Joel 2:17

weep in grief and contrition: cf. Judges 2:4; and on Joel 2:12.

between the porch and the altar between the porch on the E. end of the Temple (1 Kings 6:3), and the great altar of burnt-offering in front of it (1 Kings 8:64; 2 Chronicles 8:12) in the -inner court" (1 Kings 6:36), also called -the court of the priests," in contradistinction to the -great court" (ib.) outside, into which alone the laity were admitted. The same expression occurs in Ezekiel 8:16. The priests are pictured as engaged there in supplication, with their faces (unlike those of the idolaters in Ezekiel 8:16) turned towards the sanctuary.

give not thine inheritance to reproach cf. Ezekiel 22:4; Ezekiel 36:30 ("the reproach of famineamong the nations"); Psalms 44:13; Psalms 79:4; Psalms 89:41. The fact of Judah's being Jehovah's peopleand inheritance, is made the basis of the appeal, as Deuteronomy 9:26; Deuteronomy 9:29.

that the nations should rule over them This translation is perfectly legitimate grammatically; but in the context there has been no mention of Judah being dominated by foreign nations, but only of the country having been devastated by locusts and drought; hence the rendering make proverbs of (i.e. use their name as a by-word) is more probable (cf. R.V. marg.); comp. Jeremiah 24:9 ("to be a reproachand a proverb… in all places whither I shall drive them"), Psalms 44:13 a, Psalms 44:14 a. The country suffering as it did, the heathen would be tempted to mock Israel, to declare that they were abandoned by their God, and that He lacked either the power or the will to save them. Comp. Exodus 32:12; Numbers 14:13-16; Deuteronomy 9:28.

wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God? Such is the taunt which the peoples of the earth would address to them, when they saw their distress. Comp. Micah 7:10; Psalms 42:10; Psalms 79:10; Psalms 115:2, in Psalms 79:10, as here, a motive for God's intervention.

With the general picture of the nation, small and great alike, assembled as suppliants in the Temple, with the priests leading their devotions, comp. Jdt 4:9-15.