting lots over the captives and trafficking their children (3:3). The LORD identifies Himself with His people, so that injury to them is injury to Him (Zechariah 2:8), and Jesus likewise pictures all nations gathered before His throne for judgment (Matthew 25:31-32).
- Joel 3:1-2 (BSB)““Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land.”When the LORD restores Judah, He will gather the nations to the valley and judge them for scattering His people and dividing His land.
- Zechariah 2:8 (BSB)“For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—”The LORD says that harming His people is like striking at the most tender part of His own eye.
- Matthew 25:31-32 (BSB)“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”Jesus pictures every nation assembled before His throne to be judged.
General
What reversal of a familiar image appears in 3:10?
Answer: Farm tools are to be beaten into weapons for battle
The LORD tells the nations to prepare for war, stir up their warriors, and hammer their farm tools into weapons, so that even the weak boast of strength (3:9-10). Isaiah and Micah picture the opposite: when the LORD judges between the nations, they will turn their weapons into farm tools and stop training for war (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). Joel's reversal is a summons to a battle the nations cannot win, because they are gathering to face the LORD as their Judge (3:12).
- Joel 3:9-10 (BSB)“Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack! Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’”The nations are summoned to arm for war, even forging farm tools into weapons.
- Isaiah 2:4 (BSB)“Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.”Isaiah foresees the nations, judged by the LORD, turning weapons into farm tools.
- Micah 4:3 (BSB)“Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.”Micah repeats the same picture of peace under the LORD's judgment, the image Joel turns around.
Theological
What image does 3:10 invert in its summons to the nations?
Answer: Farm tools are to be beaten into weapons for battle
The proclamation of 3:9-10 is an ironic call to arms: the nations are to get ready for battle, stir up their warriors, and turn implements of cultivation into weapons, while even the weak claim strength. It inverts the prophecy of Isaiah and Micah, in which the nations, judged by the LORD, convert weapons into farming tools and abandon war (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). Here the nations mobilize only to appear before the LORD seated as Judge (3:12).
- Joel 3:9-10 (BSB)“Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war; rouse the mighty men; let all the men of war advance and attack! Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’”The nations are summoned to arm for war, even forging farm tools into weapons.
- Isaiah 2:4 (BSB)“Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.”Isaiah foresees the nations, judged by the LORD, turning weapons into farm tools.
- Micah 4:3 (BSB)“Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.”Micah repeats the same picture of peace under the LORD's judgment, the image Joel turns around.
General
True or False: In 3:16, when the LORD thunders from Zion, He offers no shelter to His own people Israel.
Answer: False
This is false. The sun, moon, and stars go dark, and the LORD thunders from Zion and Jerusalem so that heaven and earth shake (3:15-16). Yet the same verse turns at once: the LORD will shelter His people and be Israel's fortress (3:16). The same LORD whose voice shakes heaven and earth protects those who belong to Him. Amos opens his book with the same picture of the LORD thundering from Zion (Amos 1:2), the psalmist calls God His people's refuge and strength, always ready to help in trouble (Psalm 46:1), and Nahum says the LORD, being good, is a fortress for all who rely on Him (Nahum 1:7).
- Joel 3:15-16 (BSB)“The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.”As the sky darkens and the LORD's voice shakes the world, He shelters His people.
- Amos 1:2 (BSB)“He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.””Amos begins with the LORD's voice sounding from Zion and Jerusalem in judgment.
- Psalm 46:1 (BSB)“For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”The psalmist confesses God as His people's present help and protection in trouble.
- Nahum 1:7 (BSB)“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.”Nahum says the LORD protects and looks after everyone who trusts Him in a time of trouble.
Theological
True or False: In 3:16 the LORD's thunder from Zion brings only terror, with no word of protection for Israel.
Answer: False
This is false. Cosmic darkening and the LORD's thunder from Zion shake heaven and earth (3:15-16), yet the verse immediately adds that the LORD is a shelter for His people and a stronghold for Israel (3:16). The same divine voice is judgment to the nations and security to the covenant people. Amos opens with the identical image of the LORD thundering from Zion (Amos 1:2), Psalm 46:1 confesses God as refuge and strength, and Nahum 1:7 calls Him a fortress in distress for all who rely on Him.
- Joel 3:15-16 (BSB)“The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine. The LORD will roar from Zion and raise His voice from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.”As the sky darkens and the LORD's voice shakes the world, He shelters His people.
- Amos 1:2 (BSB)“He said: “The LORD roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.””Amos begins with the LORD's voice sounding from Zion and Jerusalem in judgment.
- Psalm 46:1 (BSB)“For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”The psalmist confesses God as His people's present help and protection in trouble.
- Nahum 1:7 (BSB)“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.”Nahum says the LORD protects and looks after everyone who trusts Him in a time of trouble.
General
What does the LORD charge Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia with in 3:5-6?
Answer: Looting His gold and silver and selling Judah's people to Greeks
The LORD asks these peoples what they have against Him, since they took His gold, silver, and treasures into their temples and sold Judah's people to the Greeks, far from home (3:4-6). He promises to rouse those captives from the places where they were sold and to turn the wrong back on the wrongdoers: their own sons and daughters will be sold to Judah, who will pass them on to the Sabeans, a distant nation (3:7-8). What is done to His people He counts as done to Him, and He repays. Moses had sung that vengeance belongs to the LORD (Deuteronomy 32:35), and Paul tells believers to leave vengeance to God for that reason (Romans 12:19).
- Joel 3:4-6 (BSB)“Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads. For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples. You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland.”The LORD accuses Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia of plundering His treasures and selling His people to the Greeks.
- Joel 3:7-8 (BSB)“Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return your recompense upon your heads. I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.”The LORD promises to bring the captives back and to repay the offenders in kind.
- Deuteronomy 32:35 (BSB)“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.””Moses' song says that repaying wrongs is the LORD's right and that the day of the wicked is near.
- Romans 12:19 (BSB)“Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.””Paul tells believers not to take revenge but to leave room for God, who will repay.
Theological
What specific wrongs does the LORD lay against Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia in 3:5-6?
Answer: Looting His gold and silver and selling Judah's people to Greeks
The LORD indicts Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia for plundering His silver, gold, and treasures for their temples and for selling Judah's people to the Greeks, removing them to distant lands (3:4-6). The sentence is strict retribution: He will rouse the exiles from where they were sold and return the deed on the heads of the offenders, whose own children will be sold to Judah and then to the Sabeans (3:7-8). Recompense belongs to the LORD (Deuteronomy 32:35), which is why His people are to leave vengeance in His hands (Romans 12:19).
- Joel 3:4-6 (BSB)“Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads. For you took My silver and gold and carried off My finest treasures to your temples. You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland.”The LORD accuses Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia of plundering His treasures and selling His people to the Greeks.
- Joel 3:7-8 (BSB)“Behold, I will rouse them from the places to which you sold them; I will return your recompense upon your heads. I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.”The LORD promises to bring the captives back and to repay the offenders in kind.
- Deuteronomy 32:35 (BSB)“Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.””Moses' song says that repaying wrongs is the LORD's right and that the day of the wicked is near.
- Romans 12:19 (BSB)“Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.””Paul tells believers not to take revenge but to leave room for God, who will repay.