Joel 2 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

2:1–11 Joel depicts the locust swarm as an army and the attack as the “day of Yahweh” 2:12–17 Joel and Yahweh call the people of Judah to repentance 2:18–27 Yahweh promises to have mercy on his people and restore them 2:28–32 Yahweh says that in the future he will pour out his Spirit

The ULT sets the lines of this chapter farther to the right on the page than its usual text because it is poetry.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

“Face” meaning “in front of”

Several times in this chapter (2:3, 2:6, 2:10, 2:11, 2:31), phrases with the word face mean “in front of” or “before,” by association with the way people can see what is in front of or before their faces. (See: figs-metonymy)

Textual Issues in This Chapter

In 2:7, the traditional Hebrew text reads “they do not pledge their paths.” The ULT follows that reading. Some ancient versions suggest that the original reading may have been “they do not turn from their paths.” If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

In 2:17, the traditional Hebrew text reads “for the nations to rule over them.” The ULT follows that reading. The consonantal text also permits the reading “for them to become a byword to the nations.” Several modern versions of the Bible follow that reading. If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.