When did you last read the book of Joel? It\u2019s well worth reading! It may be short, but it contains a message with a breadth that covers both Israel and the world as a whole.<\/p>\n
One of the outstanding features of the book of Joel is its many repetitions. It is interesting to examine each of these repetitions in its own right, but when they are considered together, we observe a phenomenon that has great importance in understanding the structure and the message of the book. There are two cycles of repetition, one within the other, which create an outer mirror image between chapters 1-2 and 4 and, within that, an inner mirror image in chapters 1-2 [readers of the English translations of the Bible should be aware of the fact that in the Masoretic Hebrew text the text is divided into four chapter with chapter 3 in Hebrew being equivalent to chapter 2:28-32].<\/p>\n
The wider cycle of repetitions: the outer mirror image<\/strong><\/p>\n 18<\/sup> And it will come about in that day that the mountains will drip with sweet wine<\/u><\/strong>, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; and a spring will go out from the house of the LORD, to water the valley of Shittim.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n The opening of the book of Joel describes a plague of locusts which devour everything and bring devastation and disaster to the land. As a result, sweet wine will be cut off from the mouths of the drinkers. In the close of the book sweet wine appears a second time, but now instead of being cut off from its drinkers it is so abundant that the mountains drip with it in an extravagant display of the LORD\u2019s blessing. This repetition of \u2018sweet wine\u2019 represents a mirror image in which the negative situation described in the beginning of the book is transformed and now this wine signifies the blessing that the LORD now pours out.<\/p>\n There is an additional repetition in the opening and ending of the book \u2013 a nation coming up \/\/ nations coming up. In many translations the repetition of the verb \u2018to go up\u2019 is not apparent, so it\u2019s worth looking at a literal translation which reflects the original Hebrew even though it might not be such a smooth read. In the opening of the book the nation coming up to the Lord\u2019s (and the prophet\u2019s) land comes to destroy (Joel 1:6). At the end of the book the nations will come up to the land to be judged for their deeds (Joel 3:12). Again, the repetition represents a transformation on two levels: a negative situation for Israel is changed into a positive one, and the role of the nation or nations has been changed from being an instrument of disaster and destruction to being the object of judgement. This change in the fortunes of Israel on the one hand and the nations on the other is reflected in an additional repetition.<\/p>\n Again, there is a repetition in these two sections which carries an important message. However, the repetition is not as clear in translation as it is in the original Hebrew, in which three verbs from Joel 2:15-16 are repeated in chapter 3 verses 9-11. Of these verbs \u2018proclaim\u2019 is often repeated in English translations, but the words translated as \u2018consecrate\u2019 in Joel 2:15 and \u2018assemble\u2019 in Joel 2:16 are often not given the same translation in chapter 3. This is understandable but, unfortunately, misses an important connection. For instance in chapter 2 there is a repetition that is missed in many translations when the word which is translated as \u2018sanctify\u2019 in verse 16 in the New American Standard Version is the same in Hebrew as the word translated as \u2018consecrate\u2019 in verse 15. The upshot of this is that the poetic power of repetition in different contexts is lost. The line between this understandable difference in translation and the power of the repetition that it hides is well illustrated when the same verb is translated as \u2018consecrate\u2019 in 2:15, where the call is to \u2018consecrate\u2019 a fast, and as \u2018prepare\u2019 in 3:9, where the call is to \u2018consecrate\u2019 a war. This latter translation is perfectly logical since we would not expect the verb \u2018consecrate\u2019 to describe a war. But the unexpected is exactly what points to the fact that this deliberate repetition in 2:15 and 3:9 is intended to surprise and cause the reader to see a link. The link engendered by the repetition of these verbs connects and contrasts two situations. In chapter 2 the call is to consecrate a fast and the ones called to fast are all the people of Israel from every age group and no matter what their status. In comparison, in chapter 3 the call is to consecrate a war and the ones called to assemble for this purpose are the nations. This repetition is similar in its effect and meaning, therefore, to the previous repetitions we mentioned:<\/p>\n Additional repetitions add to this mirror image:<\/p>\n At the end of a description of the invasion of a terrible army (locusts?) we are told that \u201cthe sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.\u201d In addition, and this is both surprising and awe-inspiring, we are told that the one who leads this fearful force with fearsome war cries is, in fact, the LORD Himself (\u201cAnd the LORD utters His voice before His army\u201d). The invading army belongs to the LORD and does His will (\u201cSurely His camp is very great, for strong is he who carries out His word.\u201d). So, the LORD Himself is the one who brings a conquering army against His land and His people, and even the celestial bodies (sun, moon, and stars) exhibit the enormity of the disaster in the darkening of their light. And then, in Joel 3, the celestial bodies are again said to turn dark in a repetition of the very same words that appeared in 2:10 \u2013 \u201cThe sun and moon grow dark, And the stars lose their brightness\u201d. This time, however, this is not as a sign of the dreadful blow that falls on the land and the people of Israel but as a sign of the coming judgement of the nations. What is more, we hear again the roar of the LORD\u2019s voice, but this time not uttered as he leads his host against the land and people of Israel but as He protects them (\u201cAnd the LORD<\/u><\/strong> roars from Zion and utters His voice<\/u><\/strong> from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel.\u201d). The effect and message of this mirror image is completely in line with that of the other repetitions that have already been mentioned.<\/p>\n That is not all! A subject that connects all the sections of the book of Joel is the declaration of the \u2018day of the LORD\u2019. Also in this case we can see a mirror image between the first and the second part of the book.<\/p>\n 14<\/sup> Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly; Gather the elders and<\/em> all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. 15<\/sup> Alas for the day<\/u><\/strong>! For the day of the LORD<\/u><\/strong> is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.<\/td>\n 28<\/sup> "And it will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; \u2026<\/p>\n 31<\/sup> "The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD<\/u><\/strong> comes. 32<\/sup> "And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be delivered; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Blow a trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD<\/u><\/strong> is coming; Surely it is near, 2<\/sup> a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, so<\/em> there is a great and mighty people; there has never been anything <\/em>like it, nor will there be again after it to the years of many generations. 3<\/sup> A fire consumes before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but a desolate wilderness behind them, and nothing at all escapes them.<\/td>\n 13<\/sup> Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. 14<\/sup> Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD<\/u><\/strong> is near in the valley of decision. 15<\/sup> The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. 16<\/sup> And the LORD roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n In every one of these occurrences the day of the LORD signifies God\u2019s direct intervention in the regular affairs of the world. But it stands out that in the first two mentions of the day of the LORD it is an event that is connected specifically to Israel while in the last two occurrences it is an event affecting the whole world, and in the last chapter it involves God\u2019s judgement on the nations. So, again, the second section of the book is a mirror image of the first section. The focus in the first section is the calamity that the LORD Himself brings on His people and His land, while in the second section the focus is on His intervention in history on a global level in a way that brings justice through judgement on the nations and salvation to Israel.<\/p>\n The inner cycle of repetitions: the inner mirror image<\/strong><\/p>\n Within chapters 1-2:27 there is an additional mirror image which appears in several repetitions.<\/p>\n These repetitions represent two contrasts or reversals. The first is that in chapter 1 the different kinds of locusts (or locusts at different stages of growth) eat the land and bring destruction. As opposed to this at the end of the first section of the book in chapter 2:25-27 (which in Hebrew is the end of chapter 2) the LORD "makes up\u201d (the Hebrew can be translated \u201cpays for\u201d) the years the locusts have eaten.<\/p>\n The second \u2018reversal\u2019 is that in chapter 1 the eater was the locust bringing destruction on the land of Israel, whereas in chapter 2 verses 25-27 it is the children of Israel who eat from the goodness of the land and give thanks to the name of the LORD. In this mirror image what is negative concerning the land and people of Israel in chapter 1 is inversed to a positive in chapter 2:25-27.<\/p>\n Further repetitions also reflect this change.<\/p>\n In this case the inversion is expressed by a word play on two Hebrew words (\u05d1\u05d5\u05e9 meaning \u2018be ashamed\u2019 or \u2018put to shame\u2019 and \u05d9\u05d1\u05e9 meaning \u2018dry up\u2019) which include two of the same letters in their basic states (root) and which are very similar to one another in sound and meaning. Chapter 1 speaks negatively about the terrible situation in which the land \u2018dries up\u2019 and those working it are \u2018ashamed\u2019. As opposed to this, Joel 2:26-27 emphasizes an inverse situation by repeating twice the statement \u2018My people will never be put to shame\u2019. Another repetition is connected to this one and strengthens the message.<\/p>\n The translation loses the power of the repetition in the words translated \u2018gladness and joy\u2019 in 1:16 and \u2018rejoice and be glad\u2019 in 2:21, 23 which in Hebrew are the same words \u2013 appearing in chapter 1 as nouns and in chapter 2 as verbs. When these are recognized, we can see that the repetitions in chapter 2 verses 21-23 indicate the transformation of the pastures of the wilderness<\/strong> and the reversal of all gladness<\/strong> and joy<\/strong> being cut off, to the call for the land and the sons of Zion to be glad and joyful<\/strong>. What is more, we see that these repetitions appear exactly at the point which gives the reason for the change from negative to positive, from the negation of all gladness and joy to the call to be glad and rejoice. The verses in chapter 2 which present this inversion (21-23) open by addressing the land, which is called on not to fear, continue with a similar call to the beasts of the field, and arrive at their climax in the call to the sons of Zion. The repetition of the imperative to be glad and rejoice (in verses 21 and 23) marks the dramatic change in the situation of the land, the animals and the people (the sons of Zion).<\/p>\n An additional repetition in chapter 2 of an element that appears in chapter 1 comes before this transformation, at the point where the people are called to fast and weep before the LORD over the situation in the hope that He will \u201cturn and relent\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n Joel 1<\/td>\n Joel 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 5<\/sup> Awake, drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you wine drinkers, on account of the sweet wine<\/u><\/strong> that is cut off from your mouth. 6<\/sup> For a nation has invaded<\/u><\/strong> [has come up<\/u><\/strong>] my land, mighty and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the fangs of a lioness. 7<\/sup> It has made my vine a waste, and my fig tree splinters. It has stripped them bare and cast them <\/em>away; their branches have become white.<\/td>\n 12<\/sup> Let the nations<\/u><\/strong> be aroused and come up<\/u><\/strong> to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations\u2026.<\/p>\n \n\n
\n Joel 2<\/td>\n Joel 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 15<\/sup> Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate<\/u><\/strong> a fast, proclaim<\/u><\/strong> a solemn assembly, 16<\/sup> gather the people, sanctify [consecrate]<\/u><\/strong> the congregation, Assemble<\/u><\/strong> the elders, gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out of his room and the bride out of her bridal <\/em>chamber. 17<\/sup> Let the priests, the LORD's ministers, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, "Spare Thy people, O LORD, and do not make Thine inheritance a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they among the peoples say, 'Where is their God?'" 18<\/sup> Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, and will have pity on His people.<\/td>\n 9<\/sup> Proclaim<\/u><\/strong> this among the nations: Prepare [consecrate]<\/u><\/strong> a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up! 10<\/sup> Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, "I am a mighty man." 11<\/sup> Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves<\/u><\/strong> [assemble<\/u><\/strong>] there. Bring down, O LORD, Thy mighty ones. 12<\/sup> Let the nations be aroused and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n
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\n Joel 2<\/td>\n Joel 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 10<\/sup> Before them the earth quakes, The heavens tremble, The sun and the moon grow dark, And the stars lose their brightness<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0 11<\/sup> And the LORD utters His voice<\/u><\/strong> before His army; Surely His camp is very great, for strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, and who can endure it? 12<\/sup> "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning\u00a0 13<\/sup> And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil.\u00a0 14<\/sup> Who knows whether He will not <\/em>turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him, even<\/em> a grain offering and a libation For the LORD your God?<\/td>\n 14<\/sup> Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15<\/sup> The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars lose their brightness<\/u><\/strong>. 16<\/sup> And the LORD<\/u><\/strong> roars from Zion and utters His voice<\/u><\/strong> from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people and a stronghold to the sons of Israel. 17<\/sup> Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. So Jerusalem will be holy, and strangers will pass through it no more.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n The first section of Joel<\/td>\n The second section of Joel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Joel 1:14-15<\/p>\n Joel 2:28, 31-32 [Hebrew – 3:1, 4-5]<\/p>\n \n Joel 2:1-3, 11<\/p>\n Joel 3:13-16 [Hebrew – 4:13-16]<\/p>\n \n\n
\n Joel 1<\/td>\n Joel 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 4<\/sup> What the gnawing locust<\/u><\/strong> has left, the swarming locust<\/u> has eaten<\/u><\/strong>; and what the swarming locust <\/u>has left, the creeping locust<\/u> has eaten; and what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust<\/u> has eaten.<\/strong> 5<\/sup> Awake, drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you wine drinkers, on account of the sweet wine that is cut off from your mouth. 6<\/sup> For a nation has invaded my land, mighty and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the fangs of a lioness. 7<\/sup> It has made my vine a waste, and my fig tree splinters. It has stripped them bare and cast them <\/em>away; their branches have become white.<\/td>\n 25<\/sup> "Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust<\/u> has eaten<\/u><\/strong>, the creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust,<\/u><\/strong> my great army which I sent among you. 26<\/sup> "And you shall have plenty to eat<\/u><\/strong> and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame. 27<\/sup> "Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God And there is no other; and My people will never be put to shame.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n Joel 1<\/td>\n Joel 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 11<\/sup> Be ashamed<\/u><\/strong>, O farmers, Wail, O vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley; because the harvest of the field is destroyed. 12<\/sup> The vine dries up<\/u><\/strong>, and the fig tree fails; the pomegranate, the palm also, and the apple tree, all the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up<\/strong> from the sons of men\u2026. 17<\/sup> The seeds shrivel under their clods; the storehouses are desolate, the barns are torn down, for the grain is dried up<\/u><\/strong>.<\/td>\n 26<\/sup> "And you shall have plenty to eat and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; then My people will never be put to shame<\/u><\/strong>. 27<\/sup> "Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is no other; and My people will never be put to shame<\/u><\/strong>.<\/u><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n Joel 1<\/td>\n Joel 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 15<\/sup> Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. 16<\/sup> Has not food been cut off before our eyes, gladness and joy<\/u><\/strong> from the house of our God?… 19<\/sup> To Thee, O LORD, I cry; for fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness<\/strong><\/u>, and the flame has burned up all the trees of the field.\u00a0 20<\/sup> Even the beasts of the field pant for Thee; for the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness<\/strong>.<\/td>\n 21<\/sup> Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad<\/u><\/strong>, for the LORD has done great things. 22<\/sup> Do not fear, beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness<\/strong> have turned green<\/u>, for the tree has borne its fruit, the fig tree and the vine have yielded in full. 23<\/sup> So rejoice<\/u><\/strong>, O sons of Zion, and<\/u><\/strong> be glad<\/u><\/strong> in the LORD your God; for He has given you the early rain for your <\/em>vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, the early and latter rain as before.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n