Joel 2:27

2:27 You will be convinced that I am in the midst of Israel.

I am the Lord your God; there is no other.

My people will never again be put to shame.

Joel 3:10

3:10 Beat your plowshares ¹  into swords,

and your pruning hooks ²  into spears! ³ 

Let the weak say, ‘I too am a warrior!’ ⁴ 

Joel 2:19

2:19 The Lord responded ⁵  to his people,

“Look! I am about to restore your grain ⁶ 

as well as fresh wine and olive oil.

You will be fully satisfied. ⁷ 

I will never again make you an object of mockery among the nations.

Joel 3:17

The Lord’s Presence in Zion

3:17 You will be convinced ⁸  that I the Lord am your God,

dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain.

Jerusalem ⁹  will be holy –

conquering armies ¹⁰  will no longer pass through it.

Joel 3:7

3:7 Look! I am rousing them from that place to which you sold them.

I will repay you for what you have done! ¹¹ 

[3:10]  ¹ sn Instead of referring to the large plow as a whole, the plowshare is simply the metal tip which actually breaks the earth and cuts the furrow.

[3:10]  ² sn This implement was used to prune the vines, i.e., to cut off extra leaves and young shoots (M. Klingbeil, NIDOTTE 1:1117-18). It was a short knife with a curved hook at the end sharpened on the inside like a sickle.

[3:10]  ³ sn This conversion of farming instruments to instruments of war is the reverse of Isa 2:4 (cf. Mic 4:3), where military weapons are transformed into tools for farming. Isaiah describes a time of kingdom blessing and prosperity, whereas Joel describes a time of eschatological conflict and judgment.

[3:10]  ⁴ sn The “weak” individual mentioned here is apparently the farmer who has little or no military prowess or prior fighting experience. Under ordinary circumstances such a person would be ill-prepared for assuming the role of a soldier. However, in the scene that Joel is describing here even the most unlikely candidate will become a participant to be reckoned with in this final conflict.

[2:19]  ¹ tn Heb “answered and said.”

[2:19]  ² tn Heb “Look! I am sending grain to you.” The participle used in the Hebrew text seems to suggest imminent action.

[2:19]  ³ tc One of the Qumran manuscripts (4QXXII^c) inserts “and you will eat” before “and you will be fully satisfied” (the reading of the MT, LXX).

[3:17]  ¹ tn Heb “know.”

[3:17]  ² map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[3:17]  ³ tn Heb “strangers” or “foreigners.” In context, this refers to invasions by conquering armies.

[3:7]  ¹ tn Heb “I will return your recompense on your head.”