Joel 3:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles— God, having foretold these judgments against Tyre and Sidon, the Philistines, and the neighbouring nations, who had used the Jews with injustice and cruelty, proceeds here to confirm his people in the belief of the certainty of their destruction; which, he tells them, should be as sure as if they themselves had gathered them together by proclamation for it: for so are these words, proclaim ye, &c. to be understood; not as commanding what they were actually to do, but in order to stir up their attention, and to let them know that God was as certainly preparing to bring this vengeance on their enemies in the course of his providence, as if he had actually sent messengers from the Jews to proclaim it among them. See chap. Joel 2:1 and Chandler. Instead of, Prepare war, Houbigant reads, Denounce war.