A Challenge to the Nations to Appear in the Valley of Judgment to Meet their Doom. Returning to the idea of Joel 3:2, Joel represents Yahweh as bidding the heralds make proclamation among the nations, challenging them to perform the religious rites used to initiate a campaign, and to advance against Him. Let them put their utmost strength into the battle, converting the implements of peace into weapons of war (contrast Isaiah 2:4), and playing the hero even to the feeblest man amongst them. Let the warriors haste and present themselves in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, where Yahweh will execute judgment upon them. Under two figures the judgment is expressed: the nations are like ripe corn, which the angel reapers are bidden cut, or grapes filling the press, ready for them to tread. Multitudes await their fate in the Valley of Decision another name for Valley of Jehoshaphat (cf. Joel 3:2 *) in Yahweh's Day of Doom. The heavenly bodies grow murky, while the thunder of Yahweh's voice is heard as the roar of the lion springing upon its prey. Yet amid all these convulsions Yahweh will assure the safety of His people, and thus they shall be convinced that He is their God, dwelling in their midst, for never again shall the heathen oppressor defile the soil of Jerusalem.
Joel 3:9. come up: a technical military term for movements of offence.
Joel 3:10. spears: rather lances.
Joel 3:11. thither cause. Lord: a very obscure clause, possibly a gloss on tread ye (Joel 3:13). As the text stands, the mighty ones must be Yahweh's angels.
Joel 3:13. the fats overflow: strictly speaking, the fat or vat is the lower receptacle into which flows the juice trodden out in the press, though it is sometimes used loosely for the press.
Joel 3:14. Multitudes: the Heb. word is mimetic, suggesting the murmur of a thronging crowd.