31 "In those days, yes, at that very time when I put life back together again for Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I'll assemble all the godless nations. I'll lead them down into Judgment Valley And put them all on trial, and judge them one and all because of their treatment of my own people Israel. They scattered my people all over the pagan world and grabbed my land for themselves. 3 They threw dice for my people and used them for barter. They would trade a boy for a whore, sell a girl for a bottle of wine when they wanted a drink. 4 "As for you, Tyre and Sidon and Philistia, why should I bother with you? Are you trying to get back at me for something I did to you? If you are, forget it. I'll see to it that it boomerangs on you. 5 You robbed me, cleaned me out of silver and gold, carted off everything valuable to furnish your own temples. 6 You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem into slavery to the Greeks in faraway places. 7 But I'm going to reverse your crime. I'm going to free those slaves. I'll have done to you what you did to them: 8 I'll sell your children as slaves to your neighbors, And they'll sell them to the far-off Sabeans."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joel 3:1-8
Commentary on Joel 3:1-8
(Read Joel 3:1-8)
The restoration of the Jews, and the final victory of true religion over all opposers, appear to be here foretold. The contempt and scorn with which the Jews have often been treated as a people, and the little value set upon them, are noticed. None ever hardened his heart against God or his church, and prospered long.