Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Joel 3:13
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe, etc.] This is said to the mighty ones sent, the Christian princes, the executioners of God’s vengeance on antichrist; the angels that will pour out the vials of his wrath on the antichristian states, compared to reapers, with a sharp sickle in their hands, to cut them down, as grain is cut when reaped; as the same states are compared to a harvest ripe, the measure of their sins being filled up, and the time of their destruction appointed for them come; (see <661415> Revelation 14:15); come, get ye down; to the valley: or “go tread ye” F86; for another simile is made use of: the reference here is to the treading of clusters of grapes in the winepress, as appears by what follows: and so the Targum renders it, “descend, tread their mighty men;” in like manner Jarchi interprets it; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it: and Dr. Pocock observes, that the word <Arabic> in the Arabic language signifies to tread, as men tread grapes in a press: the reasons follow, for the press is full; of clusters of the vine; or the valley is full of wicked men, compared unto them, destined to destruction: the fats overflow; with the juice of grapes squeezed out, denoting the great effusion of blood that will be made; (see <661418>Revelation 14:18-20 19:15,18,20); for their wickedness [is] great; is come to its height, reaches even to heaven, and calls aloud for vengeance; an end is come to it, and to the authors of it, (<661805>Revelation 18:5). The Targum of the whole is, “draw out the sword against them, for the time of their end is come; descend, tread their mighty men slain, as anything is trodden in a winepress; pour out their blood, for their wickedness is multiplied.”
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