Return to the Lord
Who
knoweth if
he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even
a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? Joel
2:14
Who
knoweth if...
Question 4. Next, Joel 2:17.
leave
a blessing...
The blessing taken away in the judgment of Judah was to be restored
when they would repent and turn back to God (Joel
2:14
with Joel
1:9).
The
words who know testify to the Lord’s sovereignty in the matter
(cf. 2Sa. 12:22; Jon. 3:9).
Who...
מִי
mı̂y
me
An
interrogitive pronoun of persons, as H4100 is of things, who?
(occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely)
whoever;
often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix: - any
(man), X he, X him, + O that! what, which, who (-m, -se, -soever), +
would to God.
knoweth...
יָדַע
yâda‛
yaw-dah'
A
primitive root; to know
(properly to ascertain by seeing);
used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,
care,
recognition;
and causatively instruction,
designation,
punishment,
etc.): - acknowledge, acquaintance (-ted with), advise, answer,
appoint, assuredly, be aware, [un-] awares, can [-not], certainly,
for a certainty, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning,
declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with,
familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be [ig-] norant, instruct,
kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to, let, make) know, (come to give, have,
take) knowledge, have [knowledge], (be, make, make to be, make self)
known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of)
skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have
[understanding], X will be, wist, wit, wot.
he
will return...
יָדַע
yâda‛
yaw-dah'
A
primitive root; to know
(properly to ascertain by seeing);
used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally,
euphemistically and inferentially (including observation,
care,
recognition;
and causatively instruction,
designation,
punishment,
etc.): - acknowledge, acquaintance (-ted with), advise, answer,
appoint, assuredly, be aware, [un-] awares, can [-not], certainly,
for a certainty, comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning,
declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with,
familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be [ig-] norant, instruct,
kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to, let, make) know, (come to give, have,
take) knowledge, have [knowledge], (be, make, make to be, make self)
known, + be learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of)
skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have
[understanding], X will be, wist, wit, wot.
and
repent...
נָחַם
nâcham
naw-kham'
A
primitive root; properly to sigh,
that is, breathe
strongly; by implication to be
sorry,
that is, (in a favorable sense) to pity,
console
or (reflexively) rue;
or (unfavorably) to avenge
(oneself): - comfort (self), ease [oneself], repent (-er, -ing,
self).
and
leave a... Even if sinful Israel repented, she could not presume on
God’s mercy as if it were something under their control which He
had to grant automatically. They could only hope that He would turn
and have pity (cf. Mal. 3:7) by averting the disaster (cf. Joel 2:20)
and restoring their crops (cf. Joel 2:25).
שָׁאַר
shâ'ar
shaw-ar'
A
primitive root; properly to swell
up, that is, be
(causatively make)
redundant:
- leave,
(be) left, let, remain, remnant, reserve, the rest.
a
blessing...
בְּרָכָה
berâkâh
ber-aw-kaw'
From
H1288; benediction;
by implication prosperity:
- blessing,
liberal, pool, present.
behind
him...
אַחַר
'achar
akh-ar'
From
H309; properly the hind
part; generally used as an adverb or conjugation, after
(in various senses): - after (that, -ward), again, at, away from,
back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing),
forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, +
persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence
[-forth], when, with.
even
a... Agricultural blessing would mark a reversal of the curse that
had come on them (in the form of the locusts; cf. Deut. 28:38-42) and
would make it possible.
even
a meat offering...
מִנְחָה
minchâh
min-khaw'
From
an unused root meaning to apportion,
that is, bestow;
a donation;
euphemistically tribute;
specifically, a sacrificial offering
(usually bloodless and voluntary): - gift, oblation, (meat) offering,
present, sacrifice.
and
drink offerings... to be presented again (cf. Joel 1:9, Joel 1:13).
נֵסֶךְ
נֶסֶךְ
nesek
nêsek
neh'-sek,
nay'-sek
From
H5258; a libation;
also, a cast
idol: - cover,
drink offering, molten image.
unto
the Lord...
יְהֹוָה
yehôvâh
yeh-ho-vaw'
From
H1961; (the) self-Existent
or eternal; Jehovah,
Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050,
H3069.
your
God...
אֱלֹהִים
'ĕlôhı̂ym
el-o-heem'
Plural
of H433; gods
in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus,
especially with the article) of the supreme God;
occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates;
and sometimes as a superlative: - angels, X exceeding, God (gods)
(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
God
is immutable and does not change. This verse sets forth the possible
results of revival and repentance from man’s point of view. When
man changes, he is unaware of the change in himself, and views it as
though it were a change in God.
God,
perhaps, will stay His judgment, and instead of placing a curse on
them for their sins, will bless them mightily. He will restore their
food supply greatly. They will be able to again offer the meat
offering and drink offering daily.
Again,
The words who knows testify to the Lord’s sovereignty in the matter
(cf. 2Sam. 12:22; Jon. 3:9). Even if sinful Israel repented, she
could not presume on God’s mercy as if it were something under
their control which He had to grant automatically. They could only
hope that He would turn and have pity (cf. Mal. 3:7) by averting the
disaster (cf. Joel 2:20) and restoring their crops (cf. Joel 2:25).
Agricultural blessing would mark a reversal of the curse that had
come on them (in the form of the locusts; cf. Deut. 28:38-42) and
would make it possible for grain… and drink offerings to be
presented again (cf. Joel 1:9, 1:13).