Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 3:14

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].