John Trapp on Joel 3:9

Verſe 9. Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles,] Oratio tota eſt figurata, ſaith Pareus: All this following diſcourſe is figurative; Hortatio ſarcaſmon habens, ſaith Mercer. It is an Ironicall challenge to all Gods enemies, to do their worſt to Chriſt and his Church: Somewhat like that Iudg. 9.29. Increaſe thine Army and come out (which ſeems to be the challenge that Gaal ſent to Abimelech, by ſome meſſenger) Or that of Rabſhakeh, Eſay 36.8. I will give thee two thouſand horſes, if thou be able on thy part to ſet riders on them: Or that, Eſay 8.9.10.

prepare warre,] Heb. ſanctifie warre: that is, laying aſide all other buſineſſe, give your ſelves wholly to it: (like as at holy ſervices they were called upon, Hoc agere, to minde the buſineſſe in hand, and nothing elſe) as Scanderbeg did; out of whoſe lips, whiles he was fighting, the very blood would ftart; ſo earneſt he was at it.

wake up the mighty men] the Giants, the champions, ſuch as were Goliath the Gittite, Davids band of worthies, Achilles, Albertus Marqueſſe of Brandeburg, who for his valour was called Achilles Teutonicus. Put what metall you can into theſe your Mighties, that they may do their utmoſt. But withall know that they ſhall ſoon meet with their matches, viz Gods Mighty Ones mentioned verſe 11.

let all the men of war draw neare] that they may joyn battel, and not ſtand daring and facing one another: as the two armies of Chriſtians and Turks did in the dayes of Baldwin the ſecond, king of Ieruſalem for three moneths together,Turk. hiſt. fol. 27. and then roſe and returned without any notable thing done.Speed 963. It is the ancient and manfull faſhion (ſaith our Chronicler) of the Engliſh (who are naturally moſt impatient of lingering miſchiefs) to put their publike quarrels quickly to the triah of the ſword. Praeſtat ſemel quam ſemper was Ceſars motto: and his property was Credere nil actum, dum quid ſupereſſet agendum.Lucan.