Joel 3:3 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

And they have cast lots for my people - i:e., divided among themselves my people as their captives by lot. Compare as to the distribution of captives by lot (Obadiah 1:11, "Foreigners cast lots upon Jerusalem;" Nahum 3:10, "They cast lots for her [not Amon's] honourable men").

And have given a boy for an harlot - instead of paying a harlot for her prostitution in money, they gave her a Jewish captive boy as a slave.

And sold a girl for wine - so valueless did they regard a Jewish girl that they would sell her for a draught of wine.

Joel 3:3

3 And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.