Joel 2

Joel 2:1

BLow ye the trumpet] Or, cort. As it were to give notice of the coming of thse foresaid dering creatures; that every one may prepare himself to prevent the scourge, by repentance, and prayer to God to beare it patiently; and to overcome it by faith in his grace.

for the day of the LORD cometh] Chap. 1. 15.

Joel 2:2

of darknesse and of gloominesse] Of affliction and trouble: and it may be he hath relation to the coming of these creatures in great swarmes, whereby the aire may be darkened, vers. 10.

spread upon the mountains] Which shall in an instant cover the whole countrey, even as the morning, or morning clouds and mists spread abroad on a sudden over the tops of hills.

a great people] Chap. 1. 6. & 2. 11. 25.

there hath not been] Exodus 10:14.

of many generations] Heb. of generation and generation.

Joel 2:3

A fire devoureth before them] These creatures going along to devoure the countrey, which is rich and full of goods, Chap. 1. 19. and after they are gone by, every thing is found gnawen and consumed.

garden of Eden] Genesis 2:8.

Joel 2:4

The appearance of them] Revelation 9:7.

Joel 2:5

shall they leap] Revelation 9:9.

Joel 2:6

all faces shall gather blacknesse] Heb. pot. Through horrour and hunger.

Joel 2:7

not break their] They shall not stop nor stay their pace.

Joel 2:8

fall upon the sword] Or, dart. A terme taken from the meeting of Armies: to signifie, that there will be neither defence nor resistance that can stay this tempest.

Joel 2:9

run to and fro in the citie] A manner of speech taken from a citie wonne by assault.

Joel 2:10

The earth] Hyperbolicall termes, frequent in the Prophets, to signifie a horrible desolation.

quake before them] Heb. before his face. Meaning the people, whereof mention is vers. 2.

the sonne and the moone] This may also be understood in the same manner, as Isaiah 13:10. Ezekiel 32:7. Joe 3:15. Matthew 24:29. unlesse it be interpreted, as upon vers. 2.

Joel 2:11

shall utter his voyce] Like a Captaine, incouraging his souldiers: or giving the signe of the battle.

day of the LORD] Jeremiah 30:7. Amos 5:18. Zephaniah 1:15.

Joel 2:12

turn ye] Jeremiah 4. 1.

Joel 2:13

rent your heart] Psalms 51:17. Mortifie your affections, and serve God with purenesse of heart, and not with ceremonies.

gracious and mercifull] Exodus 43:6. Psalms 86:5. Jon. 4 2.

repenteth him of the evil] Out of his infinite mercy he changeth, not his counsell or his will, as being sorrie for having done evill, as men do when they repent: but the effects of his rigour into effects of his mercy.

Joel 2:14

Who knoweth] Amos 5:15. Jon. 3. 9. Zeph. 2. 3.

return and repent] He speaketh this to stirre them up from their securitie, and not that he doubted of Gods mercies, if they did repent.

a blessing] Namely, the fruits of the earth, growing, and preserved by Gods singular blessing. See Isaiah 65:8.

behind him] After these devourers are gone by.

a meat-offering] Chap. 1. 9.

Joel 2:15

Blow the trumpet] Numbers 10:3. Namely, the holy trumpet, to call the generall assembly of the people.

sanctifie a fast] Chap. 1. 14.

Joel 2:16

sanctifie the congregation] Appoint by Proclamation, that all men being duly purified according to the Law may come to the Temple, to call upon the Lord with mourning and fasting. See Exodus 19:10. 22.

gather the children] That as all have sinned, so all may shew forth signes of their repentance, that men seeing the children, which are not free from Gods wrath, might be the more lively touched with the consideration of their own sinnes.

Joel 2:17

between the porch and the altar] Whereof, see 1 Kings 6:3. This was the voyd space, Ezekiel 8:16. where the sacred Ministers prayed, after the sacrifices were offered; called in the New Testament, Solomons Porch, because it was built by him, Acts 3:11. and Acts 5:12.

rule over them] Or, use a by-word against them] Thy people being constrained through want to put themselves into bondage to strangers: Or having no means to defend themselves, if the enemie should set upon them.

wherefore should they say among the people] Psalms 42:10. & Psalms 79:10. & Psalms 115:2. Micah 7:10.

Joel 2:18

Then] He sets forth the effects of their precedent prayers.

jealous for his land] He will feele and be moved at the afflictions of his dear people, and for his own glory, which by that means was trodden down by profane nations, Isaiah 9:6.

Joel 2:20

northern army] Namely, that great swarme of the foresaid destroying creatures which came out of the North.

into a land barren] That multitude shall be carried away out of your land, and like a great army it shall be driven into the wildernesse: the vangard into the lake of Sodom, towards the East: and the reerward into the Mediterranean Sea, toward the West, Exodus 10:19.

because] Or, through, as Psalms 23:4.

he hath done great things] Heb. he hath magnified to do.

Joel 2:22

their strength] Their fruits and increase, according to the vertue which God hath given them, Genesis 4:12.

Joel 2:23

the former rain] Or, a teacher of righteousnesse.

moderately] Heb. according to righteousnesse. Namely, at the time of your greatest need, and in that just measure, as is required, for to help the barrennesse which was before. Others, in righteousnesse, that is, bountifully, and lovingly.

will cause to come down] Leviticus 26:4. Deuteronomy 11:14.

in the first moneth] Which was the March Moon, for then beganne that time of the year which was called the latter season; by reason of the fruits which grow ripe, and are gathered therein: at which time rain was most necessary: next to September Moon, which was the other part of the year, called the first season; by reason of tilling and sowing of the ground.

Joel 2:26

shall never be ashamed] Because they shall never pray to me in vaine, at any such time of need.

Joel 2:28

afterward] In the Messias his dayes, I will poure down the gifts of my holy Spirit in abundance; as I have heretofore poured out temporall blessings upon you.

I will poure out my spirit] Isaiah 44:3. Zechariah 12:10. Acts 2:17.

upon all flesh] All manner of people, without any distinction of nations.

and your sonnes] By the inward vertue of my Spirit, I will inlighten the understanding of mine elect, who of their own nature are but children in knowledge; or young men without exprience; or aged men weak of understanding; and will give them a lively and spirituall light of the mysteries of the Gospel, accompanied at certaine times, and in certain persons with prophetick revelations, Acts 2:17.

Joel 2:29

upon the servants and upon the hand-maids] Persons of all conditions, be they never so mean, shall be sanctified by me. It may be by these termes is meant the calling of the Gentiles, amongst whom slaves were bought, Leviticus 25:44. Unlesse he mean the other principall effect of the Spirit of grace, which is to free men from the bondage of sinne and the devill.

Joel 2:30

wonders in the heavens] Chap. 3. 15. Matthew 24:29. Mar. 13. 24. Luke 21:25. He warneth the faithfull what terrible things should come, to the intent that they should not look for continuall quietnesse in this world; and yet in all these troubles hee would preserve them.

Joel 2:31

The sunne shall be turned into darknesse] Chap. 3. 15. The order of nature shall seeme to be changed for the horrible afflictions that shall be in the world. See vers. 10.

Joel 2:32

whosoever shall call] Rom. 10 13.

on the name of the LORD] Gods judgements are for the destruction of the infidels, and to move the godly to call upon the name of God, who will give them salvation.

in mount Zion] Namely, in the true Church of Christ.

deliverance] From those evils which shall trouble the world. Or some remnant shall be saved.

the LORD hath said] In many places by his Prophets. See Deut. 30. & 32. 43.

the remnant] Which are not runne into the generall apostasie, and corruption of the world, Luke 18:8.

shall call] When he shall move and effectually put forward to the participation of his grace in Christ.