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¹ For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
² I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
³ And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
⁴ Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
⁵ Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
⁶ The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
⁷ Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
⁸ And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it.
⁹ Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
¹⁰ Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
¹¹ Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.
¹² Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
¹³ Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
¹⁴ Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
¹⁵ The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
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.
¹⁷ So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
¹⁸ And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
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.
²⁰ But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
²¹ For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.
🌾 The Lord Roareth from Zion 🌾
“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations…” – Joel 3:1–2
Joel Chapter 3 is a prophetic climax that points to the Day of the Lord—a time of divine judgment, deliverance, and restoration. Here, the Lord gathers the nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat (meaning “The Lord judges”) where He executes righteous justice for the wrongs done to His people. This chapter underscores God’s sovereignty, His protection of Judah, and the consequences of rebellion against Him. It echoes across generations as both a warning and a promise: God will avenge His people and establish His glory from Zion.
📜 Structure of Joel Chapter 3
Verses 1–3: The Lord’s Indictment
God begins by declaring a future time when He will restore Judah and Jerusalem. He calls the nations to account in the Valley of Jehoshaphat for scattering His people, dividing the land, and committing atrocities—selling children and trading human lives like common goods. This solemn judgment scene is rooted in divine justice: “Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon?” (v.4).
Verses 4–8: Retribution to the Gentile Nations
The Lord directly confronts Tyre, Zidon, and the Philistines, nations guilty of plundering His silver and gold and selling His people into slavery. In an act of divine retribution, God declares He will return their deeds upon their own heads. The oppressors will themselves become captives, showing that God defends His covenant people and repays evil.
Verses 9–13: The Battle Cry in the Valley
Here the scene shifts to a call for global war. Nations are summoned to prepare for battle, yet God sarcastically tells them to “beat your plowshares into swords.” This reversal of Isaiah’s prophecy shows the futility of resisting God. The Lord commands the multitudes to gather, for He will “sit to judge all the heathen round about.” The imagery of the winepress overflowing with wickedness portrays the intensity of divine wrath.
Verses 14–17: The Valley of Decision
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision…” (v.14). These haunting words speak of a crowd caught in the balance of divine judgment. The sun and moon darken as the Lord roars from Zion. His voice shakes heaven and earth, but for His people, He is a refuge. God will dwell in Jerusalem, and His presence will sanctify Zion forever.
Verses 18–21: Restoration and Glory
A beautiful transition occurs here—where judgment ends, restoration begins. The mountains will drop new wine, the hills will flow with milk, and fountains will stream from the house of the Lord. Egypt and Edom, symbols of opposition, become desolate. But Judah will dwell forever, and the Lord shall cleanse their blood and inhabit Zion. “For the Lord dwelleth in Zion.” (v.21)
💡 Key Themes
✨ Divine Judgment and Justice
Joel 3 makes it plain: God will not ignore the mistreatment of His people. Justice delayed is not justice denied, and every act of violence against God’s chosen will be answered.
✨ God as a Refuge and Avenger
To the world, God is a roaring lion of judgment. But to His people, He is a stronghold in times of trouble. He both defends and disciplines with love.
✨ Restoration Follows Judgment
Out of the ashes of judgment, springs the beauty of restoration. God doesn’t just correct—He rebuilds, revives, and restores His dwelling place among His people.
👤 Key People
- The Nations – Representing those who oppose God’s people, especially Tyre, Zidon, Philistia, Egypt, and Edom.
- The Valley of Jehoshaphat – A symbol of divine judgment and the reckoning of all nations.
- Judah and Jerusalem – God’s covenant people and His dwelling place, destined for restoration and glory.
🔥 Why This Chapter Matters
Joel Chapter 3 reveals the heart of God’s justice and the certainty of His judgment. It assures us that no act of wickedness escapes His notice and that every injustice against His people will be accounted for. This chapter is not just a prophecy of future events—it is a powerful reminder that God defends His children, restores what was lost, and reigns in righteousness.
“For the LORD shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake…” (Joel 3:16).
This roar is not just a sound—it’s a declaration of divine authority. When the world shakes, God’s people are not forsaken. He becomes a refuge, a fortress in the day of trouble. This chapter matters because it ignites holy courage in the hearts of believers and reminds us: our God is not silent, and justice will roll down like mighty waters.
💭 Let’s Reflect
- Are there areas in your life where you’ve longed for God’s justice? Joel 3 reminds us He has not forgotten.
- When judgment comes, will you be found in the valley of decision—or in the shelter of Zion?
- What does it mean for the Lord to dwell in you today? How can you prepare your heart for His habitation?