Book of Joel Chapter 3 Vs. 3

October 27, 2025

 Judgment on the Gentiles

And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Joel 3:3

they have cast... Seven reasons for judgments on Gentiles:

1. They have cast lots for My people (Joel 3:3).

2. They have given boys to be harlots.

3. They have sold daughters for wine.

4. They have lived in drunkenness.

5. They have taken My silver and gold (Joel 3:5).

6. They have taken My pleasant things into idol temples.

7. They have sold My people as slaves (Joel 3:6).

יָדַד

yâdad

yaw-dad'

A primitive root; properly to handle, that is, to throw, for example lots: - cast.

Not only parted their land, but cast lots for their persons, Or played at dice for them, how many captives each soldier should have, and which should be their share and property.

גֹּרָל גּוֹרָל

gôrâl gôrâl

go-rawl', go-ral'

From an unused root meaning to be rough (as stone); properly a pebble, that is, a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot): - lot.

for...

מָכַר

mâkar

maw-kar'

A primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender): - X at all, sell (away, -er, self).

Ninety seven thousand Jews, Josephus says, were carried captive by the Romans, who very probably, cast lots for them, as was usual in such cases (see Nah. 3:10).

my people...

עַם

‛am

am; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively a flock: - folk, men, nation, people.

and have given... Either they gave a boy to be prostituted to natural lusts, in lieu of a whore; and a girl to be debauched for a bottle of wine: or they gave a boy for the price of a whore, as the Targum and Kimchi interpret it.

נָתַן

nâthan

naw-than'

A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.): - add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ([healed]), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up). + sing, + slander, strike, [sub-] mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, X willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.

That is, they gave a boy, instead of money, to a whore, to lie with her, as the eunuch was given to Thais. And they gave a girl to the wine merchant for as much wine as they could drink at one sitting.

These phrases both express their uncleanness and intemperance, and also the low price and value they set upon their captives; and is applicable enough to the Papists, notorious for the same abominable lusts.

The people of Israel have been treated with very little respect, since the time of the prophets. They went into slavery, and were sold for a very small amount. The worst thing that happened to them, was possibly in Adolph Hitler’s time, when he killed so many Jews, and even made soap out of some of them.

The reason for God’s judgment is the nations’ treatment of His covenant people My inheritance; cf. see Joel 2:17, My people. The nations had scattered the Lord’s people, sold them as slaves to distant lands, and divided up His land. Scattered from pazar, to disperse seems to refer to the Babylonian Exile (cf. Jer. 50:17). Even though the Lord Himself assigned the land to Israel’s enemies (cf. Lam. 5:2; Mic. 2:4), He still held these nations guilty for their failure to recognize His sovereignty and for their cruel treatment of His people. God then announced that he would repay them for their offences.

Book of Joel