Book of Joel Chapter 3 Vs. 2

 

Judgment Is Announced

Joel. 3:1-8 are a judgment speech against the nations. They contain accusatory elements (Joel 3:2-3, 3:5-6), as well as an announcement of judgment (Joel 3:1-2, 3:4, 3:7-8).

In the future day of the Lord Judah and her enemies will be carefully distinguished. The Lord will restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, in fulfillment of Moses’ promise (cf. Deut. 30:3). At the same time God will gather the nations for judgment.

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. Joel 3:2

I will also... At the same time God will gather the nations for judgment.

קָבַץ

qâbats

kaw-bats'

A primitive root; to grasp, that is, collect: - assemble (selves), gather (bring) (together, selves together, up), heap, resort, X surely, take up.

all...

כּוֹל כֹּל

kôl kôl

kole, kole

From H3634; properly the whole; hence all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense): - (in) all (manner, [ye]), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, [no-] thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso (-ever).

Nations...

גֹּי גּוֹי

gôy gôy

go'ee, go'-ee

Apparently from the same root as H1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

bring them down... The site of the judgment will be the Valley of Jehoshaphat, mentioned only in Joel 3:2, 3:12. Whether such a geographical site was known by this name in ancient Israel is not certain. Some scholars suggest it is a yet-future valley, to be formed by the splitting of the Mount of Olives at the Messiah’s return (Zec. 14:4). At any rate, the importance of the name is not in its geographical location, but in its meaning, the Lord judges.

יָרַד

yârad

yaw-rad'

A primitive root; to descend (literally to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively to fall); causatively to bring down (in all the above applications): - X abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come (-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go (-ing) down (-ward), hang down, X indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.

valley of Jehoshaphat... The name means Yahweh judges (3:12, 14), and although the exact location is unknown, other prophets spoke of this judgment as occurring near Jerusalem (Eze. 38, 39; Dan. 11:45; Zech. 9:14; 12:1). This judgment of the nation's includes the event of (Mat. 25:31-46).

into...

אֶל אֵל

'êl 'el

ale, el

(Used only in the shortened constructive form (the second form)); a primitive particle, properly denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, that is, near, with or among; often in general, to: - about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because (-fore, -side), both . . . and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in (-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to (-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).

the valley...

עֵמֶק

‛êmeq

ay'-mek

From H6009, a vale (that is, broad depression).: - dale, vale, valley [often used as a part of proper names].

of Jehoshaphat...

יְהוֹשָׁפָט

y^ehôshâphâṭ

yeh-ho-shaw-fawt'

From H3068 and H8199; Jehovah-judged; Jehoshaphat, the name of six Israelites; also of a valley near Jerusalem: - Jehoshaphat. Compare H3146.

and will plead...

שָׁפַט

shâphaṭ

shaw-fat'

A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively): - + avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge (-ment), X needs, plead, reason, rule.

my people...

עַם

‛am

am

From H6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively a flock: - folk, men, nation, people.

Israel...

יִשְׂרָאֵל

yiśrâ'êl

yis-raw-ale'

From H8280 and H410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: - Israel.

scattered...

פָּזַר

pâzar

paw-zar'

A primitive root; to scatter, whether in enmity or bounty: - disperse, scatter (abroad).

among the nations...

גֹּי גּוֹי

gôy gôy

go'ee, go'-ee

Apparently from the same root as H1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

and parted...

חָלַק

châlaq

khaw-lak'

A primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate: - deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-) part (-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self, (be) smooth (-er).

My land...

אֶרֶץ

'erets

eh'-rets

From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land): - X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X nations, way, + wilderness, world.

I believe this is speaking of the great battle of Armageddon. There has never been a time in history before, when all nations were gathered in battle here in Israel. This is the same as the battle we dealt with in the 39th chapter of Ezekiel. God fights the battle for Israel in this valley of Jehoshaphat.

Israel was promised this land back in Abraham's time. It was also promised that there would be a King that would rule on the throne in Jerusalem, who would be like unto David. The physical house of Israel is, even now, returning to the land of Israel. They have been scattered in all the countries of the world. God's plan all along was to restore Israel.

and will plead... The reason for God’s judgment is the nations’ treatment of His covenant people (My inheritance; see Joel 2:17), My people. The nations had scattered the Lord’s people, sold them as slaves to distant lands, and divided up His land.

The site of the judgment will be the Valley of Jehoshaphat, mentioned only in Joel 3:2, 3:12. Whether such a geographical site was known by this name in ancient Israel is not certain. Some scholars suggest it is a yet-future valley, to be formed by the splitting of the Mount of Olives at the Messiah’s return (Zec. 14:4). At any rate, the importance of the name is not in its geographical location, but in its meaning, the Lord judges.

The reason for God’s judgment is the nations’ treatment of His covenant people My inheritance; cf. comments on Joel 2:17, My people. The nations had scattered the Lord’s people, sold them as slaves to distant lands, and divided up His land. Scattered from pāzar, to disperse seems to refer to the Babylonian Exile (cf. Jer. 50:17). Even though the Lord Himself assigned the land to Israel’s enemies (cf. Lam. 5:2; Mic. 2:4), He still held these nations guilty for their failure to recognize His sovereignty and for their cruel treatment of His people.