Joel 3:3

3:3 and they cast lots for my people.

They traded ¹  a boy for a prostitute;

they sold a little girl for wine so they could drink. ² 

Joel 3:8

3:8 I will sell your sons and daughters to ³  the people of Judah. ⁴ 

They will sell them to the Sabeans, ⁵  a nation far away.

Indeed, the Lord has spoken!

Deuteronomy 28:32

28:32 Your sons and daughters will be given to another people while you look on in vain all day, and you will be powerless to do anything about it. ⁶ 

Deuteronomy 28:68

28:68 Then the Lord will make you return to Egypt by ship, over a route I said to you that you would never see again. There you will sell yourselves to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.”

Ezekiel 27:13

27:13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your clients; they exchanged slaves and bronze items for your merchandise.

¹ tn Heb “gave.”

² sn Heb “and they drank.” Joel vividly refers to a situation where innocent human life has little value; its only worth is its use in somehow satisfying selfish appetites of wicked people who have control over others (cf. Amos 2:6 and 8:6).

³ tn Heb “into the hand of.”

⁴ tn Heb “the sons of Judah.”

⁵ sn The Sabeans were Arabian merchants who were influential along the ancient caravan routes that traveled through Arabia. See also Job 1:15; Isa 43:3; 45:14; Ps 72:10.

⁶ tn Heb “and there will be no power in your hand”; NCV “there will be nothing you can do.”