ANNOTATIONS ON JOEL

THE ARGUMENT

Joel's time of prophecy is not specified by the holy history: yet generally it is thought to be when Hosea prophesied: not only because it is placed next Hosea; and before Amos; without any intimation of a differing time: but chiefly because the matters contained in it seem to fall in with the times of King Uzziah, of Judah; and of Jeroboam the second of Israel: though some do assign unto him a latter time, upon consideration of those passages, Chap. 3.1.–9.

Joel preaches to Judah, and declares, and denounces a general judgment of dearth and famine, caused by an extreme drought, and swarms of caterpillars with lion-like teeth, and other such like destroying creatures; some eating what others left. Thereupon he exhorts to repentance, showing it must be general, of all persons, of every age, and condition; because they had generally offended: And it must be earnest, and hearty, and testified by mourning, and humbling themselves before the Lord in fasting, and prayer: which if they do, the Prophet, from God, promises deliverance from that terrible plague of famine; and that their afflictions and losses should be removed; and recompensed by a wonderful plenty, not only of temporal, but also in its time of spiritual blessings, under the Messiah; foretelling so of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which then should abundantly be sent down and poured out, eminently at Pentecost: Further they shall have redemption from their enemies, the heathen round about: by God's sitting to judge them, and to take dreadful revenge upon them, for the wrongs done to his people: concluding with a reiteration of God's abundant blessings upon Jerusalem and Judah. The sum then, and order is this: Joel first tells the famine, and calls for lamentation and mourning, Chap. 1. Then he exhorts to public repentance, promising a blessing thereon, Chap. 2. Lastly, he comforts them, by destruction of their enemies, and God's blessings on his Church, Chap. 3.

CHAPTER 1

Verse 1. {The word of the LORD} See annotations on Hos. 1.1.

{that came to Joel} Was deposited with him, to be imparted to the people, 2 Cor. 4.7. & 5.20.

{Pethuel} Likely a man of note, and name, and fame. This is to distinguish him from other Joels.

Verse 2. {Hear ye old men} Signifying the princes, the priests, and the governors, or such who by reason of old age have seen and heard many things. See v. 14. Compare Deut. 32.1. Psal. 49.1. Isa. 1. ver. 2.

{and give ear} He implicitly chides their hardness of heart, that they were not sensible of these present plagues.

{all} Young as well as old; none excepted: The matter in hand concerns all.

{hath this been in your days} He calls the Jews to the consideration of God's judgments, and the greatness of them; so strange and unheard of formerly: all this, to shame them for their wretchedness, and security, wherein they so pleased themselves: as if God were asleep in heaven; and to rouse them up to behold God's hand stretched out, and his judgments thundering against them in so rare and uncouth a manner; and to call them to repentance, for their sins thereby.

{or even in} Have you heard them tell any the like. God's common judgments should affect us. But much more such extraordinary ones by their rarity should startle us, and astonish us.

Verse 3. {Tell} This is a more memorable judgment than to be a nine days' wonder; the continuation of such a famine by such strange means. The use of it should reach to posterity. Thus the Prophets set forth God's judgments, and improve them to the utmost.

Verse 4. {That which the Palmerworm hath left} Heb. the residue of the palmer-worm. Therefore this is not a threatening of judgments to come: but a narrative of that which presently did lie upon them: of the palmer-worm, see Amos 4.9.

{hath the Locust eaten} A description of a most great spoil made by these vermin: which joined with an extreme drought, had caused a most cruel dearth. See Chap. 2.25. This famine seems not to be that in the days of Joram, the son of Ahab, king of Israel, 2 King 8.1. For this famine was in Judah. Neither yet that in Judah in the days of Josiah, mentioned, Jer. 14. But rather, that in the days of Uzziah, intimated, Isa. 5.13,14. and Amos 1. ver. 2. and more fully, Amos 4.6,10. which is best agreeing with the time of the contents in this prophecy: or else some other famine about that time, not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture. To take this off from the letter as some do, and apply it only to the four several invasions of the Chaldeans and the devastations made by them, or, which is more, to apply these four creatures to the four monarchies; or to four chief vices, as some moralists do, is a thing of more boldness than we have any warrant for from the text. Those locusts, Exo. 10.14. were but for a short time. And such as they, should never be again in the land of Egypt; of locusts, see Prov. 30.27. Jer. 46.23.

{Cankerworm} Of the cankerworm, see Nahum 3.15,16.

{Caterpillar} Of the caterpillar, see Esay 33.4. Jer. 51.14,27.

Verse 5. {Awake} It is high time so to do, and not to continue wretchless and careless any longer.

{ye drunkards} That commonly after drink grow drowsy and sleepy; yet here is cause enough to awaken them. And what then should the sober do? He means, That the occasion of their excess and drunkenness was taken away.

{and weep} And yet otherwise who so merry, and laughing as they.

{from your mouth} That which was so pleasing to your palate, that your mouth did crave it of you; as the phrase is, Prov. 16.26.

Verse 6. {a nation} Joel tells of swarms of locusts, and caterpillars, like horses, & with lions' teeth, spoken of in v. 4. by a term improperly attributed to those insects, see Prov. 30.25,26. Some would understand this, of the nation of the Assyrians, or Chaldeans, coming up in war against them; but this is not so suitable to the whole context.

{my land} God's honoring the land of Canaan.

Verse 7. {barked my fig tree} Heb. laid my fig-tree for a barking.

{cast it away} Having thus made them unprofitable, men care not now for dressing them, or to look for any fruit from them.

{are made white} Without bark; as it were pale, a thing without blood, and withering.

Verse 8. {Lament} O you Jerusalem or Judah, mourn grievously.

{like a virgin} Espoused, and not yet had home: or presently after her espousals.

{for the husband of her youth} Mourn grievously, as a woman which has lost her husband, to whom she has been married in her youth: or her young husband, as elsewhere it is said, a wife of youth, for a young wife. See Pro. 5.18. Isa. 54.6. Mal. 2.15. Others rather say, by husband is meant one that has espoused a maid, and died before he came in unto her; or soon after the wedding, because here is speech of the virgin's mourning.

Verse 9. {meat offering} The extreme dearth hinders them from furnishing their sacred offerings with bread, wine, and oil, etc. See Exod. 29.40. Levit. 2.1.

{mourn} Partly because God's service is interrupted: partly also because they want their ordinary food, which they got from the offerings and sacrifices.

Verse 10. {The field} He prosecutes the same matter more largely, in more variety of words, to work the more effectually, and make the greater impression upon a people so dull and obdurate.

{new wine} All comfort and substance for nourishment is taken away.

{dried up} Or, ashamed, Esay 24.7.

Verse 11. {Be ye ashamed} He labors still to have his word pierce into their heart; not swim in the brain, but sink deeper, and work shame and sorrow. He would have their senses teach them, and humble them.

{O ye husbandmen} Or, the husbandmen are confounded, and the vine-dressers howl.

Verse 12. {joy is withered away} He seems also to have relation to the feasts and merriments which were in harvest time, and in time of vintage, Psal. 4.7. Esay 16.10. Jer. 48.33. All to drive them from dedolency and senselessness, under God's heavy hand of judgment.

Verse 13. {gird yourselves} He shows that the only means to avoid God's wrath, and to have all things restored, is unfeigned repentance. See Gen. 37.34. and the annotations there. He exhorts them to make use of this ready remedy; and to hasten the time of it.

{ye priests} Begin with them, whose office it was to be guides and examples to the rest.

{ye ministers of the altars} According to the Levitical law.

Verse 14. {All night in sackcloth} Watchings, humicubations, and sackcloth are signs and helps of extreme mourning.

{my God} Hardly your God in this your blockishness and stupidity under his so heavy hand of judgments.

{for the meat} Vers. 9.

{Sanctify you a fast} Chap. 2.15. Appoint a time specially for this holy exercise, and prepare yourselves unto it by all acts of piety & devotion. Fasting is a voluntary and religious abstinence from all meat and drink, and from all corporal and sensual delights & comforts, so far forth as it will stand with necessity of nature, charity and comeliness; together with a cessation from the works of our lawful callings; in that time, and by that means, generally to testify the desert of our sins, to afflict our souls, and to humble ourselves before God for them: More particularly, and punctually, to exercise, and increase our repentance, and prayer, in an extraordinary manner and measure, according to the occasion and exigence of the fast; our repentance in sorrowing and mourning for sin past; both our own and others': And in confessing them and in forsaking, and amending them for the time to come; publicly in a state; personally in ourselves: And to exercise our prayer, in craving with more fervor and faith, aid and help at God's hands, in all our necessities and extremities, corporal or spiritual: personal, or national; for the obtaining of blessings, or for the preventing or removing of judgments, present, or imminent; felt, or feared; and also to gain our special suits for which we fast.

{call a solemn assembly} Or, day of restraint, Lev. 23.36. Private fasting was not sufficient.

{the elders} The magistrates and chief of the people: their neglect of duty had set open the floodgates of sin. They had need to be ringleaders in repentance.

{and all} None excepted.

{cry unto the LORD} Pray that he would take away the present evils. This was the end of their fasting and assembling: all to add wings to their prayer.

Verse 15. {Alas} Jer. 30.7.

{for the day} Esay 13.6. We see by these great plagues, that utter destruction is at hand, greater plagues yet behind, if we prevent them not by repentance: but put it off from day to day. See Amos 6.3. & 5.18.

Verse 16. {joy and gladness} Deut. 16.11.14,15. Can we be so blind as not to see at noonday?

Verse 17. {seed} Heb. grain.

{rotten under their clods} Because it could not grow up, by reason of the extreme drought, v. 19,20. The Doway Bible very improperly thus; The beasts rotted in their own dung.

{the garners} There being no need or use of them for want of grain.

Verse 18. {How do the beasts groan} Or, mourn in their kind. Then how much worse are beasts than we? They also suffer for man's sins, and man in them.

{the flocks of sheep are made desolate} Which otherwise feed in the most dry and desert places.

Verse 19. {To thee} From whom these judgments come, and who only canst ease us of them; straight to you, not to others.

{will I cry} Though others will not, for ought I can do or say; yet I will do my duty, as a pious man should.

{the fire hath devoured} The heat and fire of the sun. The drought has burnt up the country, as if the fire had gone through it.

{pastures} Or, habitations.

Verse 20. {cry also unto thee} In their way and kind, Ps. 104.21,27. by reason of extreme thirst: so it is said of the young ravens, Psal. 147.9. and other creatures, Job 38.41. when by reason of hunger or thirst they lift up their beaks.

{are dried up} See Amos 4.6,7,8. Esay 5.13.

CHAPTER 2

Verse 1. {Blow} What Joel had propounded and preached in the former chapter, he does repeat and prosecute in this: He represents the grievousness of the present judgment. And thereupon moves them again to repentance: And to the repentant he shows at large God's gracious promises both of temporal and spiritual blessings.

{ye the trumpet} Or, cornet, Numb. 10.9. As it were to give notice of the coming of these foresaid devouring creatures; that everyone may prepare himself to prevent the scourge by repentance, and prayer to God to bear it patiently; and to overcome it by faith in his grace. See vers. 15.

{tremble} Not trust in formalities of God's worship, nor trifle with him in outward shows; but tremble and quake at heart at his anger, and the signs of it, Jer. 5.22.

{for the day of the LORD cometh} Chap. 1.15. See the annotations there.

{for it is nigh at hand} A threatening of further judgments; or enlargement and aggravation of this. See 1 King. 14.14.

Verse 2. {of darkness and of gloominess} Of affliction and trouble: and it may be he has relation to the coming of these creatures in great swarms, whereby the air may be darkened, vers. 10. See Ezek. 32.7,8. Amos 5.18.20. Esay 5.30. & 8.22.

{spread upon the mountains} Which shall in an instant cover the whole country, even as the morning light, or morning clouds and mists, spread abroad on a sudden over the tops of hills. See Amos 4.13.

{a great people} Chap. 1.6. & 2.11.25. See Prov. 30.25,26. This seems not to be understood of the Assyrian, or Chaldean enemy.

{there hath not been} Exod. 10.14.

{of many generations} Heb. of generation and generation.

Verse 3. {A fire devoureth before them} Chap. 1.19. these creatures going along to devour the country, which is rich & full of goods; and after they are gone by, everything is found gnawn and consumed. To understand this fire of that fire which is said to be carried before the host of the Chaldeans as the god and guide they worshipped, is a fancy too far-fetched.

{garden of Eden} Paradise, Gen. 2.8. & 13.10. Ezek. 28.13.

Verse 4. {the appearance of them} He insists long upon this the more to affect them with it; they being so hard to be brought to it, and wrought upon by it, Rev. 9.7. of the horse, see Job 39.19, etc.

Verse 5. {shall they leap} Rev. 9.9. and make an horrible noise and concussion.

Verse 6. {All faces shall gather blackness} Heb. pot. Through horror and hunger.

Verse 7. {Not break their} They shall not stop nor stay their pace, nor give the way to any.

Verse 8. {fall upon the sword} Or, dart. A term taken from the meeting of armies: to signify, that there will be neither defense, nor resistance that can stay this tempest, but it will break through all difficulties, dangers, and obstructions, without fear or hurt.

Verse 9. {run to and fro in the city} A manner of speech taken from a city won by assault. Cities shall not withstand them.

Verse 10. {The earth} Hyperbolical terms, frequent in the Prophets, to signify a horrible desolation.

{quake before them} Heb. before his face. Meaning the people, whereof mention is made, vers. 2.

{the sun and the moon} Shall be dark, with the overshadowing clouds and swarms of these devouring vermin, wondrous expressions to meet with their wondrous stupidity. This may also be understood in the same manner, as Isa. 13.10. Ezek. 32.7. Joel 3.15. Mat. 24.29. unless it be interpreted, as upon v. 2.

Verse 11. {shall utter his voice} Like a captain, encouraging his soldiers: or giving the sign of the battle.

{before his army} It is God's army; though the army itself know it not; and against him there is no resistance.

{he is strong} Apoc. 18.8. Jer. 50.34.

{day of the LORD} Jer. 30.7. Amos 5.18. Zeph. 1.15. no abiding it; but to prevent it by repentance, Amos 4.12.

Verse 12. {also now} As I exhorted you before in the former chapter so also now again I exhort you to repent, whiles there is yet space and place for it. And this the rather he renews, lest upon the premises they might have doubted there had been now no more place left for repentance; as if he should say, Though you have so long abused my mercy, and what lies in you let slip the time of turning, and shut the door against you; yet now, which no man would have thought, and yourselves can scarcely believe, I still expect, and invite you to hope of mercy, 2 Cor. 6.2.

{turn ye} Jer. 4.1. This is the end and scope of all the former judgments and threatenings, even to force them to repentance.

{with all your heart} Not faintly or feignedly, though not with perfect repentance; yet in the sincerity & integrity of your heart.

{fasting} With no ordinary and mean repentance; as you have not meanly, but extraordinarily offended.

Verse 13. {rent your heart} Psal. 51.17. Mortify your affections, and serve God with pureness of heart, and not with ceremonies. The words of the Prophet, expounding as it were those words of the Lord, in the former verse.

{gracious and merciful} Exo. 34.6. Psal. 86.5.15. Jonah 4.2. without hope of this, there could be no repentance, but either dedolency, or despair; from both which the Prophet would draw them. He uses here so many words of God's mercy, because it is so hard a thing to persuade sinners cast down, to overmaster their own diffidence and despair, and to fasten on mercy.

{repenteth him of the evil} Out of his infinite mercy he changes, not his counsel or his will, as being sorry for having done evil, as men do when they repent; but the effects of his rigor into effects of his mercy, Gen. 6.6.

{and not your garments} Only as hypocrites do; a like ellipsis is Gen. 32.28. 1 Sam. 8.7. That outward ceremony is not utterly rejected; but when it goes alone for all, without the vital part and soul of it, the renting of the heart, and the inward man.

Verse 14. {who knoweth} Amos 5.15. John 3.9. Zeph. 2.3.

{return and repent} He speaks this to stir them up from their security, and not that he doubted of God's mercies, if they did repent. See Josh. 14.12. Exod. 32.10. 1 Sam. 14.6.

{a blessing} Namely, the fruits of the earth, growing, and preserved by God's singular blessing. See Isa. 65.8.

{behind him} After these devourers are gone by.

{a meat offering} Chap. 1.9.

Verse 15. {Blow the trumpet} Num. 10.3. Namely, the holy trumpet, to call the general assembly or the people.

{sanctify a fast} Chap. 1.14.

{let the Bridegroom} What is lawful in itself, must at sometimes be forborne, Amos 6.4. Isa. 22.12,13,14. To give ourselves to pleasure, when God appears armed in weapons of wrath, is atheistically to scoff at his power, and deny him and his providence.

Verse 16. {sanctify the congregation} Appoint by proclamation, that all men being duly purified according to the law, may come to the Temple, to call upon the Lord, with mourning and fasting. See Exod. 19.10,22.

{gather the children} That as all have sinned, so all may show forth signs of their repentance, that men seeing the children, which are not free from God's wrath, might be the more lively touched with the consideration of their own sins, see Jon. 3. v. 7,8.

Verse 17. {Let the Priests} It was their office and duty. Not yet that the people must neglect their part.

{between the porch and the altar} Whereof, see 1 King. 6.3. This was the void space, Ezek. 8.16. where the sacred ministers prayed after the sacrifices were offered; see the annotations there. And on Ezek. 40.48. & Chap. 43.13,18. The people were in an outer court beyond the priests' court.

{spare} Nothing to be pleaded in prayer, but God's mercy.

{thy people} So again, your heritage. God's free and gracious covenant is the ground of their plea; and not anything in themselves, Psal. 74.2. & 94.5,14. Mic. 7.18. See Jer. 10.16. Isai. 63.17. Psal. 33.12. Josh. 7.9.

{rule over them} Or, use a byword against them. That your people being constrained through want should put themselves into bondage to strangers: or, be subdued by them, having no means to defend themselves, if the enemy should set upon them. See Isai. 26.13. this evinces not that the former judgment, so largely insisted upon, was the war, and sword of the heathen Assyrians, or Chaldeans. The armies of enemies here are still those, Chap. 1.4.

{wherefore should they say among the people} Psal. 42.10. & 79.4.10. & 115.2. Mic. 7.10. Exod. 32.12. Numb. 14.13.

Verse 18. {Then} He sets forth the effects of their present prayers.

{jealous for his land} As an husbandman, or father, at the sufferings of his wife, or children. He will feel and be moved at the afflictions of his dear people, and for his own glory, which by that means was trodden down by profane nations, Isai. 9.6. Hos. 1.18.

Verse 20. {I will send you corn} Verse 24. upon your repentance I will remove my judgments, Chap. 1.11.16,17. See Psal. 81.16.

{a reproach} According to their prayer, ver. 17.

Verse 20. {northern army} Namely, that great swarm of the foresaid destroying creatures which came out of the north.

{in the land barren} That multitude shall be carried away out of your land, and like a great army it shall be driven into the wilderness: the vanguard into the lake of Sodom, toward the east, and the rereward into the Mediterranean Sea, toward the west, Exod. 16.10. Deut. 1.24.

{because} Or, through, as Psal. 23.4.

{he hath done great things} Heb. he has magnified to do.

Verse 21. {for the LORD} See on vers. 20.

Verse 22. {ye beasts} Chap. 1.18.

{their strength} Their fruits and increase, according to the virtue which God has given them, Gen. 4.12.

Verse 23. {in the LORD your God} In him, and his reconciliation, who is the fountain of all blessings: in him more than in the plenty he gives.

{the former rain} Or, a teacher of righteousness.

{moderately} Heb. according to righteousness. Namely, at the time of your greatest need, and in that just measure, as it is required, for to help the barrenness which was before. Others, in righteousness, that is, bountifully, and lovingly.

{will cause to come down} Lev. 26.4. Deut. 11.14. Jer. 5.24. Jam. 5.7.

{in the first month} Both former, & later rain in this first month; which likely was the March moon, for then began that time of the year which was called the latter season; by reason of the fruits which grow ripe, and are gathered therein; at which time seasonable rain was most necessary: next to September moon; which was the other part of the year, called the first season; by reason of tilling and sowing of the ground; wherein like seasonable rain was alike necessary.

Verse 25. {my great army} This expounds that vers. 15.

Verse 26. {and praise} A fruit of God's blessing, and of their repentance.

{shall never be ashamed} Because they shall never pray to me in vain, at any such time of need; but he will relieve them in all their necessities.

Verse 27. {And ye shall know} By my wonderful blessing of you.

{that I am in the midst of you} Vouchsafe to dwell among you, and am always present and at hand, upon all occasions, for your good, Psal. 46.5. Isa. 12.6. Hos. 11.9. Zeph. 3.15.17.

Verse 28. {Shall come to pass} Now he rises higher, from bodily blessings to spiritual blessings. The people must not rest in the former; but by them be handed to these.

{afterward} In the Messias his days, I will pour down the gifts of my Holy Spirit in abundance; as I have heretofore poured out temporal blessings upon you.

{I will pour out my Spirit} Isa. 44.3. Zech. 12.10. Acts 2.17.

{upon all flesh} All manner of people, without any distinction of nations. Whereas formerly he imparted his Spirit sparingly to a few, here he does it to all his Church.

{and your sons} By the inward virtue of my Spirit, I will enlighten the understanding of mine elect, who of their own nature are but children in knowledge, or young men without experience; or aged men weak of understanding; and will give them a lively and spiritual light of the mysteries of the Gospel; accompanied at certain times, and in certain persons, with prophetic revelations, Acts 2.17. see Num. 12.6. Or rather, he shows particularly what he means by the former general promise: all shall prophesy, all shall be taught of God, Heb. 8.11. 1 Joh. 2.20,27. Hab. 2.14. All which are spoken comparatively, in relation to the times before the coming of our Savior in the flesh. All, of all sorts & sexes, shall have as much, and more light and illumination now, than the Prophets had in the Old Testament. See Mat. 11.11. their common light of all now under the Gospel shall be better than that of prophecy of old, such light shall the Sun of righteousness at his rising bring with him.

{your old men} By an allusion to the visible manner of God's gracious gifts and dealings with his people and Prophets, in dreams, and visions, before the coming of Christ. He describes the spiritual worship of God, and the abundant gifts of his grace in the days of the Gospel: so applying here his speech to the better capacity of the present people, not yet confounding or disannulling the distinct orders of ministers in the Church of Christ.

Verse 29. {upon the servants and upon the handmaids} Persons of all conditions, be they never so mean shall be sanctified by me, and graced by the gifts of my Spirit: even these shall abundantly be filled with my Spirit. It may be by these terms, as some say, is meant the calling of the Gentiles, amongst whom slaves were bought, Levit. 25.44. unless he mean the other principal effect of the Spirit of grace, which is to free men from the bondage of sin and the devil.

Verse 30. {wonders in the heavens} Chap. 3.15. Mat. 24.20. Mark 13.24. Luke 21.25. He does not threaten here, and terrify; but warns the faithful what terrible things should come, to the intent that they should not look for continual quietness in this world; and yet in all these troubles, he would preserve them. Or, this may import the fearful judgments of God upon the wicked for the defense of his Church.

Verse 31. {The sun shall be turned into darkness} Chap. 3.15. The order of nature shall seem to be changed for the horrible afflictions that shall be in the world. See vers. 10.

{before the great} See Mal. 3.2. & Chap. 4.1. and 2 Thes. 1.7.11. and Chap. 2.2,3. before the day of God's so fearful judgments for the rejecting of Christ when he came, and the contempt and prosecution of his Gospel. That day shall be terrible to the wicked, though a day of great joy to the godly. LXX thus, notable day. And so the Apostle seems to cite it, Acts 2.20.

Verse 32. {whosoever shall call} In those prodigious calamities of the world, yet he will preserve and deliver his; who by them will be driven to seek the Lord in prayer: when the state of things then does seem to be in a desperate condition, yet this must not keep us from calling upon God by prayer, but rather provoke us thereunto, and that with confidence: knowing he can, and will save his; and if need were, out of death itself restore them to life. And this belongs both to Jew and Gentile; as the text here allows it, and the Apostle applies it, Rom. 10.13.

{on the name of the LORD} God's judgments are for the destruction of the infidels, and to move the godly to call upon the name of God, who will give them salvation, Acts 2.21.

{in mount Zion} Namely, in the true Church of Christ.

{deliverance} From those evils which shall trouble the world; or, some remnant shall be saved. God's Church shall never perish. He will still have a people on earth, to show him faithful in heaven, and true and constant in all his promises.

{the LORD hath said} In many places by his Prophets. See Deut. 30. & 32.43. To his word we must look in this case, and trust in his promises; and not to our own sight, and sense.

{the remnant} Which are not run into the general apostasy, and corruption of the world, Luk. 18.8. This is added lest hypocrites, as their manner is, should shelter themselves under this promise. The true Church is but a remnant, a few, Luke 12.23.

{shall call} Whom he shall move and effectually put forward to the participation of his grace in Christ: God's gracious and inward call, out of his free election, and the good pleasure of his secret counsel; and not any industry in man, or merit of man, makes this distinction and discrimination of their remnant from the rest; which is therefore called a remnant according to the election of grace. See Rom. 11.4,5,7.

CHAPTER 3

Verse 1. {For} He prosecutes the former points of the restoration of the Church.

{behold} It is a wonderful thing in itself, and almost incredible.

{in those days} Being days wherein both kingdom and priesthood were lost, the worship of God, and the Temple overthrown. The Chaldeans ruling then, and tyrannizing over them; and themselves hated and scorned of their neighboring nations, and of all the world. This in part, and figuratively may be thus understood of God's vengeance upon the enemies of his people, after their deliverance from Babylon. But spiritually it may be referred to Christ's judgments upon the enemies of the Church, by him delivered; and especially at the last and universal deliverance at his last coming.

{I shall bring again} Yet God's power then shall overpower all: easily surmount all seeming difficulties and impossibilities.

{the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem} This was done under Cyrus, and Darius: or rather begun then; and carried on to the coming of Christ, receiving its spiritual perfection in and under his kingdom even till his second coming, so accomplishing his vengeance on all his Church's enemies, and completing her restoration and salvation.

Verse 2. {I will also gather all nations} The wicked nations which are enemies to me.

{into the valley of Jehoshaphat} See vers. 12.14. Sundry valleys are mentioned in Scripture. This valley is not thus mentioned elsewhere. Some believe that it is that which is called the valley of blessing, 2 Chr. 20.26. where Jehosaphat blessed the Lord, when he had discomfited his enemies. Others do firmly believe, that between the Mount of Olives, & the city of Jerusalem toward the east, there was a low valley of that name; and that so the Prophet shows that the enemies shall be judged, as it were in the sight of the Church, Isa. 66.24. See 1 Cor. 6.2. Others take the word Jehosaphat appellatively, to signify God's judgments; and the rather, because the word following alludes thereunto: in the valley of God's judgments, God will judge or plead. As for that fancy, that all the world shall be gathered together into the valley of Jehosaphat before Jerusalem at doomsday, and God shall sit there in his throne of judgment to judge them there; it is but an abusing of the letter of the text, to frame and uphold such a fiction. The most that can be gathered is this, that God will set up his tribunal in the sight and midst of his Church and people, and sit there to defend and preserve them from all injuries, and erect trophies for them over their enemies.

{my people, and for my heritage} See Annot. on Chap. 2.17. See again my people, vers. 3. God's precious esteem of his Church. He will maintain their cause, as his own; as Naboth did for his heritage, 1 King. 21.3. And this not for any worth in them, being such sinners; but for his own mere mercy, having freely chosen Abraham's seed to be his heritage and peculiar people. See Deut. 32.10. Zech. 2.8.

{scattered} Ejected, and turned out as vagabonds.

{parted my land} Picked out by myself, and peculiarly consecrated to the use of my people: they parted among heathens and strangers. See Dan. 11.16,41. Hos. 9.3. Ezek. 20.6.

Verse 3. {cast lots} As upon my land, ver. 2. so upon my people here: impiously and imperiously domineering over them; and at base rates, selling them ignominiously, and that to satisfy their lewd lusts.

{a harlot} That which the enemy got for the sale of my people, he bestowed upon harlots and drink.

Verse 4. {Yea} From the general, vers. 2. he falls here upon particulars, to these neighboring nations.

{what have ye to do with me?} With me, and my people? He makes their case and cause to be his; as Acts 9.4. my people neither offended, nor provoked you: and yet you joined of your own accord with their enemies against them.

{O Tyre and Sidon} See Isa. 23. and Chap. 14.29.32. Both Prophets denouncing the like judgments against them, about the same time. See on Amos 1.9,10. & Zech. 9.2.

{will ye render me recompense?} A retaliation for any wrong done you? nay, it was your own covetousness, and cruelty, that set you on against me, and my people.

{a recompense} Have I done you wrong that you will render me the like? yea, you provoke me without any cause given you. Or, it lies not in your power to give me satisfaction, for the spoils and wrongs which you have done my people: therefore you must bear the punishment thereof in your persons, according to the law for theft, Exod. 22.3.

{swiftly} Thus God sees and takes to heart the afflictions of his people, and will soon revenge them. See Apoc. 19.2. Psal. 58.10. & 79.10. Ezek. 25.14. Luke 18.18. Heb. 10.30.

Verse 5. {my} Thus God still owns the goods, and affairs of his people, as his own.

{silver} Being greedy of the prey and spoil: and gratified with it by the Jews' enemies, whom they assisted in the war.

{into your Temples} The spoils of my Temple. And thus to the scorn of God, erecting, as it were, in their idol-temples, a trophy of victory over him.

{pleasant things} Heb. desirable. See 2 Chron. 28.18.

Verse 6. {Grecians} Heb. the sons of the Grecians. Transmarine and outlandish people, Javan's posterity were in Europe and Græcia, Gen. 10.4,5.

{far} That they might have the less hope to return thither again.

Verse 7. {Behold I will} God for a time forsook them; yet so, as no distance of place by sea or land should hinder him from raising and bringing them back again; which he chiefly did in the spiritual reducing of them to the Church and kingdom of Christ.

{return} As v. 4. God will never forsake his Church, though for a while he do chastise her: nor shall her enemies escape unpunished, though for a time they triumph over her.

Verse 8. {And I will sell} A strange change and vicissitude and just retaliation of that ver. 6. And God himself will be the author of it; He adjudges them to this slavery and vassalage. Many examples are in Scripture of like retaliation; as Judg. 1.7. 1 Sam. 15.22. Isa. 33.1. So the Egyptians were drowned that had drowned the male children of Israel.

{and they shall sell them} For afterward God sold them by Nebuchadnezzar, and Alexander the Great, for the love he bare to his people; and thereby they were comforted as though the price had been theirs. And haply the Jews themselves by the means and favor of Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander, had an hand in the selling of them; as they by like means got an hand in selling the Jews.

{Sabeans} Gen. 10.7. Job 1.15. People of the east.

{the LORD hath spoken it} The sentence is past, and it is not now to be avoided.

Verse 9. {Proclaim} An ironical challenge to all Christ's enemies, for to do the uttermost of their power against him, and his Church; that they may all be overcome and overthrown. See Esay 8.9,10. Apoc. 16.14. Others thus; He goes on to denounce war to those heathen nations that had afflicted his people: and he does this in so many words and ways, representing the same to their eyes, as in a lively picture, the more thereby to move and affect the wicked nations that used to scoff at God's judgments, and the threatenings of them: & to comfort his people in the midst of these dangerous confusions in the assured hope and expectation of their deliverance, safety, and salvation, when God shall thus take due revenge on his and their enemies: and in the meantime to arm them with patience in their sufferings, beholding this horrible spectacle of God's wrath upon their oppressors.

{Prepare war} Heb. sanctify. God will raise up horrible troubles in all the world, but yet for the good of his Church, his remnant.

Verse 10. {beat your plowshares} The phrase is inverted, Esay 2.4. Mic. 4.3. where peace is promised, & prophesied to be in the kingdom of Christ. But where war is, there is no use of the plow, the fields are forsaken, none dare go forth to till the land: all grows waste, all betake themselves to the sword. Others thus, when I shall execute my judgments against mine enemies, I will cause everyone to be ready: and to prepare their weapons to destroy one another, for my Church's sake.

{pruning hooks} Or, scythes.

{let the weak} Not plead exemption from the war by age, or sickness: here must be no excuse admitted, all must encourage themselves to it.

Verse 11. {assemble yourselves} Do your utmost, all of you: let none be spared; you shall be brought down; none shall want his plague and judgment.

{cause thy mighty ones to come down O LORD} Or, the Lord shall bring down. Namely, the holy angels, who are your armies, to discomfit your enemies. See Psal. 103.20. Apoc. 12.7. Thus he turns his speech to God on this; There the Lord will cast down and overthrow the strong ones; even the strongest enemies of his Church and people. Thus in the most grievous afflictions God will still take care of his Church's safety: and revenge them of their enemies, after he has a while by them chastised his people, to practice their patience, and amend their manners.

Verse 12. {Let the Heathen} God still goes on to show, that at last he will be the avenger of his people. He is not idle, or careless of their sufferings; but only a while defers the punishments, till the wickedness of his, and their enemies, be full and ripe for judgment.

{valley of Jehoshaphat} See Annot. on vers. 2.

{sit to judge} Sit upon his tribunal; and cause all the heathen round about, from all parts of the world, to undergo his judgments there.

Verse 13. {Put ye in the sickle} Wherein he speeds his judgments upon the wicked; which the godly groaning under their burdens, do think according to the prompting of the flesh, that he does defer overlong. He expresses the reasons of his present execution, under the metaphors of a ripe harvest, and vintage, which he plainly expounds in the last words, Rev. 14.15,18. O you angels, it is time to execute my judgments, for the malice of the world is grown to its height. This is God's answer to the Prophet's speech.

{is great} As Gen. 15. v. 16. Jer. 51.13. Mat. 23.32. Dan. 8.23.

Verse 14. {multitudes} Multitudes of slain enemies. Though now they proudly domineer and insult over the Church, yet they shall appear at his tribunal in the day of his judgment and execution.

{decision} Or, concision, or threshing, or, of threshing: for so the word is used, Esay 28.27. & 41.15. naming the place so from the event, alluding to the harvest, vers. 13. and haply to the valley of Jehoshaphat, where in time past he threshed the Moabites, and Ammonites.

Verse 15. {The sun} This serves to awaken the wicked that are asleep, or dead in sin, and security. See on Chap. 2.31. Signs also foregoing the last judgment, Mat. 24.29. Luke 21.25.

Verse 16. {The LORD shall} As a lion roar horribly against his, and his Church's enemies, so as the world shall tremble; though for a time he did wink at them, and held his peace, summoning, as it were, with a terrible cry, all the world to appear before him. See Jer. 25.30. Amos 1.2.

{of Zion} Out of the seat of his glory: whose representation was formerly in the sanctuary. See Heb. 12.22.

{but the LORD} Will be the hope and strong help to his people, will take upon him their defense and protection. Thus mindful is he of them, and this should be a comfort to them in all their calamities; the issue shall be happy, though heaven and earth may seem to oppose and oppress them; he will save his remnant, though they may seem to be lost and perished, before he come to save them.

{hope} Heb. place of repair, or harbor.

Verse 17. {So shall ye know} Really, and find it by experience to be true, which before your sad calamities and extremities made you to doubt of. Our duty is to depend upon God's Word and promise, even before we find and feel the verification of it in ourselves.

{that I am} According to his covenant with them, and their fathers: upon which gracious covenant accepting them for his peculiar people, all his promises are founded and grounded.

{dwelling} As by his promises, and ordinances formerly he has been.

{Jerusalem be holy} Heb. holiness. My Church shall be cleansed from pollution, and such a mixture of hypocrites and profane people, Isai. 35.8. Apoc. 21.27. And shall then appear to be chosen of me for my holy habitation.

{no strangers pass} The strangers shall no more destroy his Church; nor pollute, or profane it, as formerly they have done, when it was given up as a prey unto them, Lam. 1.10. Which if ever they do, it is the people which by their sins make the breach for the enemy. Otherwise God would make good his promise; as Esay 26.1. See Esay 35.8. Apoc. 21.27. Esay 52.1. Zech. 14.21.

Verse 18. {The mountains shall} God's large bounty to his Church, all manner of ways. He mentions earthly blessings; therein suiting himself to the carnal people, that were as children under the elements of the law; yet so, as thereby to raise up their thoughts to spiritual blessings in Christ, so that, herein he promises to his Church abundance of graces, Ezek. 47.1. Apoc. 21.1. which would water and comfort the most barren places, Amos 9.13. Others say, a figurative description of the good and happiness of eternal life, Psal. 36.8.

{flow} Heb. go.

{a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD} Ezek. 47.1. Zach. 14.8. Rev. 22.1.

{valley of Shittim} A place say some in the land of Moab, Num. 25.1. Josh. 2.1. Mic. 6.5. which was desert and dry; even so far, to the utmost bounds should God's bounty overflow. Others translate it, the valley of choicest cedars: and understand it of the Church, see Ezek. 47.1.8. Psal. 92.13. The Trent Bible reads it, the torrent of thorns.

Verse 19. {Egypt} Namely, all the Church's enemies.

{Edom} As Egypt: and other enemies.

{for the violence} God is so careful of his Church, that though he bear for a time with the enemies of it, yet in the end he will take vengeance on them, for the violence they do unto his people.

{In their land} In the land of Egypt, and Edom, when the Jews fled to them for safety, in their distresses; or rather in the land of the children of Judah, murdering them in their own country, and holy heritage.

Verse 20. {But Judah} The fruit, and benefit of God's redemption and deliverance of his people; the true believers, and elect, they shall abide forever, as his love to them is everlasting: whereas the wicked at the most do but flourish for a time.

{shall dwell} Or, abide.

Verse 21. {For I will cleanse} He suffered his Church and people hitherto to be in their filthiness: but now he promises to cleanse them, and so make them pure unto him, without which cleansing, in pardoning sin past, and purging it out for the time to come, God could not be reconciled, and propitious to them.

{for the LORD} Or, even I the Lord that dwell in Zion, Apoc. 21.3. He minds them of his free and gracious covenant with them, by virtue whereof he still is the Lord that dwells in Zion: and that is the only cause of his bounty, and good dealing toward them; and not any worth or merit in them.