Joel 2:23

“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, etc.] The people of the Jews, and especially the spiritual and believing part of them; such as were born again, that were born of Zion, and born in Zion, and brought up by her, and in her; the children of that Zion or Jerusalem that is the mother of us all; and who were looking for the Messiah, and to whom it would be good news and glad tidings to hear of his coming, (<380909>Zechariah 9:9); and rejoice in the Lord your God; not in any creature or creature enjoyment, but in the Lord. The Targum is, “in the Word of the Lord your God;” in Christ the essential Word; (see <500303>Philippians 3:3 4:4); though rather Jehovah the Father, the giver and sender of…”

“rejoice in the Lord--not merely in the springing pastures, as the brute "beasts" which cannot raise their thoughts higher (Isa 61:10; Hab 3:18). former rain . . . the rain . . . the former . . . the latter rain--The autumnal, or "former rain," from the middle of October to the middle of December, is put first, as Joel prophesies in summer when the locusts' invasion took place, and therefore looks to the time of early sowing in autumn, when the autumnal rain was indispensably required. Next, "the rain," generically, literally, "the showering" or "heavy rain." Next, the two species of the latter, "the former and the latter rain" (in March and April). The repetition of the "former rain" implies…”

“Be glad then and rejoice in the Lord your God - All things had been restored for their sakes; they were to rejoice, not chiefly in these things, but in God; nor only in God, but in the Lord their God. “For He hath given you the former rain moderately.” The word rendered “moderately” should be rendered “unto righteosness;” the word often as it occurs never having any sense but that of “righteousness;” whether of God or man. The other word מורה môwreh, rendered “the former rain,” confessedly has that meaning in the latter part of the verse, although “yoreh” יורה yôwreh is the distinctive term for “latter rain” Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24. “Moreh” mostly signifies “a teacher” (2 Kings…”

“The former rain - The autumn rain which is needful to mellow the earth and fit it to receive the corn. The latter rain - Needful to bring forward and ripen the fruits, accounted the latter rain because these husbandmen and vine - dressers reckoned from seed time to spring and harvest. The first month - That is, our March. Joel 2:24”

“2:23 autumn rains . . . rains of spring: God would once again restore the regular pattern of rainfall, and the drought (1:12, 20) would be reversed.”

“ye children: Psa 149:2; Lam 4:2; Zac 9:13; Gal 4:26, Gal 4:27 rejoice: Psa 28:7, Psa 32:11, Psa 33:1, Psa 95:1-3, Psa 104:34; Isa 12:2-6, Isa 41:16, Isa 61:10; Hab 3:17, Hab 3:18; Zep 3:14-17; Zac 9:9, Zac 10:7; Luk 1:46, Luk 1:47; Phi 3:1, Phi 3:3, Phi 4:4 the former: etc. or, a teacher of righteousness, Joe 2:28, Joe 2:29; Deu 32:2; Job 33:23; Psa 72:6, Psa 72:7; Isa 30:21, Isa 30:23; Eph 4:8-11 moderately: Heb. according to righteousness he will: Lev 26:4; Deu 11:14, Deu 28:12; Pro 16:15; Jer 3:3; Hos 6:3; Zac 10:1; Jam 5:7, Jam 5:8 in: Amo 4:7 Joel 2:24”