Sanctify the congregation— We read in Exodus 19:10 of God's commanding the people to sanctify themselves. This sanctification consisted in their solemn preparation to come before God, by washing themselves and their clothes, cleansing themselves from all legal impurities, &c. as may be seen in Joel 2:14-15 of that chapter. In like manner, the prophet here exhorts the people to a solemn attendance at the temple of God; to fast, and mourn, and pray before him; and therefore commands the people to be sanctified; that is to say, to prepare themselves for this humiliation, as well by cleansing themselves from all legal impurities, as by contrition of heart; and by abstaining from all sensual pleasures, however innocent and allowable at other times, as is much more than intimated by the last clause of the verse. Absolute self-denial is but a reasonable preparation to keep a day of solemn humiliation before God for national sins or calamities. This kind of abstinence was even recommended among the heathens, as a necessary preparation for solemn worship. See Herod. lib. ii. c. 64. Tibull. lib. ii. eleg. 1. 2 Chronicles 20:13. 1 Corinthians 7:5 and Chandler.
Related Commentaries of Joel 2:16
Joel 2:16
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.