Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 1:13

13 Gird your selves, and lament , ye priests : howl ye ministers of the altar : come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God : for the meat-offering, and the drink-offering is withholden from the house of your God .

Bind your mourning sackcloth close to you with a girdle, that it may be more troublesome to the flesh, for though in Heb. 'tis only gird, the phrase is well known in the Scripture, on these occasions, to include sackcloth, as what is girded on the mourner, and verse 8. sackcloth is expresly mentioned, and in many other places, Isa. 15.3. Ier. 4.8. Lam. 2.10. Ezek. 7.18. and 27.31.

Weep bitterly as they do who mourn for the dead, lament over your dead joyes, let it be a hearty grief, as that of Abraham for Sarah, Gen. 23.2. of Iacob's children and friends sorrowing for his death, Gen. 50.10. or of Israel lamenting their brave Judge, 1 Sam: 28.3.

That you may be example to others, and because they had, as observed verse 9. a double cause to mourn, one more then the rest of the people.

See ver. 5. let. n.

Verse 9. let. p. They were the Lords Ministers, now Ministers of the Altar, they served the Lord in the things of the Altar.

The case needs a continued fasting, weeping and supplication in the most humble posture, and with all the tokens of an afflicted spirit. The Priests should above others mourn, if they mourn in the day, the Priests should mourn night and day.

Who having sent me to speak to you in his name, doth call you to this, that he may pardon and bless you when you repent.

Vid. ver. 9. let. k. l. m. n.