Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
This call to the nations to prepare war is spoken ironically: let all forces confederate against God if they dare. They are summoned to the battle of that great day when God shall judge the earth, gathering all nations to their ruin.
AI summary
Commenting on Joel 3:9-17
See Joe 3:2. judge all the heathen round about--that is, all the nations from all parts of the earth which have maltreated Israel; not merely, as HENDERSON supposes, the nations round about Jerusalem (compare Psa 110:6; Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3, Mic 4:11-13; Zep 3:15-19; Zac 12:9; Zac 14:3-11; Mal 4:1-3).
The Prophet proceeds with the same subject, — that God will at length become an avenger of the wrongs of his people, when they shall be unjustly harassed by profane men. We indeed know that God does not immediately succor his servants but rests as though he did not regard their troubles; but this he does to try their patience; and then at a suitable...