Joel 1:13

“Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests, etc.] Prepare and be ready to raise up lamentation and mourning; or gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn in that, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi supply the words; (see <240408>Jeremiah 4:8); howl, ye ministers of the altar; who served there, by laying on and burning the sacrifices, or offering incense: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God; that is, come into the house of the Lord, as Kimchi; into the court of the priests, and there lie all night, in the sackcloth girded with; putting up prayers to God, with weeping and lamentations, that he would avert the judgments that were come or were coming upon theme: for the meat offering and…”

“Gird yourselves--namely, with sackcloth; as in Isa 32:11, the ellipsis is supplied (compare Jer 4:8). lament, ye priests--as it is your duty to set the example to others; also as the guilt was greater, and a greater scandal was occasioned, by your sin to the cause of God. come--the Septuagint, "enter" the house of God (compare Joe 1:14). lie all night in sackcloth--so Ahab (Kg1 21:27). ministers of my God-- (Co1 9:13). Joel claims authority for his doctrine; it is in God's name and by His mission I speak to you.”

“Gird yourselves - that is, with haircloth, as is elsewhere expressed Isaiah 22:12; Jeremiah 4:8; Jeremiah 6:26. The outward affliction is an expression of the inward grief, and itself excites to further grief. This their garment of affliction and penitence, they were not to put off day and night. Their wonted duty was to “offer up sacrifice for their own sins and the sins of the people” Hebrews 7:27, and to entreat God for them. This their office the prophet calls them to discharge day and night; to “come” into the court of the temple, and there, where God showed Himself in majesty and mercy, “lie all night” prostrate before God, not at ease, but in sackcloth. He calls to them in the Name of…”

“1:13-14 The priests were to lead all the people in public rites of mourning at the Temple. Their outward actions must be matched by authentic inward change (see 2:13).”

“Gird: Joe 1:8, Joe 1:9, Joe 2:17; Jer 4:8, Jer 9:10; Eze 7:18 ye ministers: Co1 9:13; Heb 7:13, Heb 7:14 lie: Sa2 12:16; Kg1 21:27; Jon 3:5-8 ye ministers: Isa 61:6; Co1 4:1; Co2 3:6, Co2 6:4, Co2 11:23 for: Joe 1:9; Lev 2:8-10; Num 29:6 Joel 1:14”

“The affliction is not removed by mourning and lamentation, but only through repentance and supplication to the Lord, who can turn away all evil. The prophet therefore proceeds to call upon the priests to offer to the Lord penitential supplication day and night in the temple, and to call the elders and all the people to observe a day of fasting, penitence, and prayer; and then offers supplication himself to the Lord to have compassion upon them ( Joe 1:19). From the motive assigned for this appeal, we may also see that a terrible drought had been associated with the devastation by the locusts, from which both man and beast had endured the most bitter suffering, and that Joel regarded this…”