Discovery BoxJoel 2:21 
Context2:21 Do not fear, my land!
Rejoice and be glad,
because the Lord has accomplished great things!
Joel 2:31
Context2:31 The sunlight will be turned to darkness
and the moon to the color of blood, 1
before the day of the Lord comes –
that great and terrible day!
Joel 3:14
Context3:14 Crowds, great crowds are in the valley of decision,
for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision! 2
Joel 3:21
Context3:21 I will avenge 3 their blood which I had not previously acquitted.
It is the Lord who dwells in Zion!
1 tn Heb “to blood,” but no doubt this is intended to indicate by metonymy the color of blood rather than the substance itself. The blood red color suggests a visual impression here – something that could be caused by fires, volcanic dust, sandstorms, or other atmospheric phenomena.
2 sn The decision referred to here is not a response on the part of the crowd, but the verdict handed out by the divine judge.
3 tc The present translation follows the reading וְנִקַּמְתִּי (vÿniqqamti, “I will avenge”) rather than וְנִקֵּתִי (vÿniqqeti, “I will acquit”) of the MT.
