Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Perish, because she hath stirred up her God to bitterness. It is not a curse or imprecation, but a prophecy of what should come to pass ( Ch). to Israel, in Assyria. Many such expressions occur. Psalms 68:25. and so forth Saint Jerome—Sometimes they are the efforts of zeal, conformable to divine justice. Psalms 140:6. Worthington.—Hebrew “Samaria has sinned, or shall perish.” Calmet.—Bitterness. Septuagint “she hath resisted her God.” Bible.
Verse 3. Words. In captivity, legal victims cannot be offered. Calmet.—But a contrite heart is always acceptable. Psalms 50.—Good. While engaged in sin, ( Bible.) “we can offer thee nothing good.”—Calves: victims of praise. Saint Jerome—Hebrew parim. Septuagint omit m, ( Bible.) and render fruit. They are followed by the Arab. and Syr. as well as by the apostle. Hebrews 13:15. Calmet.—We will offer what victims we please. E. Psalms 68:23 and 65:13.
Verse 4. Gods. The Assyrians, instead of protecting, oppress us; while Egypt, famous for horses, sits unconcerned. Calmet.—But the source of all our evils are the idols, which we will follow no more.—In thee: adheres to the true faith in practice. Bible.—Israel was like an orphan during the captivity. Lamentations 1:1. Calmet.
Verse 5. Breaches, when Israel shall be converted, as some were to Christ, and many will be at the end of the world. Worthington.—Hebrew “their return.” Septuagint “dwellings.” They shall be purified.—Freely. I have been forced to chastise, My heart dilates. Calmet.—Septuagint “I will love them manifestly.” Syr. “accept their free offerings.” Bible.
Verse 6. Dew. Israel has been like a plant dried up. Calmet. 13:15.—Libanus. The cedars were tall and bulky, being well rooted.
Verse 7. Glory. Septuagint “he shall be as fruitful as the olive-tree.”—Libanus, or incense. Calmet.—The term has both meanings. Bible.
Verse 8. His. This may refer to the tree, or to God. The captives shall return, and be happy. But in a more sublime sense it refers to the nations which shall embrace the gospel.—Libanus, or fragrant. Such wine was esteemed in which certain odoriferous herbs were infused. Song of Songs 7:2. Calmet.—Libanus was also famous for generous wines. Siconita 11.
Verse 9. Idol? or God will no more reproach them, as their conversion is sincere.—Make. Hebrew “be to him like,” and so forth Calmet.
Verse 10. Wise. This denotes the obscurity of the prophecy. Theod.—No human wit can explain the prophets: yet the just shall understand as much as shall be necessary. Saint Jerome Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. xviii. 28. Worthington.—Only few will make good use of these admonitions, and share in the promises. Calmet.
JOEL
THE PROPHECY OF JOEL