Reading for August 17th

Read Joel 3.1-21 Judgment on the nations and the restoration of Jerusalem.
In the Hebrew Bible, these verses are 4.1-21.
This poem does not mention the locusts, but takes as its backdrop the fall of Jerusalem in
586 BCE and the exile of its people (vv. 2, 5).
It follows the traditional structure of hymns, such as Ex 15.1-18 and Zech 14.1-21,
which celebrate the victory of God the warrior over Israel's enemies.
The threat to divine rule (vv. 1-8) brings God into a battle (vv. 9-14) that shakes the cosmos
(vv. 15-16).
Victorious, God is enthroned on his holy mountain (v. 17), making the world fertile (v. 18)
and saving his people (vv. 19-21).
In verse 2 Jehoshaphat is a symbolic-rather than an actual, geographical-place, meaning
"the LORD has judged."
In verse 4 Tyre and Sidon, cities on the Mediterranean coast north of Judah, and Philistia to the south
are accused of participating in Judah's destruction and deporting its people.
In verse 8 the Sabeans may be inhabitants of southern Arabia.
In verse 10 this verse reverses the image of peace in Isa 2.4 and Mic 4.3.
In verse 19 Egypt, sometimes ally and sometimes enemy, and Edom, elsewhere accused of participating in Jerusalem's destruction (Ob 8-14), are both counted here among the nations judged when Jerusalem is restored.
Comments or Questions...