“In response to his people,
Yahweh said.
‘I am sending you
Grain,
Wine,
Oil.
You will be satisfied.
I will no more make you
A mockery
Among the nations.’”
Joel said that Yahweh responded to his people. Yahweh was going to send them grain, wine, and oil, so that they would be satisfied. They would no longer be a mockery among the various countries.
“Between the vestibule
And the altar,
Let the priests,
The ministers of Yahweh,
Weep!
Let them say!
‘Spare your people!
O Yahweh!
Do not make your heritage
A mockery!
Do not let it be
A byword among the nations!
Why should it be said
Among the people?
‘Where is their God?’”
Joel wanted the temple priests, the minister of Yahweh, to deliver a prayer to Yahweh between the altar and the vestibule, in the open court. They were to weep and ask God to spare them. They did not want the heritage of Yahweh to be a mockery or a byword among the various countries. There should never be a question about their God. Yahweh should show himself during this time of the locust plagues.
“You shall say!
Thus says Yahweh God!
‘A city!
It sheds blood
Within itself!
Its time has come!
It is making idols.
It defiles itself.
You have become guilty
By the blood
That you have shed.
You have become defiled
By the idols
That you have made.
You have brought
Your day near.
The appointed time
Of your years
Has come.
Therefore,
I have made you
A disgrace
Before the nations.
I have made you
A mockery
To all the countries.
Those who are near,
Those who are far
From you,
Will mock you.
You infamous one!
You are
Full of tumult!’”
Yahweh told Ezekiel to speak to the city of Jerusalem because it was shedding blood within itself. Its time has come. It had been making idols and defiling itself. They have become guilty by the blood that they have shed. They have brought their day of punishment nearer. The appointed time of their years has come to an end. Yahweh was going to make them a disgrace and a mockery among the various nations and countries, whether they were near or far. Everyone would mock them as the infamous place full of tumult.
“‘Was not
Your sister Sodom
A byword
In your mouth
In the day
Of your pride?
This was before
Your wickedness
Was uncovered.
Now you are
A mockery
To the daughters
Of Edom
With all her neighbors.
The daughters
Of the Philistines,
Those all around you,
Despise you.
You must bear
The penalty
Of your lewdness
With your abominations.’
Says Yahweh.”
Yahweh said that Jerusalem had become an object of reproach. Her sister Sodom had been a byword for evil in her day of pride. Then the wickedness of Jerusalem was uncovered. Now Jerusalem was a mockery to those around her, especially the daughters of Edom and the daughters of the Philistines, as they despised her. Jerusalem was going to bear the penalty for all her lewdness and abominations.
Heth
“Jerusalem
Sinned grievously.
So she became
A mockery.
All who honored her
Now despise her.
They have seen
Her nakedness.
She herself groans.
She turns
Her face away.”
Clearly Jerusalem has sinned seriously. Jerusalem has become a mockery of itself. Those who once honored her, now despise her. They have seen her naked. She herself has groaned and turned her face away, since she has admitted her faults. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Heth. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 