Even Yet Humiliation and Repentance may Avert the Worst. But even now, though the calamity is so serious that it seems to be the precursor of the Day of Dread, Yahweh bids the people turn to Him with sincere repentance, for which a ritual of humiliation is the symbol, not the substitute. So gracious and full of forgiveness is He, reluctant to inflict even the evil which is but deserved chastisement, that He may at this late hour change His purpose (relent rather than repent), and remove the locusts, so that once more the land may yield corn and wine for the sacrifices of the Temple, its greatest felicity. Once again then Joel rings out the command that the solemn horns should sound the summons, and the whole community join in the service of intercession. None is so old or so young as to be excused from participating. Even the bridegroom whom the law of Deuteronomy 24:5 exempted from liability to military service and his new-made bride must appear. The priests as spokesmen for the people must plead passionately with Yahweh for the recall of the marauding locusts, lest the nations round about should taunt Israel with the powerlessness of her God to help her.
Joel 2:16. chamber, closet: i.e. nuptial chamber, bridal pavilion.
Joel 2:17. between the porch and the altar: the porch at the east end of the Temple (cf. 1 Kings 6:3) and the great altar of burnt offering. that the nations should rule over them: mg. is to be preferred; a slight emendation would yield for a by-word among the nations.