Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 3

1 FOR behold in those dayes, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem .

Though our dividing this Chapter from the former seems to some a beginning of some new matter, yet indeed the Prophet prosecutes his old Subject, and proceeds to declare how that great thing mention'd in the last ver. of the second chap. should be effected, and in this verse you have a Transition to that thing.

It is a note of great attention, and heeding what is to be here spoken.

When I shall by Cyrus the Type bring Iudah's people out of Babylonish Captivity; the emblem of a greater and worse Captivity

after the flesh as the Type, but, according to the mystery of it, Iudah signifieth the whole remnant, or residue of those God will save,

Both literally and typically understood, so that beside what refers to the History of the Two Tribes or Kingdom of the House of David restored out of Captivity by Cyrus, here is the bringing back the Captivity of the whole Israel of God by Christ the Messiah to be considered, and all along through this Chapter.

2 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 .

In the Type it is not simply all Nations, but all those Nations that have with hostile minds oppressed, and scattered Iudah in the Anti-type, 'tis all Nations that have been Enemies to Christ and the Church.

This is spoken with respect to the low scituation of the place, being a valley, and we descend into low parts; so here they are caused to go down.

Much difficulty Interpreters find in explaining this; we must look to it as a Type to somewhat signifyed by it, and so apply. The valley of Blessing where Iehoshaphat 2 Chron. 20.22, &c. discomfited mighty and numerous Enemies, and then triumpht in God with praises to him: So the whole Church may be this Valley of Blessing, and in this God will judge the Enemies of his people, and give them occasions of praising God for his righteous Judgments, and Jerusalem his Church shall see this as the Inhabitants of Ierusalem might see what is done in the Valley of Iehoshaphat, if they would be at a little pains to go out of the city,

after the manner of a just and impartial judge I will debate my peoples cause, and do them right

in midst of my Church signified by the Valley of Iehoshaphat, the Valley of the judgment of God.

Iudah Two Tribes, but as in their History bearing a Type of the Church of Christ;

purchased and possessed by me ever since they were brought out of Egypt; though many times invaded and injur'd by their unjust Neighbours who were so much their Enemies because they were my peculiar people, and kept to my worship.

Either by force driving them out of their Habitations, or else carrying them into Captivity, and dispersed them into their insolent humour, of which dispersion more follows, ver. 3.6, 8.

Divided among themselves the Land I gave to my people to hold immediately of me, so 'twas my Land that they divided, their robbery and spoil was sacriledge: Such is the injustice and oppression of Persecutors of the Church now, and so God will judge them in due time.

3 And they have cast lots for my people p, and have given a boy for an harlot , and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink .

Either procur'd a boy to bestow on some harlot or other which they kept, or gave a boy, instead of money, the price of an Harlot to be enjoy'd by lew'd Souldiers.

A young girl which being Captive, fell to their lot they have valued at a base, low price, and sold it for Wine,

so much as at one sitting one of them could drink; or perhaps for one draught of Wine when the barbarous Souldier was dry or minded to be drunk.

It was customary with Conquerors to divide the Captives by lot, and so did these Enemies of the Iews, Obad. ver. 11. and so did the Chaldeans on the Captive Ninevites, Nab. 3.10. tho' this was grievous, yet 'twas the common lot of Captives.

4 Yea, and what have ye to do with me O Tyre and Zidon , and all the coasts of Palastine ? will ye render me a recompence ? and if ye recompence me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence on your own head .

What just cause of quarrel have you against me? Have I done you any wrong which now you avenge upon my people? Or do you begin to violate the Laws of Neighbourhood, and Friendship, and think to escape? Do ye think you have to do with a poor opprest people, my people, and I nothing concern'd at it?

A great Mart Town which Neighbour to the Iews, and ought to be Friends, either joyn'd Forces with the Enemy against them, or retaining Friendship with the Enemy, bought the Iews for Slaves, and sold them again to strangers, to Graecians; this in his Man Trade, Tyre was accustomed to, Ezek. 27.13.

Zidon a famous antient Empory, whose Merchants also bought up Captive Iews at cheap rates of these barbarous Souldiers

which lay along the Midland Sea, among which were Towns of Trade, and Merchants that bought and sold these Captives.

Do ye this by way of reprisal? Have I or my people so dealt with you or yours?

I will, since you deal so with my people, and with me, certainly and speedily avenge my self and my people on you.

As you have used them, they shall use you. It is probable this may refer to the Assyrian Invasion, when Senacherib took all the fenced Cities of Iudah, and might sell the Captives, or to Salmanesers time when he captived the Ten Tribes, or it may be a prediction of what Tyre and Zidon, and these Cities of Palestine would do in the Babylonish successes; and a threat what God would do against them for it; but to whatever particular History it refer, who sees not this in it that God will plead the cause of his oppressed Church, and avenge it as his own cause?

5 Because ye have taken my silver and my gold , and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things .

You Tyrians, Zidonians, and Philistines have received at the hands of those you confederated with, you have taken them either as part of the spoil, or as part of your pay.

Silver and Gold Vessels dedicated to my Service in the Temple, and about the Altar.

And in contempt of me with proud insulting have presented them in your Temples to your Idols, as if they were mightier and more glorious than I; so did the Philistins carry the Ark into Dagons Temple, but it cost Dagon his head, 1 Sam. 5.4. and Nebuchadnezzar carried away the sacred Vessels when he spoiled the Temple.

God speaks of these after the manner of man, and so accounteth of these things.

Marginal references: Heb, desirable.

6 The children also of Judah , and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians that ye might remove them far from their border .

The Iews who dwelt in the Land,

The Citizens of Ierusalem, or perhaps the young ones, Boys and Girls, as ver. 3. both of City and Country.

Tyrians, Zidonians, and Philistins, though Neighbours, and oftentimes befriended by the Iews, yet you have done this,

Or sons of Graecians, who either employed them as Slaves in Greece, or else sold them to other Nations for Slaves;

that there might be no hope to these poor Captives ever to return to their Countrey, nor fear to the Tyrians and Zidonians of being call'd to account for the injury by them 'twas done unto. Amos 1.6, 9. mentions this sin of the Philistins, and God's displeasure at it.

Marginal references: Heb. sons of the Gr[illegible: 1 letter]cians.

7 Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them , and will return your recompence upon your own head .

Observe it well, for as 'twill be strange when done, so it shall certainly to your joy be done O my people, and to the astonishment of your Enemies.

Awaken and raise them, though they lay sleeping, or as dead men, I will stir up some shall befriend them.

Fulfilled when Alexander Magnus and his Successors, as Iosephus lib. 13. cap. 5. reports dismiss'd all Iews that were Slaves in Greece, and gave them leave to return to their own Country.

And more than this, I will pay you in your own Coin, you shall read and know your sin in your punishment.

8 And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah , and they shall sell them to the Sabeans , to a people afar off , for the LORD hath spoken it .

Give them up into the hands of the Iews, who thereby shall have opportunities of disposing of them as they see good, so you did with my people, so I will recompence you.

To the Iews, the posterity and kindred of those you sold.

Either as Factors for Nebuchadnezzar, or Alexander the Great and his Successors; or else as Merchants Trading on their own account, shall make this one part of their Trade to sell Graecians, Tyrians, &c. Now though we should not have any particular History that relates the transactions of these people in this kind; yet we may rest assured 'twas done since God said it should be done; nor can we expect, or is it necessary it should be, that the Iews should by a conquest of these people bring them Captives, and sell them; The Zidonians, Tyrians, and Philistins did not so against the Iews, but they bought particular persons out of the hands of Syrians and Assyrians, who took the Iews Captives; so when Tyre and Zidon and the Philistins shall be captivated by the Babylonish power, or by the Graecian, these shall sell their Captives either into the hands, or by the hands of the Iews.

Sabeans were a people in the parts of Arabia most remote from Tyre and Zidon, they were accounted the ends of the Earth; Mat. 12.42. and spread themselves along by the Sea-Coast on both sides of the Arabian Bay or Red Sea, and past over that Sea, and planted in Africa, and were part of that Country which now doth, or lately did belong to the Emperour of Abassia, who (as the King of Spain in both Indies) glorieth in being King of both Sabeas, and Successor to the Queen of Sheba; to one or both of these Sabeans did the Iewish mensellers dispose of those slaves.

This may be an elliptick speech thus to be filled up, and the Sabeans shall sell them, (i. e. whom they bought of the Iews) unto another Nation far off from the Sabeans; or else 'tis an additional description of this people and their Country.

Then 'twas done, whether we know when, or by whom, or how many were sold or no.

9 ¶ Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles : prepare war , wake up the mighty men , let all the men of war draw near , let them come up .

Publish, or make known, as by sound of Trumpet, some say 'tis an Ironie, I rather think 'tis a Declaration of what is to come to pass through some Ages before the coming of the Messiah, as will appear probable from what followeth;

Or these things which I am purposed to do in retaliating to the Enemies of my people, proclaim Wars which may make Captives for sale under the hand of my people,

the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Babylonians, and Graecians successively.

Make ready for Wars against the Enemies of my people, who shall by these be corrected, but their Enemies at last shall be destroyed.

The valiant men who dare attempt any thing, and are of great strength to execute what they attempt.

All the Captains, and experienced Souldiers, let them appear at the rendezvouz.

When marshal'd, let them march up on their design, toward the seat of the War which will now for many ages be in or about the Valley of Vision, the Church, the Valley of Judgment from the Lord.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word]

10 Beat your plow-shares into swords , and your pruning-hooks into spears , let the weak say I am strong .

Here is a prediction of War, and, such as should continue, with some intermissions, through many years, as on the contrary when swords are to be beaten into plow-shares, and spears into pruning-hooks; it was a prediction of peace, Is[illegible: 1 letter]. 2.4. lay aside your Husbandry in ploughing and sowing,

and let Gardiners, Vine-dressers, and Planters think of getting spears instead of pruning-hooks.

Either of Body through sickness or natural weakness, or else weak of mind, fearful, and cowardly

Put on strength and valour greater than he hath, let none be absent from this War.

Marginal references: Mic[illegible: 1 letter] [illegible: 1 span]; Or, [illegible: 1 word]; Zec[illegible: 1 letter]. [illegible: 1 span]

11 Assemble your selves , and come all ye heathen, and gather your selves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down , O LORD .

The War proclaimed ver. 9, provision made ver. 10. now hasten to the general Rendezvouz, embody your selves as you march, and hasten what you can as the word imports;

Not simply and in utmost latitude, but all that are here concerned;

All round about Iudea, the Nations near about this Valley of Vision

toward Iudea and Ierusalem; the Church, and Heritage of God.

Direct and lead them by thy providence, that they may pitch their Tents, or encamp there; let all thy mighty ones, whether Enemies of thy Church gathered against it, or Friends of thy Church, and gathered for its defence; let them all here encamp, or all those mighty Warriours which thou wilt make use of successively to punish the proud oppressours of thy Church; so the Chaldeans punisht Assyria, Persians and Medes punisht Babylon. Alexander punished the Persians, and the divided Captains Successors plagued one another with Wars within sight (as 'twere of Ierusalem and Iudah)

With which the Prophet comforts himself and God's people, intimating that all these mighty ones are under God's conduct, and he is in the midst of them to save his own people.

Marginal references: Or, in [illegible: 1 word] shall bring [illegible: 1 word]

12 Let the heathen be wakned , and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about .

The several Nations in their appointed time, and perhaps the Assyrians are first to awake and stir under Salmaneser, next under Senacheri[illegible: 1 letter] both which came up against this Valley of Iehoshaphat.

By the sins, and divisions of God's own people, by their own ravenous and turbulent disposition, and by a secret hand of Providence.

In Hostile manner, either against the Church and people of God intended here by this Valley, so Sennacherib did in Hezekiah's time.

In the midst of my People and Church

to plead with, condemn and punish by the sword;

not all the World, but all the Heathen round about Iudea, which was oppressed by these Heathens; their God judged Senacherib by his own hand; their God punisht the Egyptians by Nebuchadnezzar who defeated Neco. And within sight of the Iews were all the punishments God inflicted on the Assyrian, Babylonish, Persian, and Grecian Monarchies executed, and God all this while in midst of his people preserved them as a bush all in a flame, yet not consumed, so did the Lord lead his mighty ones, and limited their power.

13 Put ye in the sickle , for the harvest is ripe ; come, get you down , for the press is full , the fats overflow , for their wickedness is great .

Ye mighty ones, ye men of War, Executioners of Divine Vengeance.

Begin to reap, cut down sinners ripe for Judgment, let Tiglath Pilne[illegible: 1 letter]er and his Souldiers cut down Syria and and its King Rezin, 2 King. 15. for their Violence against my People. Let Cyaxares and his Armies begin to cut down Assyria, with Nineveh, and its King for their sins are ripe to Judgment. Let Nebuchadnezzar put in the sickle and cut down Moab, Ammon, mount Seir, Egypt, Tyre, Zidon and the Philistines; after this let Cyrus reap down the ripened Babylonians, and Alexander with his mighty ones reap down Medes and Persians, and let divided Grecian Captains cut down one another, till the Romans cut them down: And when this is done God will have mighty ones still to cut down his enemies persecutors of his Church when the harvest is fully ripe, and till the final and universal Judgment wherein all Gods Enemies shall for ever be destroy'd.

The sins of those several nations are fully ripe.

In another Metaphor the Prophet declares the cutting off the Churches Enemies.

As the Grape-gatherer cuts off the bunches and brings them into the press till it be full and then they are trod, so here the Enemies of Gods people ripe in sin and brought together to be punisht, are to be troden in the Wine-press of Gods displeasure.

a mighty execution is made and the blood of slaughter'd men runs as Wine prest out in greater abundance than the Fats can hold from the press: verified in the slaughter made at the overthrow of the Kingdoms here intended.

The violence, and all manner of sins of these Kingdoms is grown exceeding great.

Marginal references: Rev. 14.15, [illegible: 1 letter]9.

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision : for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Whether prediction or exclamation with wonder, 'tis doubled to intimate the mighty numerous Armies contending one against another, and threshing each other, overthrowing numberless men between the conquered and conquerour, so each kingdom was overthrown successively. The Assyrian overthrown by Arbaces and Pul-belochus, conspiring against Sardanapaius, where the Multitudes were so great that the blood of the slain is by Diodorus Siculus reported to have colour'd the water of a River and the number of the Conspirators Army before Nineveh is said to be four hundred thousand. After this we meet Senacheribs mighty hosts against Egypt, and the Philistines to neither of which could he march but either through part of Iudea, or very near to it, and after this he hath 185 thousand slain in one night before Ierusalem, beside Necho's Army marching toward Carchemish, and Nebuchadnezzars Army in pursuit of the routed Egyptian; and the Armies of Alexander M. and after these the Armies of the Seleucidae and the Lagidae.

Where God having by wise Providence gather'd them, did by just determination of the victory decide their quarrels and by the Conqueror punish'd the conquered for their sins against God and his people.

The day of vengeance and righteous recompences upon Enemies.

If it begin in the punishment of Nineveh and the Assyrian Kingdom, by the cutting off Senacheribs Army. 'Twas in Ioels time not above sixty four years, supposing Ioel prophesied in Ieroboam the seconds time, and probably not quite twenty years to this day of the Lord if Ioel prophesied this in Hezekiahs time, or after the Captivating of the ten Tribes by Salmaneser, which was An. M. 3283. and Senacheribs overthrow was 3294. 11 years after the deportation. As the DD. Arch-bishop Vsher in his Annals.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 span].

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkned, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Vid. cap. 2. ver. 10. let. d, e, f, g. when God doth in the valley of decision punish any of the Kingdoms which persecuted and opprest his Church, the punishment shall be so great as to darken the glory of such Kingdoms, it shall be to the utter overthrow of those Kingdoms and Governments, and so it was effected on Babylon by the Mede and Persian; so on this by the Grecians and on them by their intestine wars, and by the Romans at last on these, and on the Murtherers of Messiah.

16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion , and utter his voice from Jerusalem , and the Heavens and the earth shall shake ; but the LORD will be the hope of his people and the strength of the children of Israel .

Who chap. 2. ver. 27. is the Lord in the midst of Israel or in the midst of his Church.

When he brings forth his mighty ones the men of War, and commands them to march out against his, and his Churches Enemies▪ He will strike the Enemy with astonishment and fear as the roaring of the Lion doth astonish the weaker beasts of the Forrest. Fear shall surprise them when God shall speak against them.

The place where God chooseth to dwell, Emblem of his Church, and of the Kingdom of Christ.

In Wrath and Indignation against those he will destroy, because they have destroy'd his Church.

Typical, so God roar'd and uttered his voice against Senach[illegible: 1 letter] rib; Mystical, so he hath often already and still will farther discover his displeasure against his Enemies, and he will, as one who dwells in a place for the defence of it, rebuke and check those who assault it, so God dwells in his Ierusalem, as 'tis ver. 17.

Metaphorically the States and Kingdoms, the great ones in those States.

The common sort of people, the inferiour ranks of men, the foundations of those Kingdoms shall be shaken and overthrown.

And fly as affrighted, so the word signifieth.

But at that time and in the midst of all those commotions, the Eternal and Almighty God, who fills the Enemy with fears and astonishment▪

Shall be the object of his peoples expectation, they shall look for good from him by all these troubles, and so God was to his after their return out of Captivity, through the Medo-Persian Reign, through the Grecian rule under Alexander, and under the times of Alexanders Successors.

Of them that believe his Word and obey his Law

Strong defence and Fortress to his.

Here call'd the children of Israel, those that are Israelites indeed.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 letter]er. 25.30. [illegible: 2 letters]os 1.2.; [illegible: 1 word]. 2.6.; Heb. place of [illegible: 2 letters]eir or, [illegible: 1 word].

17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion , my holy mountain : then shall Jerusalem be holy , and there shall no strangers pass through her any more .

By these effects of my presence with my people, by my anger against their Enemies, by punishing them by each other, overthrowing oppressours, by fulfilling what is foretold.

Ye that suffer for my sake, but hope in my word and support your selves on my strength.

By most comfortable and unquestionable experience.

That I have remembred my Covenant for you, and acted according to the power and mercy of an Almighty and All-gracious God.

Very graciously present with you, and ever watching over you, and delighting to save you, as a man would do his dwelling house,

Which is chosen and separated from all others to be the place of his Habitation, as Psal. 2.6. which he loves above all places,

After these things are finished, when Enemies are destroyed, and the remnant is saved, and the Messiah is come (for to him and his days do these things finally and ultimately refer) and the Gospel is preach'd.

The Church of Christ, the spiritual Ierusalem.

Be much more holy and pure than now, being made so by the Word and Spirit, and Afflictions too.

No profane and unclean Persons shall pass through it as formerly, and bring their strange fashions, rites, worship, or doctrine.

Though they have done it formerly, as in Solomon's dayes, and Ahaz, and Manasseh's time they shall do so no more for ever.

Marginal references: chap. 2.27.; Heb. holiness.; Zech. 14.21. Rev. 21.27.

18 ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day , that the mountains shall drop down new wine , and the hills shall flow with milk , and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters , and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD , and shall water the valley of Shittim .

When Afflictions, amidst which they were preserved, from which delivered, and by which they were purified.

The Vines planted upon the mountains which were, chap. 1.12. dried up shall now be full of juice and fruit.

Shall come down as the showers or dew sweetly and plentifully.

Sweet and delicious.

So fruitful shall the Hills be, and keep so many Cowes, Sheep and Goats, that Milk shall abound every where, as it 'twere a current that ever runs down.

In the great drought Rivers dried up, now the Rivers shall be full of water and ever flow.

The Prophet alludes to those waters which were convey'd from some spring through Conduit pipes towards the Altar, of which Ezek. 47.1, 2, 3. for the use of the Temple, in which water the Priests wash'd what was to be washed. This no doubt is a shadow of the purifying blood of Christ, and his sanctifying Spirit and Word.

And in that it is said to come from the House of the Lord, it intimateth that these glad tidings, this saving Grace shall be first preach'd from Ierusalem, and by the Church which is the house of G[illegible: 1 letter]d, shall be published to others.

Refresh, purge and make fruitful in all Holy Works.

It was a place in the Plains of Moab, on the Borders of Israel towards the South-east, Num. 33.49. and Iosh. 3.1. not far from the dead Sea. These spiritual waters shall flow down to the dry and thirsty, the barren and fruitless Gentiles, and make them fruitful.

Marginal references: Amos 9.13.; Heb. go.; Ezek. 47.1. Zech. 14.8. Rev. 22.1.

19 Egypt shall be a desolation , and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness , for the violence against the children of Judah , because they have shed innocent blood in their land .

It was in Egypt that the people of God were long kept in Bondage which defiled Israel too with its Idolatries, contrived the ruine of Israel by a barbarous and unparallel'd Cruelty, murthering all the new born males, and with utmost obstinacy resisted the Deliverer who came to fetch Israel out of Bondage. By Egypt understand we then all the Enemies of the Church of Christ who carry it toward the Church, as Egypt carried it toward Israel.

Most desolate, when God shall judge and punish▪ so shall Spiritual Egypt, Rev. 11.8.

The posterity of Esau, of near kin to Israel according to the Flesh, whose first Father envied Iacob the blessing and vow'd his Death, and made him fly from his Fathers house and become a servant in a strange Land, and was the first who denied Israel a friendly passage, and the common Civility of necessaries for their money, and came out in Hostile manner to fight them, Num. 20.18. &c. It was Edom of whom you read in Obad. tot. a most bloody implacable Enemy to Iudah in his greatest distress. And all who come under Edom's character are here intended and threatned under this name.

Most desolate, and which Art cannot repair; desolate houses or vineyards may, but Wildernesses cannot, by Art be repair'd.

The people of God, his Churches.

Where distressed Iews should have found safety, they met their death; in Egypt and Iudaea.

Marginal references: Isa. 19.[illegible: 1 letter].; Obad. 10.

20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation .

And, or yet.

The chosen, peculiar, redeemed of the Lord, his Church.

No more be captivated and driven from home, but in their own land and houses abide safely, and perpetually; This typifieth the Eternal Peace and Rest to which Gods people are redeemed.

City of God.

Through many generations on Earth, through Eternity in Heaven. Some shadow of this possibly we may find in the dayes of Maccabees, but the fulness of this we expect when that Day, great, dreadful and finally decisive Day, which Interpreters refer this Chapter to, shall destroy all the wicked, and put the Godly into possession of Eternal Mansions of Glory.

Marginal references: Or, abide.

21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed ; for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

And, Heb.

Purge away both by the spirit of Sanctification and by free Pardon in the blood of the Redeemer, by their Sufferings also, by the waters of Affliction, as well as by the washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost.

Their moral pollutions and sinfulness compar'd here unto blood, as also Ezek. 16.6, 9. and so men in sinful state are called flesh and blood, Matth. 16.17. and Gal. 1.16. God will pardon and purifie Believers, and when they are pardoned and purified nothing attempted against them shall succeed.

Which before I had not taken away, what was wanting in their Sanctification or Justification, and Reconciliation I will make up in them and to them.

And I am Iehovah dwelling in Zion, whence the Law of Grace was publish'd, where the wonders of Pardoning and Sanctifying Grace are wrought, that Israel might be a people with whom the Holy God might dwell. Now whereas this can be done but in part here on Earth, there is a Sion above, whither Iehovah who dwells there will take every Saint after the day of Judgement, having first vindicated, acquitted, and pronounced them holy and meet for enjoyment of the Holy One.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 span]; [illegible: 1 paragraph]