And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat

This chapter contains various often quoted prophecies concerning the end times. It tells of a time when Israel and Judah have been brought back together by God after the judgment that scattered them. It also appears that many nations will be against them and God will bring them to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to destroy them. God challenges the nations that any action against Israel is an action against Him.

Following the defeat of their enemies, God will bless Israel. The blessings are described in terms of the land such as wine flowing and hills flowing with milk. No doubt the land will be lush again for the people to enjoy. A final pronouncement was made on the enemies such as Egypt and Edom which will be desolate and remain a wilderness forever because of their persecution of God's people. In contrast, Jerusalem and Judah will be forever and the Lord will be in Zion.



Joel 3
God Judges the Nations

1 “For behold, in those days and at that time,
When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.
3 They have cast lots for My people,
Have given a boy as payment for a harlot,
And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
4 “Indeed, what have you to do with Me,
O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia?
Will you retaliate against Me?
But if you retaliate against Me,
Swiftly and speedily I will return your retaliation upon your own head;
5 Because you have taken My silver and My gold,
And have carried into your temples My prized possessions.
6 Also the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem
You have sold to the Greeks,
That you may remove them far from their borders.
7 “Behold, I will raise them
Out of the place to which you have sold them,
And will return your retaliation upon your own head.
8 I will sell your sons and your daughters
Into the hand of the people of Judah,
And they will sell them to the Sabeans,[a]
To a people far off;
For the Lord has spoken.”
9 Proclaim this among the nations:
“Prepare for war!
Wake up the mighty men,
Let all the men of war draw near,
Let them come up.
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’”
11 Assemble and come, all you nations,
And gather together all around.
Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O Lord.
12 “Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.
Come, go down;
For the winepress is full,
The vats overflow—
For their wickedness is great.”
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and moon will grow dark,
And the stars will diminish their brightness.
16 The Lord also will roar from Zion,
And utter His voice from Jerusalem;
The heavens and earth will shake;
But the Lord will be a shelter for His people,
And the strength of the children of Israel.
17 “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain.
Then Jerusalem shall be holy,
And no aliens shall ever pass through her again.”

God Blesses His People

18 And it will come to pass in that day
That the mountains shall drip with new wine,
The hills shall flow with milk,
And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water;
A fountain shall flow from the house of the Lord
And water the Valley of Acacias.
19 “Egypt shall be a desolation,
And Edom a desolate wilderness,
Because of violence against the people of Judah,
For they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 But Judah shall abide forever,
And Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 For I will acquit them of the guilt of bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted;
For the Lord dwells in Zion.”

Because the Philistines dealt Vengefully and took Vengeance with a Spiteful Heart

God makes proclamations against other nations to Ezekiel. Ammon will rejoice when they see Israel facing judgment, they will speak against the Temple and against the land of Israel. For this, God will judge the Ammonites by letting their nation to be plundered and will destroy them so that they will know the Lord. Moab will also face the same judgment for rejoicing against the calamity of Judah. Interesting to note that God said the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations, and today, we seldom hear of the historical Ammonites except through the Word.

A similar proclamation was also made to the nations of Edom and Philistia. Both these nations seem to have done more than rejoicing, it appears that they may have taken part in destroying Judah out of vengeance. For this, God will also take vengeance on them.





Ezekiel 25
Proclamation Against Ammon

1 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them. 3 Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God: “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity, 4 indeed, therefore, I will deliver you as a possession to the men of the East, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. 5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

6 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your disdain for the land of Israel, 7 indeed, therefore, I will stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations; I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish from the countries; I will destroy you, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

Proclamation Against Moab

8 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Look! The house of Judah is like all the nations,’ 9 therefore, behold, I will clear the territory of Moab of cities, of the cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kirjathaim. 10 To the men of the East I will give it as a possession, together with the Ammonites, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Proclamation Against Edom

12 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,” 13 therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan shall fall by the sword. 14 I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, that they may do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance,” says the Lord God.

Proclamation Against Philistia

15 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,” 16 therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. 17 I will execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I lay My vengeance upon them.”’”

For the Lord of Hosts has Purposed, And who will Annul it?

The opening paragraph makes it clear that God's original plan for Israel / Jacob has not changed and that they will prevail, despite the judgment they had to endure. This is followed by a declaration of the downfall of the oppressor whom God used as an instrument against His people. This instrument appears to be the King of Babylon. He is described as "Scepter of the rulers" and "He who ruled the nations in danger".

The next section described the Enemy, the one who has "fallen from heaven", who said of himself "‘I will ascend into heaven" and "I will be like the Most High". Following this, it also named the city to be destroyed as Babylon,  "I will sweep it with the broom of destruction".

Another nation that will also be destroyed is Assyria. It also challenges and says of Assyria that "For the Lord of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it?" The final paragraph seems to describe the destruction of Philistia. It appears that they were oppressed by King Ahaz, but the next kings will be the ones who bring destruction to them.



Isaiah 14
Mercy on Jacob

1 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. 2 Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the Lord; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors.


Fall of the King of Babylon

3 It shall come to pass in the day the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say:

“How the oppressor has ceased,
The golden[a] city ceased!
5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,
The scepter of the rulers;
6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke,
He who ruled the nations in anger,
Is persecuted and no one hinders.
7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
They break forth into singing.
8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you,
And the cedars of Lebanon,
Saying, ‘Since you were cut down,
No woodsman has come up against us.’
9 “Hell from beneath is excited about you,
To meet you at your coming;
It stirs up the dead for you,
All the chief ones of the earth;
It has raised up from their thrones
All the kings of the nations.
10 They all shall speak and say to you:
‘Have you also become as weak as we?
Have you become like us?
11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
And the sound of your stringed instruments;
The maggot is spread under you,
And worms cover you.’


The Fall of Lucifer

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[b] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.
16 “Those who see you will gaze at you,
And consider you, saying:
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness
And destroyed its cities,
Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
18 “All the kings of the nations,
All of them, sleep in glory,
Everyone in his own house;
19 But you are cast out of your grave
Like an abominable branch,
Like the garment of those who are slain,
Thrust through with a sword,
Who go down to the stones of the pit,
Like a corpse trodden underfoot.
20 You will not be joined with them in burial,
Because you have destroyed your land
And slain your people.
The brood of evildoers shall never be named.
21 Prepare slaughter for his children
Because of the iniquity of their fathers,
Lest they rise up and possess the land,
And fill the face of the world with cities.”


Babylon Destroyed

22 “For I will rise up against them,” says the Lord of hosts,
“And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant,
And offspring and posterity,” says the Lord.
23 “I will also make it a possession for the porcupine,
And marshes of muddy water;
I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says the Lord of hosts.


Assyria Destroyed

24 The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying,
“Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass,
And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:
25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land,
And on My mountains tread him underfoot.
Then his yoke shall be removed from them,
And his burden removed from their shoulders.
26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth,
And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed,
And who will annul it?
His hand is stretched out,
And who will turn it back?”


Philistia Destroyed

28 This is the burden which came in the year that King Ahaz died.

29 “Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia,
Because the rod that struck you is broken;
For out of the serpent’s roots will come forth a viper,
And its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent.
30 The firstborn of the poor will feed,
And the needy will lie down in safety;
I will kill your roots with famine,
And it will slay your remnant.
31 Wail, O gate! Cry, O city!
All you of Philistia are dissolved;
For smoke will come from the north,
And no one will be alone in his appointed times.”
32 What will they answer the messengers of the nation?
That the Lord has founded Zion,
And the poor of His people shall take refuge in it.

O God, My Heart Is Steadfast

A short psalm call for the praise of God for His mercy and truth. It recognizes God as the  LORD who saves and delivers. A reminder also that God has given them the lands as part of His covenant. It is God who led them to victory in the conquests and also defend them against the armies of the enemies.


Psalm 108
–A Song. A Psalm of David.

 1 O God, my heart is steadfast;
         I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
 2 Awake, lute and harp!
         I will awaken the dawn.
 3 I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples,
         And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
 4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
         And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
       
 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
         And Your glory above all the earth;
 6 That Your beloved may be delivered,
         Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
       
 7 God has spoken in His holiness:
         “I will rejoice;
         I will divide Shechem
         And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
 8 Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine;
         Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
         Judah is My lawgiver.
 9 Moab is My washpot;
         Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
         Over Philistia I will triumph.”
       
 10 Who will bring me into the strong city?
         Who will lead me to Edom?
 11 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
         And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
 12 Give us help from trouble,
         For the help of man is useless.
 13 Through God we will do valiantly,
         For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.[a]

His Foundation is in the Holy Mountains

This seems to be a rather short and cryptic psalm. References are made to Zion and the holy mountains. These are special places of God and are mentioned in various parts of the Word. Rahab and Babylon are also mentioned, both were whores but the former had faith in the God of Israel and assisted God's people while the latter is mentioned in the Final Judgement. Another reference made here is about the fact that someone important will be born in Zion and that birth will be recorded. Perhaps this may refer to the birth of our LORD Jesus.


Psalm 87
A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song.

 1 His foundation is in the holy mountains.
 2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion
         More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
 3 Glorious things are spoken of you,
         O city of God!  Selah 
        
 4 “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me;
         Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia:
         ‘This one was born there.’ ”
        
 5 And of Zion it will be said,
         “This one and that one were born in her;
         And the Most High Himself shall establish her.”
 6 The LORD will record,
         When He registers the peoples:
         “This one was born there.”  Selah 
        
 7 Both the singers and the players on instruments say,
         “All my springs are in you.”

Do Not Hold Your Peace

This psalm may be written in a time of despair and oppression for Israel. There is a call to God to act on behalf of His people. The enemies are scheming to not only defeat Israel but to annihilate them completely - something which has exact parallel even today.

The enemies listed here include the Edomites, Ishmaelites, Moab, Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, Assyria. So the psalmist calls upon God and gives description of how the enemies should be treated. And finally, the goal would be to show their enemies "That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, Are the Most High over all the earth."


Psalm 83
A Song. A Psalm of Asaph

 1 Do not keep silent, O God!
         Do not hold Your peace,
         And do not be still, O God!
 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
         And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
         And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
         That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
        
 5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
         They form a confederacy against You:
 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
         Moab and the Hagrites;
 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
         Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
 8 Assyria also has joined with them;
         They have helped the children of Lot.  Selah 
        
 9 Deal with them as with Midian,
         As with Sisera,
         As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
 10 Who perished at En Dor,
         Who became as refuse on the earth.
 11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,
         Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
 12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves
         The pastures of God for a possession.”
        
 13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
         Like the chaff before the wind!
 14 As the fire burns the woods,
         And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
 15 So pursue them with Your tempest,
         And frighten them with Your storm.
 16 Fill their faces with shame,
         That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
 17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;
         Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD,
         Are the Most High over all the earth.

O God, You Have Cast Us Off

This psalm appears to be regarding conquests of enemy lands. It starts off seemingly like Israel's army has displeased God in some way. Yet the psalmist is a believer and trusts God to deliver the enemy nations to his hand, such as Shechem, Gilead, Moab, Edom, Philistia and so on. Finally he acknowledges that any victory is from God, who treads down the enemy.

Psalm 60
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Lily of the Testimony.”[a] A Michtam of David. For teaching. When he fought against Mesopotamia and Syria of Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

 1 O God, You have cast us off;
         You have broken us down;
         You have been displeased;
         Oh, restore us again!
 2 You have made the earth tremble;
         You have broken it;
         Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
 3 You have shown Your people hard things;
         You have made us drink the wine of confusion.
        
 4 You have given a banner to those who fear You,
         That it may be displayed because of the truth.  Selah 
 5 That Your beloved may be delivered,
         Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
        
 6 God has spoken in His holiness:
         “I will rejoice;
         I will divide Shechem
         And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
 7 Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine;
         Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
         Judah is My lawgiver.
 8 Moab is My washpot;
         Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
         Philistia, shout in triumph because of Me.”
        
 9 Who will bring me to the strong city?
         Who will lead me to Edom?
 10 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
         And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
 11 Give us help from trouble,
         For the help of man is useless.
 12 Through God we will do valiantly,
         For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.