Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 3:16

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].