Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 3:12

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.