Joel 2:17

“Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, etc.] Not the altar of incense which stood in the holy place; but the altar of burnt offering, where the priests used to stand and do service; but now having nothing to do of that kind, they are called upon to weep and pray between that and the porch of the temple; where they might be seen and heard by the people in the outward court which the porch led into: this is thought by some to be the same situation with that between the temple and the altar, (<402335>Matthew 23:35); and let them say, spare thy people, O Lord; they are directed to plead, not in a way of justice, but mercy; that though it might be just…”

“between the porch and . . . altar--the porch of Solomon's temple on the east (Kg1 6:3); the altar of burnt offerings in the court of the priests, before the porch (Ch2 8:12; compare Eze 8:16; Mat 23:35). The suppliants thus were to stand with their backs to the altar on which they had nothing to offer, their faces towards the place of the Shekinah presence. heathen should rule over them--This shows that not locusts, but human foes, are intended. The Margin translation, "use a byword against them," is not supported by the Hebrew. wherefore should they say . . . Where is their God?--that is, do not for thine own honor's sake, let the heathen sneer at the God of Israel, as unable to save His…”

“Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar - The porch in this, Solomon’s temple, was in fact a tower, in front of the holy of holies, of the same breadth with the temple, namely, 20 cubits, and its depth half its breadth, namely, 10 cubits 1 Kings 6:3, and its height 120 cubits, the whole “overlaid within with pure gold” 2 Chronicles 3:4. The brass altar for burnt-offerings stood in front of it 2 Chronicles 8:12. The altar was of brass, twenty cubits square; and so, equal in breadth to the temple itself, and ten cubits high 2 Chronicles 4:1. The space then between the porch and the altar was enclosed on those two sides 2 Chronicles 7:7; it became an…”

“The porch - That stately porch built by Solomon, Kg1 6:3. The altar - The altar of burnt - offering, which stood at some distance from this porch, and here are the priests commanded to stand, fasting and praying, whence they might be heard and seen by the people in the next court, in which the people were wont to pray. To reproach - Famine, though by locusts is a reproach to this thine heritage; it will be greater reproach to be slaves to the nations signified by the locusts, therefore in mercy deliver us from both one and the other. Joel 2:20”

“2:17 Spare your people, Lord! Assembled at the Temple, the religious leaders and all the people were to do the only thing possible in their desperate situation: seek the mercy and compassion of God.”

“the priests: Joe 1:9, Joe 1:13 between: Kg1 6:3; Ch2 8:12; Eze 8:16; Mat 23:35 and let: Hos 14:2 Spare: Exo 32:11-13, Exo 34:9; Deu 9:16-29; Isa 37:20, Isa 64:9-12; Dan 9:18, Dan 9:19; Amo 7:2, Amo 7:5; Mal 1:9 and give: Psa 44:10-14, Psa 74:10, Psa 74:18-23, Psa 79:4, Psa 89:41, Psa 89:51; Eze 36:4-7 that: Neh 9:36; Isa 63:17-19 rule over them: or, use a byword against them, Deu 28:37; Kg1 9:7; Ch2 7:20; Psa 44:14 wherefore: Num 14:14-16; Deu 32:27; Psa 42:10, Psa 79:10, Psa 115:2; Eze 20:9; Mic 7:10; Mat 27:43 Joel 2:18”