Joel 2:14

2:14 Who knows?

Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve,

and leave blessing in his wake

a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God!

Joel 2:16

2:16 Gather the people;

sanctify an assembly!

Gather the elders;

gather the children and the nursing infants.

Let the bridegroom come out from his bedroom

and the bride from her private quarters.

Joel 2:19

2:19 The Lord responded to his people,

“Look! I am about to restore your grain

as well as fresh wine and olive oil.

You will be fully satisfied.

I will never again make you an object of mockery among the nations.


tn Heb “turn” or “turn back.”

tn Heb “leave a blessing behind him.”

tn The phrase “for you to offer” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

sn Mosaic law allowed men recently married, or about to be married, to be exempt for a year from certain duties that were normally mandatory, such as military obligation (cf. Deut 20:7; 24:5). However, Joel pictures a time of such urgency that normal expectations must give way to higher requirements.

tn Heb “answered and said.”

tn Heb “Look! I am sending grain to you.” The participle used in the Hebrew text seems to suggest imminent action.

tc One of the Qumran manuscripts (4QXXIIc) inserts “and you will eat” before “and you will be fully satisfied” (the reading of the MT, LXX).