Matthew Poole and continuators on Joel 3:19

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.