Joel 2:17

Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where [is] their God?

Let the priests {H3548}, the ministers {H8334} of the LORD {H3068}, weep {H1058} between the porch {H197} and the altar {H4196}, and let them say {H559}, Spare {H2347} thy people {H5971}, O LORD {H3068}, and give {H5414} not thine heritage {H5159} to reproach {H2781}, that the heathen {H1471} should rule over {H4910} them: wherefore should they say {H559} among the people {H5971}, Where is their God {H430}?

Let the cohanim, who serve ADONAI, stand weeping between the vestibule and the altar. Let them say, "Spare your people, ADONAI! Don't expose your heritage to mockery, or make them a byward among the Goyim. Why should the peoples say, 'Where is their God?'"

Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?

Context of Joel 2:17

Joel 2:17 is a pivotal verse within a powerful prophetic book, set against the backdrop of an impending or ongoing devastating locust plague, which serves as a vivid metaphor for the "Day of the Lord"—a time of divine judgment and ultimate restoration. The prophet Joel calls the entire nation of Judah to a solemn assembly, urging deep and sincere repentance and fasting. This verse specifically addresses the spiritual leaders—the priests—underscoring their crucial role in leading the people in this desperate plea for God's mercy and intervention. They are to intercede on behalf of the nation, expressing profound sorrow and humility before God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Urgency of Repentance and Intercession: The command for priests to "weep between the porch and the altar" signifies a desperate, public act of contrition and intercession at the most sacred parts of the Temple. This location, between the outer court (where the people gathered) and the Holy Place, emphasizes the priests' mediating role, standing literally between God and His people, bearing the weight of the nation's sin and impending judgment.
  • God's Honor and Reputation: The core of the priests' prayer is a plea for God to spare His people not just for their sake, but for His own honor. They ask that God "give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them." The fear is that if Israel is utterly defeated or disgraced by foreign nations, it would lead to pagan mockery and questions about the power and existence of Israel's God ("Where is their God?"). This highlights God's zealous concern for His own name and glory, as also seen in Ezekiel 36:20-23.
  • God's People as His Heritage: The term "thine heritage" (KJV) refers to Israel as God's special possession, His chosen inheritance. This reminds God of His covenant relationship with them and appeals to His faithfulness to His own promises and His love for His people, whom He had set apart from all nations (Deuteronomy 32:9).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "between the porch and the altar" is highly significant. The "porch" (Hebrew: 'ulam) refers to the vestibule leading into the main sanctuary of the Temple, and the "altar" (Hebrew: mizbeach) is the great altar of burnt offering, where sacrifices for sin were made. This location was the most public and prominent place for priestly functions, symbolizing their position as intercessors on behalf of the entire community. Their weeping here was not merely a private grief, but a public, corporate act of lamentation and supplication.

The word "reproach" (Hebrew: cherpa) carries the strong connotation of shame, disgrace, or scorn. The priests' concern was that the defeat of Israel would bring immense shame upon God's name among the surrounding "heathen" (or pagan) nations, who would attribute Israel's downfall to the weakness or non-existence of their God.

Practical Application

Joel 2:17 serves as a timeless reminder of the vital role of spiritual leaders in guiding their communities in times of crisis and repentance. It emphasizes that true intercession involves deep humility, earnest prayer, and a profound concern not only for the welfare of people but, more importantly, for the glory and reputation of God. For believers today, this verse calls for:

  • Earnest Prayer: A call to pray with sincerity and urgency, especially for the church and the world, appealing to God's mercy.
  • Concern for God's Name: A realization that our actions and the state of the church can impact how the world perceives God. We should live and pray in such a way that God's name is honored, not reproached.
  • Corporate Intercession: The importance of collective prayer and repentance within the community of faith, acknowledging our dependence on God's grace and intervention.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 8:16

    And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

  • Psalms 115:2

    Wherefore should the heathen say, Where [is] now their God?

  • Psalms 79:10

    Wherefore should the heathen say, Where [is] their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight [by] the revenging of the blood of thy servants [which is] shed.

  • Daniel 9:18

    O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

  • Daniel 9:19

    O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

  • Matthew 23:35

    That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

  • Exodus 34:9

    And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it [is] a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
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