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.
Sanctify the congregation - namely, by expiatory rites and purification of their persons and of their clothes with water (Calvin). (Exodus 19:10; Exodus 19:22.) Maurer translates, 'appoint a solemn assembly,' which would be a tautological repetition of Joel 2:15.
Assemble the elders, gather the children - no age was to be excepted (2 Chronicles 20:13).
Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber - ordinarily exempted from public duties (Deuteronomy 24:5: cf. 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Corinthians 7:29).
And the bride out of her closet - [chupaah, or nuptial bed], from a Hebrew root [chaapap, to cover], referring to the canopy over it.